Welcome to Port Stephens Family Support Service.

Port Stephens Family Support Service Inc has been delivering service to families with children in the Port Stephens LGA for over 20 years. Throughout Port Stephens we offer: Family and children's counselling, parent's & carer's groups, children's groups, domestic violence support & legal clinics, Aboriginal dance & culture groups, playtime groups, Aboriginal family history and outreach programs. All our services are free. All groups have free child care. Counselling can be at one of our centres or in your home.

_{Upcoming courses: Mental Health First Aid and Mentoring}

Try a Playtime group! We offer  8 Playtime groups a week.

Tip of the week - Do you have debt with State Debt Recovery? Come to playtime groups and "pay off" your debt! Ring us to put your name down for this option. State Debt Recovery Program

Playtime groups are a fun and friendly way to get support with raising your preschooler. Children and their parent/carer participate in play activities designed by our qualified early childhood workers to cover all areas of children's development. Parents/carers can meet other parents/carers to share advice, a laugh and a coffee. Family workers are also available throughout the group to help you and your child and have a chat about anything that might be concerning you. Some of our Playtime groups also have workers from other services such as Child Health, Dental Health, Women's Health and so on who visit our groups from time to time to answer any questions you might have. For example, one week a dental nurse might come and show the children how to clean their teeth using giant size toothbrushes and rabbit "patients", and talk with the adults about how to help their children care for their teeth.

You don't need to book; just come along. If you prefer, Family Workers are always happy to have a chat with you first on the phone so you can find out about playtime groups.

All playtime groups have a family worker and an early childhood worker.

We also have different playtime groups that may appeal like Kindy Gym, Tilly Tennis Tots and Mum's and Bub's swimming lessons.

See our Groups button at top of home page for details on where and when Playtime Groups are on.