Coming to Tweddle

Every year Tweddle’s specialised team of maternal and child health nurses, mothercraft nurses, social workers, psychologists and early parenting practitioners provide support to over 4,000 families facing parenting challenges.

Parenting challenges can include isolation, health issues, sleep deprivation, feelings of being unable to cope, financial stress and other factors. Tweddle’s caring and specialist team will work with your family to build your skills and confidence and talk to you about your goals.

What to expect

Tweddle has implemented a quick, hygienic and easy QR code reader function which is a requirement of participation across all Residential and Community Programs. As part of this process, families must record a temperature below 37.5. Anyone who receives a message they are “not to attend” must not enter the Tweddle facility.

Tweddle staff are required to meet the same stringent health protocols. Thank you for helping us keep you and other families safe. These translated brochures explain our Residential program;

Tweddle Residential Program Brochure (English)

Residential Program Brochure (Hindi)

Residential Program Brochure (Vietnamese)

Residential Program Brochure (Simplified Chinese)

Residential Program Brochure (Arabic)

Welcome to Tweddle – A virtual tour

Getting Help for Sleep and Settling

For many parents, challenges with a baby or toddler sleep and settling may be easily fixed by talking to people in their support network and getting some extra help at home. For other parents it might be a more complex situation. The best person to talk to is your Maternal and Child Health Nurse or your GP – they will assist you to work out what will help. This might include a referral to one of Tweddle’s programs. You can self-refer to Tweddle or ask your health professional to access the referral forms and information which can be found here.

Contacting Tweddle

Once you have self-referred to Tweddle, or your GP or Maternal and Child Health Nurse has sent the referral to Tweddle you will be contacted by the intake and assessment team within the next couple of days. Our intake and assessment team are highly skilled Community, Child and Family Health professionals and Registered Nurses.

If you are eligible for a funded program the Duty Worker will book you into the Assessment and Intake process to determine the program best suited to you. Both you and your partner will be encouraged to attend the program. The Assessment and Intake Worker will let you know the timelines for admission as well as the possibility of an earlier ‘standby’ admission if there is a cancellation.

If you have questions about the care of your baby/child please call your Maternal and Child Health Nurse or the Maternal and Child Health Line 13 22 29 for advice.

A letter from a mum talking about her experiences coming to Tweddle

I was excited, relieved and a little bit anxious when I found out my daughter Esther and I had a place in Tweddle’s Residential Stay program. Esther was 10 months old and waking up to 7 times a night. With a 3 year old as well to look after, I wasn’t doing great. I was exhausted, had little patience, and felt teary, angry or stressed most of the time. Plus, the lack of sleep meant my post-natal depression and anxiety were getting worse.

I went to see my GP and she suggested a stay at Tweddle. I was really reluctant – I’d heard of sleep schools and wasn’t keen. Wouldn’t it mean I’d have to leave my baby on her own to cry for hours? Would I be allowed to comfort her? How would this treatment damage her? Despite this, I asked my GP to put in a referral because I was desperate.

When I found out we had a place I prepared myself as much as I could before coming in. I looked at Tweddle’s website and Facebook page. These reassured me that Tweddle are experts on infant mental health and wouldn’t advocate doing anything which could damage Esther.

I also came in to see the unit the week before and found everyone so kind – and was surprised at how beautiful the rooms were! On the Monday morning of our stay, I felt excited and nervous.

Read the rest of Jen’s letter here.

Your information

Once you are booked into the Tweddle program such as the Residential Program or Day Stay Program you will receive some information by email or mail for you to complete and bring with you on the day of admission:

Certificate of Attendance

Tweddle is very keen for both parents or important support people to attend the program as it benefits the whole family. Please contact Tweddle before your admission date to request a Certificate of Attendance for your employer to enable both you and your partner to attend.

Coming into Tweddle Programs

Knowing you are coming into a Tweddle program can seem like a huge relief or it can feel a bit scary, either way you are likely to be feeling very tired and anxious.

The Pre-admission Information tells you what to pack and bring, as well as other important health information.

Residential and Day Stay Programs

Day of Admission

Don’t forget to bring the completed paperwork on the day of your admission.

We understand how hard it might be to get to Tweddle on time, especially if you are coming from a distance. Just let reception know if you are running late. You will be welcomed whenever you get to Tweddle, we appreciate the effort you have made to come.

Click on the links below to learn more about the program you will be accessing:

Child Safe Organisation

Tweddle offers a Child Safe environment by putting the best interests of children first to ensure their rights and needs are met. We apply this principle in policy and practice, screen applicants for suitability to work with children and promote a culture of child safety, wellbeing and identification and prevention of harm. Tweddle has a duty to respond to any concerns, disclosures, allegations or suspicions of harm.