By Jessica Anstice
Mums and dads in Casey will get access to the information, support and care they and their baby needs, with new parenting centres, more maternal child health nurses and round-the-clock support to help get their babies to sleep.
If Labor is re-elected they will invest $232 million in a comprehensive package of new parent and early childhood supports for every Victorian family.
The investment will build a new Early Parenting Centre in Casey, and deliver a range of critical services, including day stays, longer residential stays and more support at home.
The centre will support around 690 families a year.
This centre will play a critical role in making sure new parents are getting the advice they need, including support with sleeping, feeding and extra care for babies with additional needs.
Labor will fund a revamped 24-hour phone line with specialists in sleep and settling issues and will also boost the number of home visits for vulnerable families, with 7000 families getting more support.
“There are so many expectations on new parents these days,” Member for Narre Warren North Luke Donnellan said.
“It’s why we’ll make sure parents in Narre Warren get the support they need, in the moments they need it most.”
Labor’s new family package will also provide first aid training to around 26,000 parents per year.
Also, if re-elected they’ll legislate to replace the payroll tax exemption for maternity leave with an exemption for all paid parental leave.
Labor will boost the number of parent group sessions for first time mums and dads by 40 per cent, with the extra sessions at convenient times for both parents, focussing on sleep and the transition to parenthood.
Labor candidate for Narre Warren South Gary Maas said that this package means more nurses, more support and greater peace of mind for mums and dads across Narre Warren South.
Labor candidate for Cranbourne Pauline Richards said, “Sleep and settling is one of the biggest challenges facing parents. This investment will make sure parents get the support they need.”
