New Tarneit Day Stay to Open for Wyndham Babies and Families

By Kerrie Gottliebsen

Tweddle Child and Family Health Service (Tweddle) and the City of Wyndham are delighted to announce a new Early Parenting Day Stay program opening in North Tarneit for Wyndham families from the 11^th of October 2022.

Delivered by Tweddle, the Tarneit Day Stay Program will operate weekly for families with babies up to 12 months of age. Parents and carers will be supported by experienced Tweddle clinicians who will be located at the new Bembit Bag-rook Community Centre in Polly Parade, Tarneit.

The lead up to Tweddle’s new Wyndham Early Parenting Centre

The temporary Day Stay service is opening in the lead up to Tweddle’s new Residential Early Parenting Centre, due to commence service delivery in mid-2023. Families experiencing parenting challenges will be able to access the service either by self-referral or through their Wyndham MCHN or other health professionals

Tweddle CEO Ms Jacquie O’Brien said that the partnership and new Day Stay program would strengthen local services and offer Wyndham families, especially parents of babies, specialised support.

“It is often an unsettled baby that spurs families into contacting Tweddle. The Wyndham Day Stay joins Tweddle’s other six community-based centres providing much needed help for families.” she said.

A focus on health, relationships and building confidence

Ms O’Brien said that all programs focus on infant health, development, and the promotion of attachment relationships. “Attending a day stay program enables practitioners to work alongside parents, look at the whole 24-hour cycle and provide practical strategies to empower parents to do the best they can.”

The program offers additional guidance around sleep and settling, feeding, attachment and bonding, establishing routines, mental health and developmental ages and stages.

Wyndham City Mayor, Cr Peter Maynard, said: “New parents face many challenges, and one of them doesn’t have to be travelling long distances to get the support they need. We’re thrilled to partner with Tweddle, and we know their support will have a lasting positive impact on the lives of mothers, fathers and children in Wyndham.”

The Bembit Bag-rook Community Centre is part of a new Integrated Family Centre in Tarneit North. The new centre will provide the local community with access to high quality kindergarten, maternal and child health and other family services.

The Family Centre was built with thanks to State Government’s Building Blocks Capacity Grants funding and is a Victorian School Building Authority project. ‘Bembit’ means flower, and ‘Bag-rook’ means women in Bunurong language

Referrals to the Tarneit Day Stay program

Families can phone Tweddle on (03) 9689 1577 Monday to Friday during business hours to enquire about the service. Families can self refer, or request a referral from a trusted Health Professional.

For more information visit the Tarneit Day Stay page on the Tweddle website.