New mums and dads will soon have better access to early parenting support in a purpose-built facility, with construction progressing on the new Early Parenting Centre in Geelong.
Health Infrastructure Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced in April that the multi-million-dollar facility at the McKellar Centre in North Geelong was on track to be completed early next year.
With concrete poured and steel framing underway, the building will start to take shape over the next three months.
Designed to help families with children aged up to four years, the new centre will have 10 residential family units and four day-stay places, providing both short-term and longer residential stay programs to improve the health, wellbeing and developmental outcomes of children.
“The specialist early intervention and prevention programs offer parents targeted support in the first four years of a child’s life – delivering lifelong benefits,” Ms Thomas said.
The new centre will give parents and carers 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 about one in two Victorian parents who are attending the early parenting centres reporting problems with their child’s sleep.
“Being a new parent can be hard and the new centre will help parents in the Barwon region with sleep and settling issues, supporting hundreds of local families a year,” Ms Thomas said.
This can lead to post-natal depression, isolation and stress for parents and affect a child’s behavioural, mental and physical development.
The Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) is delivering the centre in partnership with Barwon Health, the Tweddle Child and Family Health Service, and builder Bowden Corporation.
“The Geelong Early Parenting Centre will be a great addition to the health services already available at the McKellar Centre in North Geelong, with more support for local families to achieve their parenting goals,” Lara MP Ella George said.
