Grampians Early Parenting Centre celebrates 1,000 referrals milestone
Grampians Early Parenting Centre has reached an important milestone, recording more than 1,000 referrals since opening its doors in April 2024.
The centre, based in Ballarat and supporting families across the region, continues to see strong demand for its services that help parents navigate the challenges of raising young children.
Since launch, the Early Parenting Centre has received more than 1,003 referrals, with families accessing a wide range of support options including residential stays, day programs, phone consultations and specialised education.
The centre has supported 463 parents and their children through overnight stays, and 584 families have attended day programs. A further 314 parents have participated in infant massage education, while 1,299 phone calls have been made by families seeking advice, guidance and ongoing support.
Grampians Health Chief Operating Officer Ben Kelly said the milestone is indicative of the essential role the Early Parenting Centre plays in strengthening early parenting support across western Victoria.
“Reaching 1,000 referrals in under two years demonstrates just how vital this service is for families,” Mr Kelly said. “The Early Parenting Centre is delivering compassionate, evidence-based care that helps parents feel supported, confident and connected during what can be a very challenging time. We’re incredibly proud of the team and the impact they are making across our region.”
The Early Parenting Centre has also supported First Nations families, who represent five per cent of those accessing the service. The team continues to strive to create a culturally safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all families visiting the centre.
Vikki Doddamani, Nurse Unit Manager of the Early Parenting Centre, said the service continues to evolve as the needs of families change.
“We know that many families face barriers such as travel distance, isolation, larger family sizes and rising fuel costs,” Mrs Doddamani said. “Our vision is to meet families where they are. That’s why expanding into outreach will be a major focus for us from this year onwards - so even if parents cannot get to us, we can bring support to their homes and communities.”
Staff recently connected with families at the Wimmera Field Days to talk about their services to rural communities.
Mr Kelly said the Early Parenting Centre’s future outreach plans align with Grampians Health’s commitment to improving equitable access to care.
“Families in every part of our region deserve timely, high quality early parenting support – regardless of where they live. Expanding our services beyond the centre will ensure even more parents can get help when they need it most,” he said.
Grampians Early Parenting Centre opened in 2024 to provide specialist care closer to home for parents needing support with sleep and settling, child behaviour, and parent and child health and wellbeing.
