THE survival of a North East mental health program for new mothers will be announced on Friday as a Wodonga centre to support parents is opened officially.
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Albury Wodonga Health mental health and drugs executive director Michael Nuck said the board had decided the Perinatal Emotional Health Program would not end despite previous funding concerns.
This coincides with Friday’s opening of the Albury Wodonga Health Parents and Babies Service in Benson Street.
The Perinatal Emotional Health Program lost its federal funding in July and Albury Wodonga Health is still negotiating with the Victorian government about ongoing funding.
"Regardless, we’ll continue the service; it's too important to stop," Mr Nuck said.
He described this decision as good news for the region after a period of uncertainty.
"It's been difficult on people who use the service, difficult for the staff not knowing," he said.
"We've drawn a line in the sand to say we're continuing."
The purpose-built Parents and Babies Service, which has replaced the old house used when the programs moved to Wodonga two years ago, is already providing a venue for advice on settling, breastfeeding and other parenting skills.
In the past month, extra resources have been available through a new partnership between Albury Wodonga Health and Tresillian, a not-for-profit family care organisation establishing its first presence on the Border.
Tresillian rural day stay services operational manager Debbie Stockton said an early intervention home visiting program would begin next year while there was also a parents telephone helpline and live online advice available.
“We want parents to know that they're not in this alone,” she said.
“They don't have to struggle on by themselves, there's help out there.”
Lavington couple Kim and Rik Lustig have visited the centre since their son Benjamin was born on October 3.
"I think no matter how much you've read up and how prepared you are, you can't be 100 per cent ready," Mrs Lustig said.
"It was really about getting more skills, getting more confidence.
“For us, it was helpful coming sooner rather than later, to get that knowledge before you get too stressed out and too anxious."
