Parenting health hub set for 2024 opening

GEELONG’S new Early Parenting Centre has a revised opening date as the maternal health facility begins to take shape.

The EPC being built at North Geelong’s McKellar Centre is expected to welcome its first families early next year, in a slight delay from the initial opening target of late 2023 announced when the project broke ground in August last year.

Foundations are in place and workers have begun installing steel frames for the multi-million-dollar facility that will continue forming in the coming months.

Once finished, the Geelong EPC will include 10 family units and four day-stay places, providing short and long term residential stay programs.

The facility will also provide support for parents and carers for common issues such as sleeping and settling, feeding and extra care for babies and toddlers with additional needs.

Around one in two Vicotiran parents at EPCs report problems with their child’s sleep, which can result in post-natal depression, isolation and stress for parents and affect a child’s behavioural, mental and physical development.

Health Infrastructure Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the centre would provide crucial health benefits for children’s formative years.

“Being a new parent can be hard and the new centre will help parents in the Barwon region with sleep and settling issues, supporting hundreds of local families a year.”

“The specialist early intervention and prevention programs offer parents targeted support in the first four years of a child’s life – delivering lifelong benefits.”

Lara MP Ella George said the EPC “will be a great addition to the health services already available at the McKellar Centre in North Geelong, with more support for local families to achieve their parenting goals”.

The Geelong EPC is part of a $148 million government investment to expand and upgrade the state’s early parenting service network.

The Victorian Health Building Authority is delivering the project alongside Barwon Health and builder Bowden Corporation, with Tweedle Child and Health Family Service to help with establishment of the new service.