Families

Worried about your child's development? What you might be noticing, what you can try at home, and where to start if you want help.

Getting help with your child's development How to get help, what happens after you make contact, and who does what across ACT services.

Talk to someone about your child's development Talk to a Child and Family Practitioner about your child's development. You do not need a diagnosis or a referral.

Child Development Service Free developmental checks, therapy and autism assessments. Find out what the service does and whether it is for you.

Child and Family Centres What the centres do, where they are and how to get to one.

Parenting programs, supported playgroups and workshops What runs, who it is for, what it costs and how to join.

Your child's development from conception to 2 years Milestones, what is typical, and what to do if something worries you.

Becoming a foster carer Check if you can be a foster carer, the types of care you can give and how to apply.

Becoming a kinship carer How we work with families to decide where their child lives if they need care and if you're asked to be a kinship carer.

Support for foster and kinship carers Money, wellbeing check-ups, training and other government and community support.

Get parental responsibility for a child Legal options for foster carers, kinship carers and stepparents.

Adopting a child Check if you can adopt and learn about the types of adoption, waiting times and costs.

Steps to adopt Before you can apply, getting assessed and being matched with a child.

Applying for an adoption order Transferring parental rights and responsibilities for a child to their adoptive parents.

Get adoption records Find out about birth relatives, leave your contact details for a relative or make a contact veto.

Placing your child for adoption Support when you're considering adoption and the steps if you decide to go ahead.

Entering a surrogacy arrangement Find if you can enter a surrogacy arrangement, what you need to do and how to transfer rights.

ACT donor register Health information for people conceived through assisted reproductive technology.

Get short-term childcare for young children in a crisis When childcare may be funded for a few days or weeks, and who can be referred.