Wednesday, 1 April 2026

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:20): I rise to update the house on one of the ways in which the state Labor government is supporting Victorian families: by delivering the Whittlesea early parenting centre. Last week it was a pleasure to visit the team at the Whittlesea early parenting centre to hear about the ways we are supporting families and their little ones in the northern suburbs and beyond. The services delivered at the centre aim to enhance the parent–child relationship and assist carers to achieve their parenting goals in areas such as sleep and settling, child behaviour, parent and child health and wellbeing and parent–child attachment. This beautiful centre delivers supports to families with babies aged zero to four years. Families can be referred to the service by their GP or maternal and child health nurse, but they can also self-refer to the centre. The centre features 10 overnight family units and four day-stay places, giving families the option of visits for daytime supports as well as weeklong programs that improve the health and wellbeing and developmental outcomes of their children.

The Whittlesea early parenting centre is operated by Mercy Health, who also operate the longstanding Canterbury early parenting centre, which has been operating for more than 75 years. In fact I recall first visiting that centre, then known as the Grey Sisters, as a child with my own family. I remember that they had the most amazing doll’s house. Until not long ago the Canterbury EPC, known as the O’Connell Family Centre, was one of only three early parenting centres operating across the state, but since 2019–20 the Victorian government has refurbished two EPCs and built seven more, with another three centres planned for completion this year and next, bringing the total number of Victorian EPCs to 13.

We now have EPCs operating in Whittlesea, Canterbury, Footscray, Noble Park, Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, Wyndham and Casey and a First Nations-led EPC in Frankston, with centres to open in Hastings, Shepparton and Northcote. With close to $200 million invested in Victoria’s EPC network, the state government is now delivering services to families right across the state. By delivering these amazing services free of charge we are easing the cost of living for Victorian families and helping their families grow. I am very proud to speak to this wonderful nation-leading initiative in the house today, because it is only our government that will support Victorian families from those very early days of parenthood right through the early years to give our children the very best start in life.