Wollongong

Wollongong Family

✨ Families in and around Wollongong can find hands-on play, free library sessions, supervised youth activities and welcoming opportunities to meet other parents and carers. When extra help is needed, local and regional services also provide child health care, developmental therapy, family support and youth mental health assistance.

🎨 Play, discovery and early learning

Early Start Discovery Space

Children from birth to 10 years can explore play-based experiences at the University of Wollongong’s interactive children’s museum. Public programs and hands-on environments give children and their accompanying adults opportunities to play, experiment and learn together. Check the current program before visiting so you can choose experiences suited to your child’s age and interests.

Wollongong City Libraries — children’s programs

Free term-time sessions at Wollongong Library include Baby Beats for babies from birth to 12 months, Toddlertime for ages one to three, Preschool Storytime for ages three to five and Drop in Duplo for ages three to five. Wollongong Library’s sessions are drop-in, with no booking required. Families can also look for after-school and school-holiday activities offered across Wollongong City Libraries.

Multicultural Supported Playgroups

Illawarra Multicultural Services runs supported playgroups for children aged birth to five and their parents or carers in Wollongong, Coniston and Wollongong West. Families from all backgrounds are welcome, with newly arrived migrant and refugee families particularly encouraged to take part. Sessions combine children’s play with opportunities for adults to connect, and registration is requested.

🎯 Programs for young people

Wollongong Youth Services

Young people aged 12–24 can access free, supervised programs in Wollongong, with outreach activities in Bellambi, Dapto and Warrawong. Options include Hang Out sessions, tabletop games and creative activities. Some activities require a booking, and participants may be asked for school identification or other information confirming their age and location, so review the entry requirements before attending.

headspace Wollongong

Young people aged 12–25 can access free counselling and mental health support, peer work, work and study assistance, and other youth services through in-person or telehealth appointments. A family member may contact the centre to arrange an appointment, but the young person must know about the referral, consent to it and be willing to meet with the service.

🌱 Child health, development and therapy

Child and Family Health Centres

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District provides free support through centres in North Wollongong, Berkeley, Corrimal, Dapto, Figtree, Woonona and other Illawarra locations. Families can seek baby and child health checks, feeding and nutrition information, emotional wellbeing support and help with parenting challenges. Contact the nearest centre to discuss whether assistance will be provided by phone, telehealth or in person.

Child and Family Allied Health Services — Port Kembla Hospital

Based in Warrawong, this public service supports eligible families across the Wollongong local government area, from Helensburgh to Dapto and Windang. Disciplines include occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology and audiology, as well as clinical psychology for children aged three to 12. Parents, carers, educators and health professionals can make referrals, although audiology requires a GP referral. The service is not an NDIS provider.

Talking Happy Kids

This Unanderra speech pathology practice works with Wollongong children on speech, language and literacy development. Available services include assessments and therapy, augmentative and alternative communication support, speech therapy for autistic children or children with ADHD, NDIS communication assessments and online consultations. Families can enquire about the most suitable assessment or appointment format for their child.

PsyCA

Children, adolescents and their families can access counselling, cognitive assessments, behavioural and learning assessments, and telehealth appointments through this Wollongong psychology practice. Child counselling may incorporate play therapy, age-appropriate activities and strategies developed collaboratively with parents or carers. The practice also offers ADHD and autism assessments.

🤝 Parenting, carer and family support

Child Youth and Family Support

Family Services Australia’s early-support program serves families with children aged birth to 17 across the Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven local government areas. Families may self-refer. Depending on their circumstances, a Family Support Worker can offer home visits, practical assistance, parenting support, basic counselling, case planning and help connecting with specialist services.

Child Adolescent and Family Service (CAFS)

Southern Youth and Family Services provides early-intervention assistance to families with children or young people up to 17 who are showing early signs of mental health difficulties or may be at risk of developing them. Support also extends to situations where another family member is affected. Assistance can take place at home, at community venues or in the office and may involve counselling, practical support, case planning, advocacy and referrals.

IMS Parent Support Group

Illawarra parents and carers of children living with disability can meet for coffee, conversation, outings and information about support opportunities. The Wollongong group meets from 10 am to midday on the second Friday of school-term months. Checking the current meeting arrangements before attending is worthwhile, particularly around school holidays.

📌 Before you take part

• Check ages and eligibility: Programs range from baby sessions to services for young adults, while some supports have referral, catchment or consent requirements.
• Confirm bookings: Some activities are drop-in, but playgroups, youth programs, assessments and support appointments may require registration or advance contact.
• Ask about accessibility: Discuss mobility, communication, sensory or other access needs with the provider before visiting.
• Review supervision arrangements: Early-childhood activities generally involve an accompanying adult, while listed youth programs may provide supervision under their own participation conditions.
• Confirm current costs and schedules: Free services are identified above; private therapy fees, session dates and program availability should be checked directly.

🌟 If you run a family-focused business, service, activity or community group serving Wollongong and nearby areas, you are warmly invited to add your details or update an existing listing so local families can find accurate, useful information.

⚠️ Accuracy Note: We do our best to keep this information useful and up to date, however details can change over time. If you notice anything that appears incorrect or out of date, please let us know and we will review it. Local business owners and community leaders can also help keep local information accurate by logging in and creating or managing their own listing and useful content on wollongong.city.