Frequently asked questions

Have a question for ReachOut Parents? Check out the information below to see some of the most commonly asked questions and their answers.

Assuming you’ve tried everything (you’ve found the sign up button, entered all of the relevant details, and ticked all the boxes), it might just be a bug in the system. Double check that you’ve entered all your details correctly and if it still doesn’t work, contact us and we’ll help you out.

Why can't I post on the Community Forum?

You need to be registered and signed-in to post in the Community Forums. Sign up now to get immediate access. If you’re already registered to use ReachOut Parents, but you still can’t post in the forums, contact us and we’ll see what the problem is.

Why doesn't my password work?

If you’ve forgotten your password or it just doesn’t seem to be working for you, click on the ‘Forgot your password?’ link just above the password text box. We can then send you an email with a new password for you to use.

Who runs ReachOut Parents?

ReachOut Australia is the organisation behind ReachOut Parents and our flagship service for 14 25 year-olds.

ReachOut is Australia’s leading online mental health organisation for young people, providing practical support to help them get through everything from everyday issues to tough times.

Our mission is to deliver innovative e-mental health services that enable young people to take control of their mental health and wellbeing.

Since 1998, ReachOut has worked alongside young people to deliver online tools that address youth mental health and reduce youth suicide. Available anytime and pretty much anywhere, ReachOut.com is accessed by 110,000 Australians each month. That’s more than 1.31 million people each year.

Find out more about ReachOut Australia.

Where do you get your information from?

The information you encounter on ReachOut Parents is based on the latest research evidence and has been developed in conjunction with our internal research team and sector experts, where appropriate.

We also work with a diverse team of clinicians who advise us on best practices in mental health service delivery. Meet our Clinical Advisory Group.

Find out more about our approach to research and development.

Where does ReachOut Parents get it's funding from?

ReachOut Parents is funded by the Department of Social Services; partnerships with trusts, foundation and corporate organisations; and donations from generous individuals. Read our annual report and financial statements to learn more about our supporters. To find out more about donating to ReachOut, visit the ReachOut Australia website.

Does ReachOut Parents provide counselling?

No, ReachOut Parents is not a counselling service. If you are looking to receive online counselling support, go to the emergency contacts page for information on services that provide phone and online support.

Where do the stories on ReachOut Parents come from?

The personal stories featured on ReachOut Parents are provided by young people and their families and are displayed online with their permission. To protect their privacy, no identifying details are used. Actors have been used in some of the videos and images.

How can I contact you?

You can get in touch via email at contact@reachout.com.

Can I donate or fundraise for ReachOut?

Yes. ReachOut relies on donations to provide help, support and information for young people and their parents when and where they need it. You can also fundraise for ReachOut in your community. Check out the ways you can fundraise and feel good while doing good.

Do you do community events and talks?

ReachOut Parents is unable to provide speakers to talk about general mental health, give advice about mental health issues or talk about specific issues faced by young people.

We have a network of Youth Ambassadors who can speak about ReachOut.com, our youth service. Over time we hope to extend this network to include volunteer ambassadors who are able to speak about our services for parents. Contact us if you are interested in hearing from a Youth Ambassador or a ReachOut spokesperson.

Can I advertise my research/study/organisation/service/group on ReachOut Parents?

We don’t promote or advertise anything on ReachOut Parents and any unauthorised posts will be removed.

ReachOut Parents does occasionally seek participants or promote studies looking for participants to our members, however our capacity to do so is very limited. There may be times when we can let select audiences know about research opportunities if it is particularly relevant to their interests.

If you wish to request promotion of your research study, you can contact us.

Please include the following information in your email: how you intend to fulfil your duty of care obligations to participants (the risks and how you are managing them), and details of any ethics approval that has been granted to the research.

Is ReachOut Parents confidential?

Yes, ReachOut Parents is confidential. To visit the site you don’t need to provide any information that identifies you. However if you’d like to sign up as a Community Forum member and comment or post, we do ask you for some information like your email, gender and postcode. We only use this information for our own research and won’t ever share it without your consent. For more information see our privacy policy.

Privacy policy

At ReachOut Australia we recognise the importance of your privacy and the safeguarding of your personal information. Check out our privacy policy or you can contact us directly via email privacy@reachout.com.