Support promised for young families

A SUPPORT package to assist children and families to receive childcare and postnatal services would be provided by Labor if the party is re-elected to State government.

The $69 million pledge aims to provide free Maternal and Child Health Services, new early parenting centres, and support initiatives for fatherhood and multicultural people.

Minister for Education and Women Natalie Hutchins said quality community child health services are integral.

“Maternal child health specialists are absolute superheroes in our community. They identify the needs and the risks that are happening with newborn babies or with parents,” she said.

“They reach out, they identify, and they are very well-trained, and what we are doing is giving a major boost to those resources. [This package is] all about making sure our young families are supported.”

The package includes an additional eight hours’ worth of free appointments for parents, $4 million in free appointments to assist mothers with lactation, and $6 million towards delivering multicultural story time sessions at 60 locations throughout Victoria.

The pledge comes following the State Government’s $148 million initiative to deliver 10 new or upgraded early parenting centres throughout Victoria, with works on a Lucas-based site underway.

“I have no doubt Ballarat city council will welcome this announcement in making sure the maternal and child health workforce… is supported into the future with that extended funding,” Ms Hutchins said.

“The fact we have a parenting centre under construction here in Ballarat, the first time we’ve seen these centres established outside Melbourne… shows how committed our government is to doing what matters.”

The State Government also recently launched the Best Start, Best Life campaign which offers 15 hours per week of free kindergarten for children aged three and four.