Australian Multiple Births Association
The Australian Multiple Births Association, AMBA - Our mission is to enable positive health outcomes, awareness and equality for multiple birth families through advocacy, education and community.
AMBA is our national governing body, a not for profit, volunteer ran organisation, advocating, educating and supporting families of multiple births from pregnancy to supporting parents raising children from multiple births. So much incredible information, seminars, discounts and advocacy.
Ballarat and Surrounds Family Services
Grampian's Health Early Parenting Centre Ballarat - The Grampians Early Parenting Centre is a free Monday to Friday service, providing specialist support for families with children aged 0-4 years of age. Day stays and Overnight Stays - Support and accommodation for the whole family
Grampians Early Parenting Centre
Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC) - BADAC supports the health and wellbeing of the Ballarat and District Aboriginal community with a range of holistic services, including:
- BADAC Medical Clinic
- Koorie Family Services
- Early Years Learning & Development
- Cultural Therapeutic Support & Youth Services
- Kinship Care
- Aboriginal Family Lead Decision Making (AFLDM)
- My Aged Care
- Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Support
- Social & Emotional Wellbeing Program
- Justice Support
- Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care
For more information on any of the services/programs that we offer, please click on the link: https://www.badac.net.au/services, or alternatively you can call the service on 03 5331 5344.
Orange Door: Undertakes assessments of family needs in relation to child wellbeing/parenting concerns either via telephone or in-person. New clients can self-refer via accessing an Orange Door hub or phoning the duty line. Depending on assessment outcome, support includes guidance on caregiving and child development, vouchers and other resources, service information, connection to local community groups, in addition to referrals onto family services.
City of Ballarat - Family and Children Services
Family and Children's Services | City of Ballarat
CAFS (Community and Family Support Program) - offering practical and emotional support for people across the Central Highlands of Victoria. The organization is focused on Family and Parenting Support; Family Safety; Financial support and many more services.
Cafs | Child and Family Services
Ballarat Food Access Support - Ballarat offers a wide range of food relief services to support individuals and families experiencing financial hardship and food insecurity. From emergency food parcels and hot meals to low-cost groceries and community lunches, local organisations such as the Salvation Army, Uniting Ballarat, Anglicare, St Vincent de Paul, and Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre provide essential assistance across the region.
https://bchc.org.au/service/food_access/
Premature and Sick Baby Support
Lifes Little Treasures - We are Australia’s foremost charity dedicated to providing information, support and connection for families of sick and premature babies.
Whether it’s our NICU Connections support groups reducing isolation, care packages for overwhelmed parents, or financial assistance for those in need – we provide many products and services to help reduce the very real issues that affect these families.
Homepage - Life's Little Treasures
Breastfeeding Support for twins, triplets or more
Australian Breastfeeding Association - Supporting your unique breastfeeding journey
Breastfeeding twins, triplets or more! | Australian Breastfeeding Association
Breastfeeding Twins & More - This group started as a way for mums who have attended an ABA Twins & More breastfeeding class in Melbourne to connect and share. But it was just too good to keep to ourselves, so now everyone is welcome, whether breastfeeding worked out for you or not. If you are a mother who has been twice - or even triple - blessed, come and join the discussion, share your experience and laugh at the craziness that is ABA Twins & More.
Breastfeeding Twins & More webpage
Mental Health Support for Parents
!! If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help now, call triple (000) !!
CRISIS SUPPORT: Grampians Health - Mental Health Access and Triage. The Access and Triage Service for mental health is the entry point for referrals to the Grampians Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (GMHWS). Call 1300 247 647 for this telephone referral service. In an emergency, call 000
Mental Health Access and Triage
Ballarat Community Health: Provides a broad range of primary care, counseling and social services to both children and adults.
To access more information please explore their webpage on https://bch.org.au/
You can also call the service on: (03) 5338 4500
PANDA - is dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of expecting, new and growing families. Through a range of information, services and programs we support parents and families during pregnancy and the first 12 months of a new baby.
PANDA | Support that’s always there, for you and your family
Gidget Foundation- Supporting the mental health of families, from pre-conception to early infancy.
Gidget Foundation Australia | Mental Health Support for New, Expectant and Potential Parents
Domestic and Family Violence Support
Telephone counseling and safety planning: 1800-RESPECT - Confidential information, counseling and support service. 1800RESPECT is available for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence. Call 1800 737 732
Crisis and non-crisis support: The Orange Door - Help for people who are experiencing or using family violence or who need support with the care and wellbeing of children and young people.
The Orange Door | orangedoor.vic.gov.au
CRISIS SUPPORT: Safe Steps - Safe Steps is a free service for all people experiencing family and domestic violence. You do not need a referral to use this service. For emergency support, please call 000 now. Otherwise, you can contact our Safe Steps team on 1800 015 188 for family and domestic violence crisis support.
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre - 24/7 support for Victorians
Bereavement Support
We acknowledge our local families who have experienced the unimaginable loss of one or more of their babies in twin, triplet or higher order pregnancy and infant loss. Know we are here to support you and your family with compassion and connection. We encourage you to reach out when you feel the time is right, we will be here for you, always as parents of multiples.
Please refer to Bereavement in our menu for further information.
Carer Support
Carers Gateway - provides short term support to individuals who are caring for a relative or friend.
Please reach out if you find yourself or partner caring for your children, partner or another individual to see what supports are available for you. Please note you do not need to be an official carer to be supported through Carers Gateway.
Some examples of situations when members have been supported
- Caring for unwell partner during pregnancy
- Support for you when your partner or one or more babies requires hospitalisation and you need support
- Support for you if caring for your partner with postnatal depression or other mental health concerns
- Support for you if you are caring for your babies and children with complex health conditions, significant medical appointments, carer responsibilities
Please "get in touch" with us if we can assist you in seeking support through Carers Gateway.
High Risk Multiples
MoMo Twins Australia and New Zealand Facebook group
Monoamniotic twins are identical twins that share the same amniotic sac within their mother's uterus.
The Monoamniotic Monochorionic (Mo-Mo) Twin support group (USA)
This site is a support resource for parents diagnosed with monoamniotic twins or parents of monoamniotic twins. It is supported entirely by members and is not affiliated with any medical organisation.
This is a place for families who have been through Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) or are currently going through TTTS in Australia or New Zealand.
TTTS Foundation (USA)
Established in 1989, the Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation is the first and only international 501c.3. nonprofit organization solely dedicated to providing immediate and lifesaving educational, emotional and financial support to families, medical professionals and other caregivers before, during and after a diagnosis of twin to twin transfusion syndrome.
Birthing and Parenting Multiples
Birthing Multiples Naturally - This group has been created as a safe place for families to discuss birthing their multiples naturally. Unfortunately in today's medical world it has become routine for multiples to be delivered by caesarean section, and because of this, women who choose to birth their multiples naturally are often the target of negativity.
Naturally parenting twins - An online community of twin and triplet mamas who strive to practice natural family living and attachment parenting with multiples.
Single Mums with Twins or More Being a single mum of multiples is hard work. Often people just don't "get" how it is for us. This is a place where we can support others and vent when we need to. It is also a place to talk about our families and take pride in how amazing we are to get through each and every day.
Singlemum.com.au - SingleMum.com.au is Australia's largest single / divorced parent general information website.
Rainbow Families Multiple Births Group - This group is a safe space for same sex families of multiple births to come and share and discuss issues and topics of subjects that are directly related to their families needs. We all have unique lives with unique circumstances as a minority group in our community we can stick together and support each other.
Dads Resources
More on support for dads - AMBA website
Join the Multiple Dads Sanctuary Facebook group - With over 2,000 members from over 32 countries, MDS is not your average ‘blokes group’. They have strict guidelines on expected behaviour; no trashing partners or family, some polarising topics are off limits and the expected behaviour around support, scrolling on, and sharing of experiences etc. The group is all about being on the same page.
A dad's guide to twins - An American dad writing and recording podcasts about his life with twin girls + 2 older boys.
Multiple Birth Research Organisations
Twins Research Australia - click here for more information
TRA is Australia’s only national twin research centre of excellence and recognised as a world leader in this field. They bring twins and researchers together to undertake health research to benefit everyone. TRA are based at the University of Melbourne, and undertake and support twin research in institutes and hospitals across Australia and globally.
International Society for Twins Studies - click here for more information
The International Society for Twin Studies (ISTS) wants to further research and public education in all fields related to twins and twin studies, for the mutual benefit of twins and their families and of scientific research in general. The Society was founded in Rome in 1974 and is an international, nonpolitical, nonprofit, multidisciplinary scientific organization.
Centre for the Study of Multiple Birth - click here for more information
The Center for the Study of Multiple Birth is an American nonprofit organization that was founded in 1977 by identical twins, Louis and Donald Keith. The three primary reasons for its inception were research, education, and public service. In their 28-year history, they have either published and supported the publication of numerous documents and books relating to multiple births.
