The Knox Early Parenting Centre was officially opened in June by the Victorian Minister for Youth and Community Services, the Hon. Denis Napthine. Based at the Clarekirk Maternal and Child Health Centre in Wantirna, the Centre is a one-stop service integrating the Knox Breast Feeding Centre, the local Maternal & Child Health Service and several playgroups with the early parenting program and parenting education service.
The facility is designed to assist parents who have concerns over their baby’s sleeping, eating and behavioural routines. On launching the new facility, Mayor, Councillor Richard Dare, said that the Centre was a unique service for Local Government.
“Previously, Knox parents had to travel outside the area to Canterbury or Dandenong for early parenting services,” he said. “By collocating these services, the Centre is able to take a holistic approach to the assistance it provides.”
The Knox Early Parenting Centre is staffed three and a half days a week. The service is operated by an experienced maternal and child health nurse, who is also a lactation consultant and a mothercraft nurse. The City of Knox has 32 Maternal and Child Health Centres which deal with thousands of parents and children each year.
MCH staff are now able to identify irregularities in babies and young children and organise rapid referral to the Early Parenting Centre. The Breastfeeding Service within the Centre was recently nominated for a Victorian Nursing Award.
