Early Parenting Centres support families
Early Parenting Centres support families
Early Parenting Centres (EPCs) provide specialist support for Victorian families with children 0–4 years old.
They deliver flexible, targeted services that aim to enhance parent-child relationships and support parents with strategies for achieving their parenting goals. These goals are often in areas such as sleep and settling, child behaviour, child learning and development, and parent and child health and wellbeing.
EPC services are part of a broader service system supporting families which includes maternal and child health services, supported playgroups and community-based parenting programs.
Help for parents
Early Parenting Centres offer a range of specialised support, counselling and advice for families with children 0 to 4 years. Services are provided at no cost to families who are assessed as needing some extra support to reach their parenting goals.
Families do not require a Medicare Card to access services at an Early Parenting Centre.
Ask your maternal and child health nurse or call the
Maternal and Child Health Line
(Tel.
13 22 29
) to discuss support services available in your area.
What programs do Early Parenting Centres provide?
Residential: a centre-based intensive parenting program in which families stay at the centre over a number of days.
Day stay: centre-based day programs provided at EPCs or at outreach locations.
Group services: group-based programs attended by families, which are designed to improve parent-child relationships and interaction.
In-home support: an intensive program providing early parenting support in the family home.
How can they help my family?
Support is available for all Victorian families with children from pregnancy to 4 years who need additional, specialised or targeted support. Early Parenting Centres help families to:
strengthen parenting capacity and skills
enhance parent-child relationships
increase parental confidence in responding to their infant/toddlers needs
build on a family’s link with their community.
How can you access your local Early Parenting Centre?
Centres are staffed by highly qualified maternal and child health nurses and specialist early parenting, health and wellbeing practitioners.
Referrals to Early Parenting Centres are usually from Maternal and Child Health services, maternity services, general practitioners (GPs) or other services. Alternatively, you may choose to refer yourself to a centre by contacting your local centre.
Location
Contact details
Ballarat
Grampians Early Parenting Centre, Grampians
Health
External Link
10 Fawcett Road, Lucas
Tel.
(03) 5320 3003
Bendigo
Wayipunga Bendigo Early Parenting Centre, Bendigo
Health
External Link
Havlin Street East, Bendigo
Tel.
(03) 5454 6000
Canterbury
O’Connell Family Centre, Mercy
Health
External Link
6 Mount Albert Road, Canterbury
Tel.
(03) 8416 7600
Clyde North
Murrumbek Casey Early Parenting Centre, Monash
Health
External Link
114 Newgrange Boulevard, Clyde North
Tel.
(03) 7511 2800
Frankston (Aboriginal-dedicated EPC)
Baluk Balert Barring Early Parenting Centre, First Peoples’ Health and
Wellbeing
External Link
401-403 Nepean Highway, Frankston
Tel.
(03) 9070 8181
Footscray
Tweddle Child and Family Health
Service
External Link
70 Sydney Street, Footscray
Tel.
(03) 9689 1577
Geelong
Barwon Early Parenting Centre, Barwon
Health
External Link
45-95 Ballarat Road, North Geelong
Tel.
(03) 4215 5920
Noble Park
Queen Elizabeth
Centre
External Link
53 Thomas Street, Noble Park
Tel.
(03) 9549 2777
South Morang
Woi-wurrung-yagila-wulumperi, Whittlesea Early Parenting Centre, Mercy
Health
External Link
34 Anchorage Drive, South Morang
Tel.
(03) 9407 6820
Werribee
Tweddle Child and Family Health
Service
External Link
239-245 Princes Highway, Werribee
Tel.
(03) 9689 1577
Where to get help
Your
maternal and child health nurse
Maternal and Child Health Line
Tel.
13 22 29
– available 24 hours, 7 days
Aboriginal Health Service
(VAHS)
External Link
Tel.
(03) 9419 3000
Download
fact sheets on sleep and settling in 0–6 year olds
Your
GP (doctor)
13 22
89
External Link
1800 050
321
External Link
– Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm, Saturday 10 am to 4 pm