Family support service celebrates 12 months

GRAMPIANS Early Parenting Centre staff and families have celebrated one year of providing specialist family support.

The facility provides support for parents with sleep and settling, child behaviour, and parent and child health and wellbeing.

It includes 10-bedroom suites, shared kitchen and dining areas, playrooms, multipurpose rooms and outdoor play areas.

Grampians Health chief operating officer Ben Kelly said there are further plans for the centre in 2025.

“In 2025, we will introduce a new role designed to provide more support to the families and enhance their wellbeing,” he said.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Lynne Trezise as our senior child life therapist in our second year of operation.

“This is a pioneering position for Grampians Health, and it will offer additional support to the children and families who spend time with us.”

The centre has welcomed more than 300 families and held infant massage education classes over the past year.

“Being a new parent can be hard and at Grampians Early Parenting Centre, we hope to provide specialised support in helping them settle into their roles and enhance parent-child relationships,” site director of nursing Jade Odgers said.

“Our support extends beyond our walls, educating families about community resources and empowering them to seek additional services to enhance their parenting skills.

“Our goal is to help families connect in the short term and contribute to the lifelong wellbeing and success of the infants and children who visit us.”