In May 1993, it became a national service, allowing all Australian kids to have access to a free counselling service. Kids Help Line provides anonymous, confidential, professional telephone counselling for kids aged 5 to 18 years. Any issue can be discussed. Callers can be referred to other services if necessary, such as health and emergency services, accommodation services and child protection agencies.
Callers can choose to be linked to the same counsellor each time they call.
Kids Help Line advocates on behalf of callers where their interests are ignored, minimised or misrepresented. As an added service, Kids Help Line records non-identifying information about all calls. This is compiled to produce a unique, current, highly valuable database on the issues, which face young Australian people today. The total staff number is 120 and is led by psychologist Trevor Carlyon who is executive director of Kids Help Line. The call centre is based in Brisbane.