Early parenting centres

Victorian Early Parenting Centres

Expansion of Victoria’s Early Parenting Centres (EPC) from three existing centres to 13 centres is currently underway. To support this expansion the Victorian Department of Health commissioned the Monash University, Health and Social Care Unit (HSCU) to develop and implement an Outcomes Framework for the Victorian EPC network. The Victorian EPC Outcomes Framework was endorsed by the Department of Health in June 2022 and the HSCU research and implementation team are in the second year of implementing the framework with the EPCs. The team work closely with the Department of Health and the EPCs to build relationships and through skilled facilitation, using long term context appropriate vision, to implement the EPC Outcomes Framework.

Queen Elizabeth Centre

A research partnership, between HSCU and Queen Elizabeth Centre (QEC), has been established to support QEC’s mission of inspiring confident, capable communities that enable children to thrive. This partnership is grounded in QEC’s vision for children to get the best start in life.

QEC promote and support parent (care giver) / child relationships, working in partnership with families to strengthen healthy and appropriate parenting for children from pre-birth through to the preschool years, with a focus on improving the impact of these relationships on outcomes for infants and young children.

The HSCU and QEC partnership aims to build the evidence base for the sustainability of QEC programs to improve child outcomes. This research project conducts implementation and outcome evaluations of QEC programs.

First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing

First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing (FPHW) is the only Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) that provides primary and preventative health and social and emotional wellbeing services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Bayside Peninsula region.

They engage tirelessly in advocacy endeavours and campaigning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, parents/caregivers, and children during the early years to ensure the community receives the support required for children to thrive.

The HSCU provides advocacy and research support that is Aboriginal led and self-determined, to promote FPHW’s vision and mission. This collaboration has resulted in securing financial support for FPHW to lead Australia’s first and only Aboriginal-led EPC for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Purpose built facilities in Frankston for clinical work and the EPC are currently under redevelopment and construction with the EPC expected to commence operations in 2024.

The HSCU is also supporting FPHW with successful grant applications and research evaluations through the Lowitja Foundation and the Australian Federal Government, Department of Health and Ageing.

For more information on these projects, please contact Mandy O’Connor: mandy.oconnor@monash.edu