- Published:
- Wednesday 18 May 2022
New mums and dads will soon have more access to early parenting support in a state-of-the-art facility, with major work underway on the new Early Parenting Centre in Geelong.
Minister for Health Martin Foley today unveiled a first look at the multi-million-dollar facility and announced the facility will be located at Barwon Health’s McKellar Centre.
The design reveals the facility’s exteriors, which have been carefully considered to create an environment where families can feel safe, comfortable and at-home.
The centre is part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $123 million investment to deliver nine state-of-the-art Early Parenting Centres in major growth areas across the state.
Geelong’s new centre will provide parents and carers with the advice and care they need, including support with sleep and settling, feeding and extra care for babies and toddlers with additional needs.
Sleep and settling is one of the biggest challenges facing new parents, with around one in two Victorian parents who are attending the early parenting centres reporting problems with their child’s sleep. This can lead to post-natal depression, isolation and stress for parents and impact a child’s behavioural and physical development.
With 10 residential units and four day stay units, the centre will provide both day stays and long residential stay programs to improve the health, wellbeing and developmental outcomes for children aged up to four-years-old.
Early works have begun on site to deliver new car spaces and prepare the site for major construction works.
The centre will be operated by Barwon Health in partnership with Tweddle Child & Family Health Service. Delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA), construction is expected be completed in 2024.
Quote attributable to Minister for Health Martin Foley
“We know how scary the first few months of parenthood can be, so we’re giving parents the support they need where they need it by investing in new and refurbished Early Parenting Centres across Victoria.”
Quote attributable to Member for Lara John Eren
“Barwon’s new Early Parenting Centre will deliver flexible, targeted services to help parents with sleep and settling issues, supporting hundreds of local families a year.”
Quote attributable to Member for Geelong Christine Couzens
“Facilities like this are great for new mums and dads, they give you the certainty that when things go wrong or you wonder if you’re doing something right, you won’t have to leave Geelong to get the support or answers you need.”