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Other supports
At Rainbow Muse, we believe in collective care. We’re not a crisis service, and we know that finding the right support, especially in hard moments, can be overwhelming. So we’ve gathered some options here that might help. These organisations offer free support for mental health, crisis care, gender and identity-affirming spaces, and culturally safe services. If you or someone you care about needs immediate help, please reach out to one of the services below.
A gentle note: These resources are shared in the spirit of connection and care. They are free or low-cost community services that many people have found helpful. However, inclusion here does not mean we can guarantee a safe or affirming experience for everyone. Every person’s needs, identities, and lived experiences are different—and what feels supportive for one person may not feel right for another. Please trust your instincts, move at your own pace, and take what resonates. You deserve care that feels like care.
General Mental Health & Crisis Support
Lifeline—Phone: 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au
24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention service, offering phone and online counselling for anyone in distress.
Beyond Blue—Phone: 1300 22 4636 | beyondblue.org.au
Mental health support for people experiencing anxiety, depression, or emotional distress—available via phone, webchat, and resources.
Suicide Call Back Service—Phone: 1300 659 467 | suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Free 24/7 support for people at risk of suicide, carers, and those bereaved by suicide. Phone and online counselling.
1800RESPECT—Phone: 1800 737 732 | 1800respect.org.au
Confidential support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence. Available 24/7.
Gambling Help Online—Phone: 1800 858 858 | gamblinghelponline.org.au
Free, confidential counselling, information, and support for anyone affected by gambling.
SANE Australia—Phone: 1800 187 263 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)| sane.org
Mental health support for people living with complex mental health conditions and their supporters.
PANDA—Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia- Phone: 1300 726 306 (Mon–Fri, 10am–7:30pm) | panda.org.au
Support for parents and families during pregnancy and the first year of a child’s life. Focused on perinatal mental health.
MensLine Australia—Phone: 1300 78 99 78 | mensline.org.au
Support for men experiencing relationship issues, mental health challenges, anger, or parenting struggles. 24/7 phone and online.
LGBTQIA+ Supports
QLife—Phone: 1800 184 527 (3pm–midnight) | qlife.org.au
National peer support and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people, offering confidential support via phone and webchat.
Switchboard Victoria - switchboard.org.au
A community-based service providing peer-driven support for LGBTQIA+ individuals, their families, and communities.
Rainbow Door- Phone: 1800 729 367 (10am–5pm daily) | rainbowdoor.org.au
A free specialist service offering information, support, and referrals for LGBTQIA+ people, their families, and allies across Victoria.
CHARLEE- charlee.org.au
Support and resources for LGBTQIA+ people from multicultural backgrounds and faith communities, centering cultural safety and inclusion.
Transgender Victoria- transgendervictoria.com
Advocacy, education, and resources to support trans and gender-diverse people, working to achieve equity and social justice.
Minus18- minus18.org.au
Australia’s leading youth-driven LGBTQIA+ organisation—providing events, resources, and peer support for queer young people.
Parents of Gender Diverse Children- pgdc.org.au
Support, information, and community for parents and carers of trans and gender-diverse children.
Thorne Harbour Health- thorneharbour.org
Health and wellbeing services for LGBTQIA+ communities including counselling, peer support, and HIV prevention.
Genderqueer Australia- genderqueer.org.au
A space for gender-diverse people and allies to connect, share stories, and access peer-created resources.
Queerspace / Drummond Street Services – queerspace.org.au Queer-affirming counselling and support in Naarm/Melbourne
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Supports
Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS)- vahs.org.au
Comprehensive health services led by and for the Aboriginal community in Victoria.
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)- vacca.org
Child and family support services for Aboriginal children and families, grounded in cultural connection and self-determination.
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS)- vals.org.au
Legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria, including criminal, civil, and family law.
VACCHO – Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation- vaccho.org.au
Peak body for Aboriginal health in Victoria, supporting Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations across the state.
VACSAL – Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd- vacsal.org.au
Provides community services, cultural programs, and advocacy for Aboriginal families and youth across Victoria.
Black Rainbow- www.blackrainbow.org.au
Black Rainbow supports the strong & fabulous Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander lesbian, gay, bisexual, sistergirl & brotherboy & queer community.
Multicultural Supports
Foundation House- foundationhouse.org.au
Support for survivors of torture and trauma, primarily refugees and asylum seekers, offering counselling and advocacy.
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC)- asrc.org.au
Australia’s largest human rights organisation providing legal, medical, food, and housing support for asylum seekers.
Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY)- cmy.net.au
Youth services for multicultural communities, including leadership development, mentoring, and family support.
inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence- intouch.org.au
Culturally safe family violence services and advocacy for migrant and refugee women.
Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH)- mcwh.com.au
National women’s health organisation offering multilingual health education and advocacy for migrant and refugee women.
Children & Young People
Kids Helpline- 1800 55 1800 kidshelpline.com.au
24/7 phone and web counselling for young people aged 5 to 25, covering any issue, big or small.
Headspace- headspace.org.au
Youth mental health foundation providing support for people aged 12 to 25 via centres and online services.
ReachOut- au.reachout.com
Online mental health support for young people and their families, with peer forums and self-help tools.
Youth Beyond Blue- youthbeyondblue.com
Mental health resources and support for young people dealing with depression, anxiety, and stress.
YoDAA (Youth Drug & Alcohol Advice)- yodaa.org.au
Advice and support for young people using alcohol or other drugs, and for families and carers.
Family & Parenting Supports
Parentline Victoria—Phone: 13 22 89 education.vic.gov.au/parents
A free phone service offering confidential counselling and support for parents and carers of children aged 0 to 18 in Victoria.
Family Relationships Advice Line—Phone: 1800 050 321 familyrelationships.gov.au
A national telephone service that helps families navigate relationship difficulties and provides guidance on separation, parenting plans, and family law.
The Orange Door- orangedoor.vic.gov.au
A free service supporting families experiencing family violence, offering help with child wellbeing, parenting support, and access to community-based services.
Kids Helpline - (for ages 5–25)- 1800 55 1800 kidshelpline.com.au
A 24/7 counselling service for children and young people, offering phone, email, and web chat support.
Mental Health & Identity-Affirming Directories
DocDir—Directory of LGBTQIA+ GPs, surgeons, and mental health professionals, docdir.com.au
Trans Friendly Melbourne—Healthcare and support services for trans and gender-diverse people in Naarm/Melbourne transfriendlymelbourne.com
Queer Therapists Victoria—Peer-curated list of LGBTIQ+ affirming therapists queertherapistsvictoria.com.au
Pink Therapy Directory (International) – Global directory of LGBTIQ+ affirmative therapists pinktherapy.com
AusPATH Directory—Australian registry of clinicians supporting trans, gender diverse, and non-binary communities auspath.org
Trans Health Australia—Community-based support and health info for TGD people across Australia transhealthaustralia.org
Vic Inclusive Practitioners – Curated list of inclusive therapists and allied health professionals across Victoria
www.vicinclusivepractitioners.com/websites
Directory of Mental Health Support for Mob, Māori & BIPOC— Curated by @decoloniser, this list offers identity-affirming mental health support Link
Pola Practice Directory—Directory of BIPOC, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists polapractice.com.au/therapist-directory
DocLIST—Directory of LGBTQIA+ inclusive doctors and mental health professionals in Australia doclist.com.au
Vixen Collective – Peer-only sex worker advocacy organisation (contact for support and referrals) vixencollective.org
RhED—Health, safety and advocacy for sex workers in Victoria sexworker.org.au