A new facility, the Barwon Early Parenting Centre (EPC), has officially opened in North Geelong, providing essential support for new parents across Geelong, the Bellarine, and Surf Coast. Operated by Barwon Health at the McKellar Centre on Ballarat Road, the centre aims to create a comforting environment akin to a home away from home.
The EPC offers guidance and care for families with children up to four years old, addressing challenges such as sleep and settling, feeding, and specialized care for infants and toddlers with additional needs. These issues are significant for many Victorian parents, affecting not only their well-being but also their children’s development.
Staffed by a team of health professionals including nurses, midwives, child health experts, psychologists, and social workers, the centre provides a range of services from short-term day-stays to week-long residential support. It accommodates families of all sizes with 10 residential units and four day-stay spaces.
Furthermore, the EPC is fostering partnerships with local services like Aboriginal Maternal and Child Health, mental health support, LGBTIQ family services, and disability and family violence support. This collaboration aims to strengthen community support networks and enhance referrals for families in need.
The centre has already begun triaging families seeking early parenting support, with day-stay programs starting this month and overnight stays planned from next month. Families can access the centre through self-referral to Barwon Health or referrals from general practitioners or maternal and child health nurses.
Local members of parliament, including Lara MP Ella George and Bellarine MP Alison Marchant, attended the official opening, emphasizing the importance of local access to specialized parenting support.
Barwon EPC is the eighth in Victoria, with plans for a ninth in Bendigo later this year, as part of the Victorian government’s $148 million initiative to expand early parenting services.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn highlighted the government’s commitment to providing children with the best start in life through initiatives like the EPCs, supporting both child development and parental well-being during the early stages of parenting.
