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Specialist centres 04 April 2025

Supporting families at the upgraded Footscray Early Parenting Centre

A multi-million-dollar upgrade of the Footscray Early Parenting Centre upgrade is complete.

The upgrade will help more than 250 extra mums, dads and caregivers on their parenting journey each year.

The multi-million-dollar project has delivered a new building. The new building includes:

  • 12 residential family units
  • day-stay places
  • play room
  • dining room
  • multi-purpose room
  • administration areas
  • interview rooms.

The residential family units can support different family structures. Families can bring multiple children or accommodate an older sibling, grandparent or other carer during their stay.

Thoughtful design ensures the centre feels safe and serene, with lots of natural light and spaces that feel like home.

The upgrade has also delivered native landscaping and carparking.

The Tweddle Child and Family Health Service manage the Footscray Early Parenting Centre.

Take a look inside your bigger, better Footscray Early Parenting Centre

[Text on screen: When parents are supported, children can thrive]

[Images: Aerial views of the centre]

[Text on screen: Take a look inside the bigger and better Footscray Early Parenting Centre]

[Images: Artwork on an interior wall]

[Text on screen: Early Parenting Centres support parents and caregivers with babies and toddlers from 0-4 years old]

[Images: A montage showing the brightly coloured walls, toys and seating areas inside the centre]

[Text on screen: They aim to enhance the parent-child relationship and support parents with strategies for achieving their parenting goals like sleep, settling or feeding]

[Images: A montage showing the brightly coloured walls, toys and seating areas inside the centre]

[Text on screen: The multi-million-dollar upgrade has delivered

  • 12 new residential family units
  • day stay places
  • play room
  • dining room
  • multi-purpose room
  • administration areas
  • interview rooms]

[Images: A montage showing the interior rooms]

[Text on screen: The upgrade is part of the Victorian Government's $148 million Early Parenting Centres Expansion and Upgrade Program]

[Images: Aerial views of the centre]

[Images: A white transition screen displays the text 'In partnership with'; and the 'Tweddle Child & Family Health Service' logo. A sliding transition screen then displays the Victorian Health Building Authority and Victoria State Government logos and the url vhba.vic.gov.au]

[End of transcript]

What is an Early Parenting Centre (EPC)?

Having a baby or child under four years of age is a special time for families. But it can also be a stressful time.

For some, support from loved ones, their local doctor, and a maternal and child health service will be enough.

Others will experience more persistent challenges. That’s where EPCs can help.

EPCs support parents or carers with children up to four years old. The centres help build parenting skills, providing support with:

  • sleep, settling or feeding
  • bonding and attachment
  • infant and child behavioural concerns
  • strengthening parenting capacity and skills.

EPCs provide four main services:

  • day-stay services – intensive day programs providing early parenting support
  • residential services – parents can stay at the centre for several days to build parenting skills and capacity
  • telehealth services – parents receive support over the telephone, either stand-alone or complementary to other EPC services
  • home-based services – tailored services providing practical supports to help families nurture and care for their child independently.

EPCs also provide wrap-around support to families with more complex needs or vulnerabilities. This includes care planning, referrals and community support.

About the EPC expansion and upgrade program

The Footscray Early Parenting Centre is one of ten new or upgraded facilities being delivered through the Victorian Government’s early parenting centres expansion and upgrade program.

The program is delivering:

  • upgrades to two existing EPCs in Footscray and Noble Park
  • eight new EPCs in growing areas across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Once complete, the network of centres will support more than 5,000 extra Victorian families each year.

Find out more about the early parenting centres expansion and upgrade program.

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Last updated: 04 April 2025