Member for Bega Andrew Constance has today announced an exciting partnership with the NSW Government, Gidget Foundation Australia and Tresillian Family Care Centres that will see local support available to expectant and new parents across the region.
The new co-located facility will be based in Moruya providing much needed access to specialist early parenting services.
Mr Constance said, we know that up to 50 per cent of mums whose babies have sleeping or feeding issues, suffer from post-natal anxiety and depression.
“These amazing centres have Tresillian nurses and a Gidget Foundation perinatal mental health clinician working together to help the baby and parents.
I know how difficult it can be adjusting to life with a newborn and having services like this close to home really will be life changing for regional families,” Mr Constance said.
Tresillian is the largest early parenting service in Australia, providing advice, support and evidence-based programs to families in the early years as well as leadership and support for other agencies and organisations.
Gidget Foundation Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that helps expectant and new parents to receive specialist care through a range of programs, including face-to-face and telehealth psychological counselling by experienced perinatal mental health clinicians.
Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women Bronnie Taylor highlighted the importance of the integrated care approach and said it will ensure that counselling and parenting support are provided for local families.
“There can be no doubt that babies are a blessing, but when a baby arrives it can also be one of the most challenging times in a mother or father’s life,” Mrs Taylor said.
“Sometimes we can forget that it can be a stressful, lonely and overwhelming time caring for a newborn. This is all about helping families in their hour of need and services like this can have a really positive impact on the wider community as well.”
Robert Mills CEO Tresillian said Tresillian's services have transformed the lives of thousands of families. We’re thrilled to be working in partnership with NSW Government and Gidget Foundation Australia to ensure every child in the Eurobodalla region has the best start in life.
“Parents will be able to access a range of invaluable services at the new Family Care Centre, providing support to families for early parenting issues including breastfeeding support, infant settling, toddler behaviour and peri-natal anxiety and depression; supporting parents to build confidence and enjoy the critical early years of their child's life’.”
Arabella Gibson CEO Gidget Foundation Australia said, "We know that 1 in 5 new mums and 1 in 10 new dads will suffer from perinatal depression and anxiety".
“When you throw into the mix, the recent experiences of natural disasters such as the bushfires and a pandemic, it makes for a highly anxious time as a new parent.
During the last 18 months we’ve seen demand for our services increase by 127% so we are really looking forward to opening a Gidget House in the region so that we can support NSW families in the Eurobodalla to be mentally healthy and well again.”
