Who Calls Parentline

Parentline counsellors receive over 210 calls a week from parents, carers and family members.

Callers range in age from teens to 86 year olds, with the average caller age being 40 years old.

Predominantly, callers are female and make up around 87% of calls.

In 2007:

76% of callers were custodial parents
8% were parents with shared custody
6% were non-custodial parents
4% were grandparents

Parentline also receives a small number of calls from foster carers, other relatives, family friends, neighbours and professionals involved with children.

The top concerns faced by callers to Parentline have remained consistent since the service began in 1996, and include:

Parenting strategies
Enhancing parent-child relationships
Challenging behaviour and discipline
Relationships between parents
Caring for infants
The mental and emotional well-being of children and parents
Custody or family law issues
Concerns about child abuse
Contact and access

To find out more about who calls Parentline and why, read the Parentline Overview 2007.