Ash Bolt
New parents will soon have more access to early parenting support in a state-of-the-art facility, with major work under way on Geelong’s new Early Parenting Centre.
Health Minister Martin Foley this week announced the multi-million-dollar facility would be located at Barwon Health’s McKellar Centre.
The centre is part of the state government’s $123 million investment to deliver nine state-of-the-art early parenting centres in major growth areas across the state.
Mr Foley said Geelong’s new centre would provide parents and carers with the advice and care they needed, 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 early parenting centres reporting problems with their child’s sleep.
Sleeping problems have been found to lead to postnatal depression, isolation and stress for parents and impact a child’s behavioural and physical development.
Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver said the centre would provide a long-lasting benefit to Geelong families.
“This much-needed centre will provide support for hundreds of families in Geelong and the Barwon South West region, reducing the need to travel to Melbourne,” she said.
“We know the first four years can be particularly challenging for families; this centre will provide a holistic approach to common concerns in the early years.”
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 and Family Health Service.
Ms Diver said Barwon Health had committed to partnering with the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative and other groups to ensure the centre provided a culturally responsive service.
The construction project will be delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority. Construction work will start in the coming months with the centre expected to be completed and operational in 2024.
“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,” Geelong MP Christine Couzens said.
