Tweddle Joins Health Services To Deliver New Early Parenting Centres

By Kerrie Gottliebsen

Tweddle is delighted to announce new Geelong, Bendigo and Wyndham locations and partnerships as part of the Victorian Government’s $123 million Early Parenting Centres Expansion and Upgrade project.

Tweddle will work in partnership with Bendigo Health and Barwon Health and be the key provider of a new Early Parenting Centre in the rapidly growing region of Wyndham.

Tweddle CEO Ms Jacquie O’Brien said the entire Tweddle team were looking forward to serving the families and communities of Bendigo, Geelong and Wyndham. “Tweddle has worked in partnership to support Victoria’s babies, toddlers and their parents for three generations. We are grateful to the Andrews Labor Government, not only for our Footscray expansion but for the opportunity to help build the capacity and confidence of parents in some of Victoria’s major growth corridors.”

Ms O’Brien also expressed her thanks to Victoria’s new Minister for Health, Martin Foley. “As the previous Minister for Mental Health, Minister Foley is aware of the importance of early intervention and the first 1000 days to the lifelong health outcomes of babies and toddlers.” she said. “These new Early Parenting Centres, and the expansion of Tweddle in Footscray will help provide more infants and families with a positive and resilient start in life.”

Melbourne’s west is one of Australia’s quickest growing regions. 6,054 babies were born in the first year at the Joan Kirner Women’s & Children’s Hospital in Sunshine and another 3,830 babies were born at the Werribee Mercy during the same period. The parents of these 28 babies born daily will be relieved to know that sleep and settling support is growing in the west.

Sleep and settling is one of the biggest challenges facing new parents and this can lead to post-natal depression, isolation and stress for parents, and impact a child’s behavioural, mental and physical development.

“We know that parenting can be challenging and stressful at times and some new mums and dads may need a little extra support to give their children the best start to life.” said Minister for Health Martin Foley.

“Early parenting centres deliver flexible, targeted services to help parents with sleep and settling issues. This investment will more than triple Victoria’s service capacity – supporting thousands more families a year.”

The centres will provide day-stays and longer residential stay programs to improve the health, wellbeing and developmental outcomes for children aged up to four-years-old. Each new centre will include 10 residential units and four day stay units.