Families across NSW who are struggling with the challenges of being a new parent are set to benefit from the redevelopment of the historic Tresillian Family Care Centre in Wollstonecraft.
Minister for Mental Health and Women Bronnie Taylor, Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard and Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson today turned the first sod on the $16.4 million project.
Mrs Taylor said the redevelopment will provide a new, modern base for Tresillian to deliver a range of support services to parents which will make all the difference to a family during a difficult time.
"Being a parent, especially a new parent, is really tough, and delivering this new centre will ensure families have support in their hour of need," Mrs Taylor said.
"The sod turn ceremony today marks the start of a new era for the amazing Tresillian team here at Wollstonecraft. This project will see the facility revitalised and expanded to meet the needs of families today and into the future."
Mr Hazzard said the new facility will give more parents easier access to a broader range of support services at the early, critical stages of a child's life.
"This new $16.4 million state-of-the art centre will help parents give their child the very best start in life during those first few months or years, which can be an extremely challenging time for both new and experienced parents," Mr Hazzard said.
"The significant investment into this new Tresillian Family Care Centre will ensure it's well equipped to support generations of NSW families into the future."
The new centre is expected to be completed by early 2023 and will feature:
- State-of-the-art 14-bed residential in-patient facility operating seven days a week
- Additional education and counselling programs for new parents
- Expanded day services for parents, babies and toddlers
- Education facility for parents and health professionals
- Upgrades to the Guthrie Early Learning Centre which will remain operational throughout the redevelopment.
Ms Wilson knows first hand the support provided by the Tresillian team at Wollstonecraft makes a huge difference to local mums and dads.
"I'm delighted that this new facility will ensure that we can support even more parents during what can be a stressful, lonely and overwhelming time," Ms Wilson said.
Tresillian CEO Robert Mills said the redevelopment will break new ground in the early parenting sector by providing 90 per cent more parents with access to much-needed support.
"We are growing and revitalising Tresillian Wollstonecraft to meet the needs of families right across NSW," Mr Mills said.
"This exciting project is being funded through the combination of fundraising activities, philanthropic donations and a NSW Government grant of $500,000 -a significant investment in the health and wellbeing of future generations."
The new facility will be an anchor in the network of Tresillian services across NSW, including the six new regional Family Care Centres that are being established in Grafton, Griffith, Goulburn, Muswellbrook, Armidale and Cowra, five Tresillian 2U mobile van services; and staffing for the Macksville regional residential parenting beds that were funded with the NSW Government's commitment of $12.2 million over two years, commencing in 2021.
Following the $157 million investment made in the 2018 NSW Budget Parenting Package, the NSW Government investments also include $10.2 million over four years to fund Tresillian and Karitane to extend access to virtual residential parenting services and evaluate service delivery, and over $1.4 million to support Tresillian to provide free access to its SleepWellBaby app during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Families seeking parenting support can call Tresillian's Parent's Help Line on 1300 272 736 Monday to Friday.
For more advice, tips and support visit Tresillian Family Care Centres.
