Creating Positive and Lasting Change at Tweddle’s 102nd AGM

By Kerrie Gottliebsen

Tweddle’s 102nd AGM was celebrated this afternoon with a gathering of Board members, staff, and guests. After an incredible year of growth, getting together gave us time to reflect and acknowledge the many achievements of 2021/2022.

An Historic Year at Tweddle

Without doubt, turning 102 years has been a historic milestone for all involved at Tweddle.

Tweddle’s CEO Ms Jacquie O’Brien welcomed Board Chair Doris Whitmore who will be retiring her position on the Tweddle Board following ten years of dedicated service.  Ms Whitmore also spoke on behalf of the Board and staff when she thanked Ms Melanie Telford for her ten years of service on the Tweddle Board. Gratefully Ms Telford has joined the Tweddle Foundation Board.

The Chair expressed her gratitude to the Andrews Labor Government for the EPC Expansion Project. She acknowledged the dedication of Tweddle management and staff for working diligently during a year that for the most part had been during significant construction. She thanked Deputy Mayor Cr Cuc Lam and 1939 Tweddle baby Jim Hevey for joining the AGM.

Tweddle Highlights for 2021 – 2022

Many highlights made 2021/22 a momentous year. This included the launch of Tweddle’s new 2021-2024 strategic plan and the successful EQuIP6 and Human Service Standard accreditation.

Tweddle’s delivery of the state-wide Sleep and Settling Training to over 2000 Health Professionals exemplified Tweddle teamwork. The project continues to be rolled out today with Tweddle trained Sleep and Settling champions positioned across the State.

Tweddle’s Working Out Dads program become part of a four-year Murdoch Children’s Research Institute research trial to evaluate ways to promote men’s health and wellbeing during early fatherhood.

Building Projects, Centenary Celebrations and Infant Mental Health

In 2021/22 Tweddle commenced our exciting building projects including a rebuild at our Footscray site and a new centre at Wyndham with onsite visits by the Minister for Health Marie-Anne Thomas and Treasurer of Victoria Tim Pallas.

Tweddles’ partnerships with Barwon Health and Bendigo Health in support of their new EPC developments continued. Innovation was front and centre with the collaborative delivery of our HoPES – Supporting Parents with a Disability program.

Two significant highlights in 2021/22 included Tweddle’s Government House Centenary celebration and the Infant Mental Health Awareness week event. Both of these events allowed us to acknowledge and thank partnerships and stakeholders, as well as advocate for babies, toddlers and their families in a global movement which is raising awareness of infant mental health.

Tweddle’s Centenary was hosted at Government House by Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and Mr Anthony Howard AM QC.

We were thrilled with the delivery of the successful breakfast seminar ‘Understanding Early Trauma’ as part of Infant Mental Health Awareness Week on behalf of the Tweddle Foundation. Advocating for infant mental health continues to be a Tweddle priority.

The AGM’s guest speaker was Tweddle’s Expansion Project Advisor Emily Mudge. She delivered an update on the Early Parenting Centre Expansion for Tweddle, covering the four EPC locations and progress across all sites.

Tweddle Years of Service Awards and Values Award

An AGM highlight featured the Years of Service awards and the Tweddle Values Award. These were awarded to Denise Dunstan, Andi Jones and Marie Treloar for 5 years, Julie Aston for 10 years and Leanne Addison for 15 years of service.

The Tweddle Values Award developed from wanting to reinforce the importance of demonstrating Tweddle Values in the work that we do across all program areas. Tweddle’s values are Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Engagement.

This award recognises and rewards an individual staff member for exemplary display of one or more of the Tweddle Values and Behaviours in 2021/22.

This staff member was nominated by staff and assessed by a panel.  They have been seen as being a leader and an example of living into our Tweddle values in their work with their peers and the families that we serve. The Award was presented to Gina Warren.

Gina is Tweddle’s In-home Coordinator, much loved by everyone at Tweddle. Gina has qualifications in mental health and nursing and is passionate about her work with babies, toddlers and families. Congratulations Gina!

Tweddle would not be where we are today without the support of funders, donors, volunteers, partners, and community voices.

Thanks to Funders, Donors and Volunteers

The Chair thanked the critical and ongoing support of the Department of Health and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. She also thanked local Member for Footscray, Ms Katie Hall MP.

Donors, philanthropists, and volunteers are a lifeline for Tweddle. They help us to support more babies, toddlers and families with life-changing programs, equipment and resources.

We are grateful to the William Angliss Charitable Fund, Brimbank Communities for Children, Ms Romy Katz, Ms Jo Norton, Ms Lesley Yates, Ms Savannah Allen, Department of Education and Training, Hobsons Bay Community Fund, Givenow Donors, Knit One Give One, Fay Stankovich, Brenda Cottee and Rhonda Gaia Skincare, Johnson and Johnson and Dental Health Services Victoria provide Tweddle families with donated items to take home.

Tweddle is on the brink of incredible growth being our expansion both here and at Wyndham, a region announced as the fastest growing in Australia and where over 100 babies are born every week.

It will be an historical year for Tweddle as we expand, growing from one EPC to two EPCS and the support of another two in Barwon and Bendigo.

You can read Tweddle’s 2021/2022 Annual Report here.