Early parenting centre site announced for Hastings

Families living on the Peninsula will soon have better access to support, with a site selected for a new early parenting centre (EPC) in Hastings.

The new EPC will be built on part of the Hastings Community Health site at 185 High Street, Hastings.

The site was carefully selected to provide the best coverage of services for local families. It is close to parks and reserves, and other complementary community facilities.

The multi-million-dollar centre will feature residential family units and day-stay places. This allows for both short-term and longer residential stay programs to improve the health, wellbeing and developmental outcomes of children.

The EPC is being delivered in partnership with The Queen Elizabeth Centre, with support from Peninsula Health.

What are early parenting centres?

EPCs help families with children up to four years of age enhance their relationships and achieve their parenting goals. This will include:

• advice and care for parents and carers
• support with sleep and settling
• support with feeding
• extra care for babies and toddlers with more needs.

Sleep and settling is one of the biggest challenges facing new parents. Around half of parents who attend EPCs report problems with their child’s sleep.

Lack of sleep can lead to post-natal depression, isolation and stress for parents. It can also affect a child’s behavioural, mental and physical development.

Expanding Victoria’s early parenting centre network

The centre in Hastings is being delivered as part of the Victorian Government’s $148 million investment to expand and upgrade the early parenting service network.

When complete, the program will more than triple existing service capacity - allowing more than 5,000 extra families to be supported each year.

The program will upgrade two existing centres and build eight new centres in growing areas across metropolitan and regional Victoria.

Learn more about the early parenting centres expansion and upgrade program.