First Nations health

24-hour national crisis support line for struggling mob

13YARN is a 24-hour national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. They offer confidential, one-on-one yarning with Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis supporters. 13YARN also provides a factsheet on domestic and family violence in mob and how to seek help for yourself and a young person.

Phone 13 92 76

Free 24/7 support for people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence

1800RESPECT is available for free, 24/7 support for people impacted by domestic, family, or sexual violence. 1800RESPECT provides key information on how to prepare an escape bag checklist, safety tips for using technology, safety apps for digital devices, accessing paid family and domestic leave, and support navigating the legal system. They also offer tips on working with a young person to increase their physical, mental, and emotional safety.

Phone 1800 737 732

Text 0458 737 732

Free and confidential service helping any Queenslanders who are feeling unsafe at home

DVConnect is a free and confidential service that can help any person in Queensland who is feeling unsafe at home because of domestic or family violence. Through their Mensline they can assist men wanting to make changes to their abusive behaviours. They also offer a Sexual Assault Helpline for any person in Queensland who has been impacted or knows someone who has been affected by sexual assault. DVConnect has wallet cards for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are experiencing violence/and or abuse in relationships which are available in English, Wik Mungkan, and Torres Strait Islander Creole.

Phone Womensline 1800 811 811

Phone Mensline 1800 600 636

Phone Sexual Assault Helpline 1800 010 120

Practical support for First Nations women and people who are experiencing family violence

Djirra offers practical support to all Aboriginal women and particularly to Aboriginal people who are currently experiencing family violence or have in the past.

• The YoungLuv program is designed for young Aboriginal women, aged 13–18, where young people can talk about, reflect on, and better understand important issues affecting their lives. This workshop aims to equip young women with information and skills to challenge unhealthy relationships, and to practise positive and safe behaviours.
• The Sisters Day Out wellbeing workshop is held regularly in community for Aboriginal women to support each other, get information about legal rights and options, and engage with mainstream and Aboriginal support services.

Phone 1800 105 303

Find an event happening near you.

Free legal services for First Nations people affected by family violence or sexual assault

QIFVLS is a free legal service for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people affected by family violence or sexual assault. Their services cover child protection, domestic and family violence, family law, victim support, victim compensation, and witness assistance law.

Phone 1800 887 700

Making it easier for families and communities to access support

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Wellbeing Services make it easier for families and communities to access support to improve social, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. They work with other culturally appropriate services, including the Family Participation Program, housing services and health services, to plan and provide a coordinated response to a family's needs.

Phone 1300 117 095

Find your nearest Family Wellbeing Service.

Supports First Nations families to participate in child protection decision-making

The Family Participation Program (FPP) supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to participate in child protection decision-making. The focus of the program is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with young people under the age of 18 years. FPP is delivered statewide by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander providers.

Find a provider near you.

Community-based service helping families care for and protect young people

Family and Child Connect is a community-based service that helps families to care for and protect their young people at home, by connecting you to the right services at the right time. Parents can seek support through the service to develop parenting skills and manage their young person’s behaviour, build better relationships between family members, improve budgeting and managing money, manage addiction problems, and access housing. The service can also link families to more intensive support services that help families stay together.

Phone 13 32 64

Support relevant to your language and culture for relationship and family counselling

Relationships Australia can provide you with support relevant to your language and culture for relationship counselling, family counselling, mediation when separating, and personal counselling. Relationships Australia employs First Nations staff who have developed unique, localised projects to specifically respond to local needs.

Phone 1300 364 277

Anonymous and confidential support for young people

ReachOut provides online, anonymous, and confidential support for young people. From one-to-one peer support and moderated online communities, to tips, stories, and resources, ReachOut offers a wide range of support options that allow young people to engage in the ways they want to, when they want to. ReachOut provides support for First Nations young people through their Yarn Up service to connect with community, hear from others, and access wellbeing resources and support.

Support to reunite First Nations people with kin to encourage healing

Link-Up Queensland provides support to reunite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from the Stolen Generations who have been separated from their family and culture due to forced removal, fostering, adoption or institutionalisation. Link-Up Queensland carries out research to identify and locate family members to help encourage healing and personal growth with the knowledge of who you are and where you come from.

Phone 1800 200 855

Culturally safe family and wellbeing program

The Yeaca Dhargo Indigenous Family Wellbeing program offered by Kurbingui provides support and information to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and young people that is culturally safe and flexible, reflects family and community strengths, and focuses on their desired aspirations and goals.

National website providing relevant and culturally appropriate resources and information

The Knowledge Centre is a national website that provides relevant and culturally appropriate resources and information for community members working to reduce harms from alcohol and other drug use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Knowledge Centre Community Portal is for Elders and community members who may be concerned about alcohol and drug use in their mob and provides support on how to act.

Culturally safe drug and alcohol education, treatment and recovery

Gindaja is a First Nations community-controlled organisation dedicated to improving the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people impacted by problematic alcohol or substance dependency. Gindaja provides alcohol and drugs education, treatment, recovery, and healing to people from Yarrabah and across the Far North Queensland region, including Cairns and surrounds, the Tablelands, Torres Strait Islands and Cape communities.

Phone 07 4056 9000 (general enquires).

Phone 07 4056 0800 (residential recovery centre).

Online portal that recognises cultural diversity and provides access to evidence-based drug and alcohol education and resources

Positive Choices is an online portal that recognises cultural diversity and provides access to interactive evidence-based drug education resources for school-aged young people. Resources for families, parents and carers include webinars, factsheets, and tips on how to talk to a young person about alcohol and other drugs. Positive Choices also provides dedicated resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, parents, and carers.

Service that encourages mob to make health choices for themselves and their families

Deadly Choices aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. Deadly Choices encourages mob to stop smoking, eat good food, exercise daily, and access their local Community Controlled Health Service to complete an annual health check.

Find your local First Nations medical service.

Telephone service dedicated to helping Queenslanders quit tobacco smoking and vaping

Quitline is a telephone service dedicated to helping Queenslanders quit tobacco smoking and vaping. Quitline also has a team of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander quit support specialists, and the free Yarn to Quit program provides phone support and a 12-week supply of nicotine replacement products for First Nations people.

Phone 13 78 48

Not-for-profit healthcare provider offering evidence-based services to help people overcome problems with drugs and alcohol

Lives Lived Well is a not-for-profit healthcare provider that offers evidence-based services to help people overcome drug and alcohol problems and bring about a sense of wellbeing. They offer free and flexible one-on-one counselling, group sessions and online counselling, residential rehabilitation programs, and free withdrawal support day programs, with dedicated support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

Australia’s leading organisation committed to inspiring positive change to minimise alcohol and drug harm

The ADF is Australia’s leading organisation committed to inspiring positive change and delivering evidence-based approaches to minimise alcohol and drug harm. They provide support to family, parents, and carers to help a young person make safer choices about their alcohol or other drug use and how to access support services. The ADF also has resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including tips on how to have a yarn with someone who is struggling.

Anonymous and confidential support for young people, including information on minimising drug and alcohol use

ReachOut provides online, anonymous, and confidential support for young people including information on how to minimise risk in connection to drugs and alcohol. ReachOut provides support for First Nations young people through their Yarn Up service to connect with community, hear from others, and access wellbeing resources and support. From one-to-one peer support and moderated online communities, to tips, stories, and resources, ReachOut offers a wide range of support options that allow young people to engage in the ways they want to, when they want to.

24/7 support service providing online resources and counselling for friends and family

Family Drug Support is a 24/7 support service that provides information, online resources, and counselling for friends and family members of anyone struggling with alcohol and drug misuse. They provide practical information and guides on dealing with conflict, setting boundaries, supporting someone through detox, and harm reduction.

Phone 1300 368 186

Anonymous, confidential support for young people

ReachOut provides online, anonymous, and confidential support for young people. From one-to-one peer support and moderated online communities, to tips, stories, and resources, ReachOut offers a wide range of support options that allow young people to engage in the ways they want to, when they want to. ReachOut provides support for First Nations young people through their Yarn Up service to connect with community, hear from others, and access wellbeing resources and support.

24-hour national crisis support line for mob

13YARN is a 24-hour national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. They offer confidential, one-on-one yarning with Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis supporters. 13YARN also provides fact sheets on anxiety, depression, loneliness, and understanding trauma in mob.

Phone 13 92 76

Not-for-profit healthcare provider offering accessible mental health services for young people

Lives Lived Well is a not-for-profit healthcare provider that offers accessible mental health services for young people to bring about a sense of wellbeing.

• The Low Intensity Mental Health (LIME) program provides confidential, one-on-one sessions tailored to help address stress from school, relationships, or other life challenges for young people aged 12 and above. Five free sessions are available in person, by phone, or via video call.
• The Lighthouse service supports young people aged 12–18 and their family or carers to better understand and manage the impacts of distressing life experiences through specialised treatment and individual or group sessions. Lighthouse is available on the Gold Coast.
• The Targeted Psychological Therapies (TPT) program provides evidence-based mental health services to underserviced groups within Queensland’s Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network region. People experiencing financial disadvantage as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are prioritised for care.

Phone 1300 727 957

Help with the cost of medicine and support through the Medicare Indigenous Access Program

Find out how to get started with Medicare, how to get help with the cost of medicine, and what’s available through Medicare’s Indigenous Access Program.

Visit the Medicare website to find out more.

Culturally appropriate counselling for First Nations people affected by mental illness

The ATSICHS Social Health team provides culturally appropriate counselling services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Brisbane affected by mental illness. The team can help you find information about your wellbeing, provide you with support and skills to get through difficult times, and help you find a local doctor.

Find a medical clinic near you.

Support and education services for families and carers with mental health support needs

Arafmi provides support and education services to people with mental health support needs, their families, and carers. Carers can access one-on-one support, support groups to connect with other carers, and workshops and information sessions.

Phone 1300 554 660 (24/7 carer support line).

Phone 1800 35 1881 (regional Queensland, free call from a landline).

Service with specially trained nurse who provide free health and medical services to Queensland women in remote areas

The Mobile Women's Health Service is made up of specially trained registered nurses who provide free health and medical services to Queensland women in remote areas. In some areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's health workers assist to meet the needs of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Contact your local service.

24/7 medical consultation via telephone and radio transmission

RFDS medical officers provide 24/7 medical consultation services via telephone and radio transmission for rural, remote, and regional residents of north Queensland needing urgent medical care.

Phone 1300 69 7337

Phone 1300 697 622 (after-hours).

Information on housing in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

The Queensland Government provides information on housing in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including how to apply for housing, how to pay rent, how to request maintenance to your home, what to expect during a tenancy, and how to purchase your social housing dwelling.

Culturally safe and affordable accommodation for First Nations people

Aboriginal Hostels Limited provides culturally safe and affordable accommodation for First Nations people who need to be away from home to access services and economic opportunities. This includes individuals and families seeking employment and awaiting housing. Aboriginal Hostels Limited operates 10 hostels across Queensland, with the hostels offering 3 meals a day.

Find a hostel near you.