Wednesday, 27 August 2025

 Will FOWLES (Ringwood) (19:12): (1286) My adjournment this evening is for the Minister for Children in the other place, and the action I seek is for the minister to reverse the decision to close Parentline in October. None of the alternative programs proposed by the government adequately serve the community in the same way that Parentline does. Parentline is not just a helpline, it is a lifeline for thousands and thousands of parents and carers right across our great state – a service that provides support in some of the most difficult and isolating moments a family can face. For just $1.3 million a year, Parentline supports over 18,000 callers – a modest cost for a profound impact. The service is staffed by qualified trauma-informed professionals, and it reaches families from all walks of life, with particularly high engagement from rural and regional areas, First Nations families and neurodiverse communities. The words of parents themselves speak volumes. This is from a parent dealing with school refusal:

Every morning was a battle. My kid just wouldn’t go to school, tears, panic, sometimes full-on meltdowns. I felt like a failure, like I was doing something wrong. I called Parentline just needing someone to talk to who wouldn’t judge me. She was amazing. She helped me understand what might be going on underneath it all, and gave me real tips to try, not just ‘make them go.’ Honestly, just having someone say ‘You’re not alone, this is hard,’ made such a difference. I’ll be calling again for sure.

And this is from a parent of a child with additional needs:

Most days, I felt like no one understood what life’s like with a kid who has extra needs. But Parentline did. They got it. They let me vent, cry, whatever I needed. I don’t feel so alone after calling.

Finally, this is from a foster parent:

Fostering’s tough. Some days I just wanted to quit. I rang Parentline not expecting much, but they actually got it. They gave me space to talk things out and helped me find ways to cope. That support meant the world.

Victorian parents and carers cannot afford to lose Parentline. The minister must keep it open. This is a critical service – a service used by thousands and thousands of families over the course of a year. $1.3 million is frankly minuscule in the context of the total Victorian budget. It is a set of services that is not replicated by any of the other services across government. It is so important that this service be retained, and I call upon the Minister for Children in the other place to retain it.