New parents in Eurobodalla and surrounding communities will have access to increased support with the opening of the Tresillian Moruya Family Care Centre, and the Tresillian 2U Eurobodalla Early Parenting Van.
The services were officially opened on Tuesday October 4th 2022 to provide more support for new parents on the South Coast.
The new centre will be based in Moruya and aims to improve access to breastfeeding support, infant settling and sleep issues, and peri-natal anxiety and depression assistance which locals say is desperately needed.
Eurobodalla Shire Council's children's services coordinator Louise Hatton said in 2021, at the announcement of the funding for the service, that there was a severe lack of parent-friendly services in the South East region and families often had to travel outside of the area to access specialised support.
"That means a whole day out of your week and it's a really big drain financially, and time-wise, for families," Ms Hatton told the ABC. The opening of the service comes after solid and continued advocacy on the part of obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Michael Holland. In his maiden speech to the NSW Parliament, Tuesday 29 March 2022, after being elected as the Member for Bega Dr Holland said: "Perinatal care particularly is the generational link that determines the development of our future individuals and consequently our society. This includes the provision of good preconception care, prenatal diagnostic services and comprehensive antenatal and intrapartum care from a variety of providers, from midwives and general practitioners to specialist obstetricians. It specifically requires comprehensive prenatal and postnatal mental health services. "It requires the provision of early parenting services such as Tresillian Family Care services. These are deficient in many of our rural communities, including the Bega electorate. These services are a legislative and ethical responsibility of the New South Wales Government for which I will continue to advocate". Chief Executive Officer, Mr Robert Mills invited guests to tour the new facilities that will provide mothers from across the electorate access to vital perinatal services.
Dr Holland said of the tour and the official opening that he welcomed the new facilities. “I
have been advocating for increased maternity services for the women of the South Coast for decades now and I’m so pleased to see Tresillian’s new home right here in Moruya”
"Tresillian now covers 12 regions across the state and currently have 6 mobile early parenting services in operation.
Dr Holland has called upon the Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) and the NSW Government to introduce Tresillian services in the Bega Valley, providing equality of service to residents south of Bermagui.
“I would like to see the NSW Government commit to more services for mothers in the Bega Valley. With the increased cost of living pressures, travelling to receive the benefits these services provide is not always an option.” Dr Holland said.
“I look forward to seeing the real impact this will have in our community, especially the mobile service which will greatly assist some hard-to-reach areas currently experiencing challenges”.
Above: Tresillian CEO Rob Mills with Federal Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips and Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland at the official opening of the Tresillian Moruya Family Care Centre, and the Tresillian 2U Eurobodalla Early Parenting Van Federal Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips attended the opening and told The Beagle “I was delighted to attend the official opening of Tresillian at Moruya and see the launch of the Tresillian 2U Eurobodalla Early Learning Parenting Van.
"Tresillian is such a wonderful service for new parents and babies.
"It is essential that parents are given every opportunity for assistance at the exciting but sometimes daunting time of being a new parent.
"Thank you to all the Tresillian staff and I look forward to seeing the Early Learning Van out and about in the community supporting parents”, the Federal member said.
Above: the Tresillian 2U Eurobodalla Early Parenting Van
Tresillian CEO Rob Mills said that since opening in March this year, the team at Tresillian Moruya have delivered more than 300 occasions of service to local families.
“Tresillian's services have transformed the lives of thousands of Australian families. We’re thrilled to be working in partnership with the NSW Government, Southern NSW Local Health District and Gidget Foundation Australia to ensure every child in the Eurobodalla region has the best start in life,” Mr Mills said.
“Our aim is to support parents to build confidence and enjoy the critical early years of their child's life.”
The Moruya Family Care Centre is located at 5 River Street Moruya. The Tresillian 2U Van travels to towns across the region including Batemans Bay, Mogo, Narooma, Wallaga Lake and Bermagui. Both services operate Monday to Friday.
The new Tresillian service includes a regional social worker providing face-to-face counselling in the Centre and telehealth for families in other parts of Southern and Western NSW. Gidget House perinatal mental health services are also available.
Families can book online https://www.tresillian.org.au or ask their local GP or Child & Family Health Nurse for a referral.
Comments