We are excited to announce that Monash Health’s Murrumbek Casey Early Parenting Centre (EPC) has now opened its doors to the community.
The brand new, purpose-built facility is a wellness service for families with children aged three years and younger, providing support for sleep and settling, feeding, parent-child relationships and family wellbeing.
The team at the EPC is nurse-led, with experienced staff including nurses and midwives, Maternal and Child Health nurses, social workers and a child life therapist, all who are passionate about providing the highest standard of care.
It’s normal for some families to feel overwhelmed before they visit the centre; staff are trained to support families as they build confidence and work with them to help achieve their parenting goals.
The EPC offers two programs. There is a day stay program for families with children under the age of 12 months, specialising in supporting families with sleep and settling strategies.
The centre also provides an overnight, residential program specialising in sleep and settling, behaviour concerns, bonding and feeding challenges.
The centre is designed to provide a home-like atmosphere, where families can participate in the programs and activities in a comfortable environment. There are indoor and outdoor play areas, communal dining areas and group teaching rooms.
The day stay unit has four separate rooms with a cot, where parents can settle their babies with one-on-one support from staff. There is a comfortable area with age-appropriate toys and a small kitchen where families can enjoy refreshments and a light lunch.
The overnight residential unit offers ten private family rooms, each with its own bathroom. There is a large communal dining and kitchen area, where families can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner provided by the centre. It is surrounded by gardens and a large, light-filled playroom that is supported by a child life therapist.
Families are able to self-refer, using an online form. They can also be referred by their GP or Maternal and Child Health nurse. The centre aims to provide a service that is culturally sensitive and inclusive to a diverse range of families.
The name Murrumbek means ‘belong’ in the Bunurong language, the Traditional Owners of the land on which the centre is located. This name speaks to Monash Health’s hope that the centre will be a place where all families feel they belong. This is the first site to be named in partnership with Traditional Owners and marks a significant step forward in Monash Health’s reconciliation journey.
The centre also features artwork by The Torch, which delivers the Statewide Indigenous Arts in Prison and Community Program focussing on the role of culture and cultural identity in the rehabilitation process of Indigenous prisoners. The artwork in the centre was specifically chosen for the location where it has been hung.
For more information, visit the Murrumbek Casey EPC webpage here.