Supporting Local Families
Support is available for families and parents in our community.
For updates on parental support services in our community, follow Lauren Kathage MP.
Making Things Easier for Parents
Whittlesea Early Parenting Centre, South Morang
Early Parenting Centre (Sleep School)
Our government is building 10 Early Parenting Centres across the state.
The City of Whittlesea Early Parenting Centre (EPC) is a free sleep school that delivers flexible, targeted services to local families.
They support parents with strategies to achieve their parenting goals such as sleep and settling, child behaviour, parent and child health, and wellbeing.
You can find out more about the centre here:
https://health-services.mercyhealth.com.au/our-health-services/whittlesea-early-parenting-centre/
Maternal Health Services
Our government helps fund free Maternal Health Services in the area.
These services provide ongoing care to improve the health, wellbeing, and safety of families.
Find a list of MCH services in the City Of Whittlesea:
https://directory.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/family-and-children/maternal-and-child-health-centres.aspx
Free Parenting Tips and Techniques
The Triple P Positive Parenting program offers free courses, tips, and techniques, giving you the confidence and skills to build good relationships, set boundaries and rules ways that kids understand, and follow up with consequences that are not harmful.
This program is funded by the Australian Government.
You can find out more about the program here:
Baby Bundle
Our government offers first-time Victorian families a bundle of nursery essentials.
It contains key parenting information and resources to support the health, development, and wellbeing of their babies.
You can find out more about the program here:
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/maternal-child-health/baby-bundle
MCH App
Our government provides a free app for new parents.
The Maternal and Child Health app (MCH app) provides reliable information matched to the age of your child.
The app can also track your child’s growth and remind you about upcoming MCH appointments or immunisations.
It also includes a digital assistant to answer your questions 24 hours a day.
You can download the app here:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/campaigns/maternal-and-child-health-app
The Hub 3756
The Hub in 3756 in Wallan offers qualified family coaching, workshops, information, and support for parents.
This service is a partnership between Kids First, Mitchell Shire Council and FamilyCare
Free Zoos and Museum visits for kids on weekends and during school holidays
- Melbourne, Healesville, and Werribee Zoo: Kids visit free (zoo.org.au)
- National Gallery of Victoria: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/kids/
- Melbourne Museum https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/
PANDA National Helpline
PANDA is an organisation that supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and early parenthood.
Open 9am-7:30pm, Monday to Friday
Parentline
Parentline is a confidential and anonymous phone counselling service for parents and carers of children and teenagers in Victoria.
Parentline offer counselling, information, and support.
Open 8am to midnight, 7 days a week.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/serviceprofiles/parentline-service
13 22 89
Virtual Emergency Department
Our government’s Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) triages and treats patients with non-life-threatening conditions virtually. VVED is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Priority Primary Care Centres
We’ve established 29 Priority Primary Care Centres across the state.
They partner with nearby hospital emergency departments. They provide free care for people with conditions that require urgent attention but not an emergency response.
- Craigieburn
70 Central Park Ave, Craigieburn
https://www.craigieburnmedicalcentre.com.au/priority-primary-care-centre/
- Heidelberg
455 Upper Heidelberg Road Heidelberg Heights
https://www.heidelbergppcc.com.au/
- Epping
Shop 216, 571 - 583 High Street Epping
https://www.eppingplazamedicalcentre.com.au/priority-primary-care-centre
Further Support
There are many more services and more information available that can help young families.
Find a list here of resources that help with child growth, feeding, disability and much more.
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/maternal-child-health/maternal-and-child-health-service-resources
Helping Kids Stay Happy and Healthy
Ashley Park Primary School, Doreen
Smile Squad
Our government provides a Smile Squad van to deliver free oral health education, dental check-ups, and treatment to Victorian government students at school.
Good oral health stops dental problems before they become serious.
You can find out more about the program here:
Glasses For Kids
Our government has introduced free eye tests and glasses for kids that need them at selected schools, with 480 schools visited so far, and 5,000 students receiving free glasses.
You can find out more about the program here:
Giving Kids the Best Start in Life
Free Kinder
We have introduced Free three-year-old and four-year-old kinder.
Children can now access between 5 and 15 hours of free kinder per week, saving families up to $2,500 per child each year.
Find out more about starting kinder:
https://www.vic.gov.au/sending-child-kinder
The sandpit at the new Murnong Kindergarten in Donnybrook.
New Kinders
We’re investing in more kinders for families across our community. We’ve recently invested in two new kinders in Donnybrook, and two in Doreen, and there’s more on the way for Wallan East and Wollert.
Find your closest kinder here: https://findakinder.educationapps.vic.gov.au/
Lauren at the site of the Wall East Primary School to be built by 2026.
New Schools & Upgrades
We’re making kids have somewhere to get a great start. We’ve opened a brand-new primary school in Donnybrook, with another on the way for Wallan East, and specialist and secondary schools for Kalkallo. We’re also upgrading schools in Mernda, Doreen, Whittlesea, and Wandong.
Help with School Fees
There are options if you're having difficulties with school costs.
You can talk to your school about your situation. They may be able to arrange a payment plan or look at other options.
You can find out more about your options here:
Whittlesea Primary School students enjoying a new playground.
Help with School Uniform Costs
Our government offers help if you have a child at a Victorian Government Schol and are facing challenges from health issues, natural disaster, or serious financial difficulty. Discounts are available for books, uniforms, shoes. This help is provided by State Schools Relief and supported by the state government. You can access this help by speaking with your school.
You can find out more about the program here:
Free School Breakfasts
The Victorian Government’s School Breakfast Clubs offer free and healthy food for students in 1000 Victorian government schools.
The program is delivered by Foodbank Victoria.
You can find out more about the program here:
Local Playgroups to Join:
