A new early parenting centre in Shepparton is set to provide better support for families and young children.
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley was in Shepparton on Wednesday to announce $25 million in funding for the facility; part of the 2022/23 state budget handed down in May.
Mooroopna five-year-old Demi was born prematurely and her dad, Brendan Redding, said the centre, which is scheduled to be completed in 2025, would have been “massive” for the family.
“You have all the care in the hospital but when you leave you’re sort of like, where do we go from here?” he said.
“There are support services but they’re scattered around and it’s hard to find, especially for a new parent — you don’t know who to ask or where to go.
“To have a place like this in the Goulburn Valley where we can get a bit of support and help ... I wish it was around when we had our kids.”
Parents and carers will be able to access advice and care, including support with sleep and settling, feeding and extra care for babies and toddlers with additional needs.
The centre will have 10 beds, a kitchen and dining area, playrooms, multi-purpose rooms and outdoor play areas.
It will be one of eight new centres across the state and is designed to support families with children up to four years of age.
State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed said the centre had been lobbied for by the community for many years.
“I’ve heard so many people over the years come to me and talk about the really dark times they had in the early parenting days, weeks and months,” she said.
“We’ve long known when a young person leaves hospital, particularly young single mothers, there’s just not been enough wraparound support.
“For people who’ve had to go to Melbourne for six weeks with their baby if they’ve got postnatal depression or some other issue, to be able to have that service here in your own community with family around you ... I think will just be fabulous.”
Mr Foley said the next six to 12 months would involve engagement with community partners to design the service, with construction expected to start in 2024.
“We’re really looking forward to it adding to the supports for families, parents and particularly kids so they can get the best possible start in life,” he said.