Parent Place Outreach service to extend beyond initial trial

After a successful trial series, the City of Ballarat’s Parent Place Outreach service will continue in 2024.

Parent Place Outreach brings the same vital support as the facility at 39 Sturt Street, but directly to communities with a high proportion of vulnerable families across Ballarat.

Parent Place supports families with young children to thrive, providing timely and relevant information and community connection in a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment.

Some of the services include playgroups, kindergarten, maternal and child health, community-based lactation services, immunisation, childcare, family day care, family violence and family law support and advice.

Parent Place Outreach began as a trial project in December 2022 via funding from VicHealth.

Due to the service's success, which had more than 330 visits in its first year of operation, the City of Ballarat committed to funding the project and committed to strengthening the presence in the community in 2024.

The best way to stay up to date with Parent Place, including the Outreach programs is via Parent Place website or follow Parent Place on Facebook.

Some upcoming Outreach service locations for term one will include:

• Friday 9 February from 9.30am to 10.30am at Delacombe Salvation Army | 104 Greenhalghs Road, Delacombe followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.
• Monday 19 February from 9.30am to 10.30am – Sebastopol Library | 181 Albert St, Sebastopol followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.
• Tuesday 20 February from 9.30am to 10.30am – Lucas Community Hub |17 Coltman Plaza, Lucas followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.
• Friday 1 March from 9.30am to 10.30am at Delacombe Salvation Army | 104 Greenhalghs Road, Delacombe followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.
• Monday 4 March from 9.30am to 10.30am – Sebastopol Library | 181 Albert St, Sebastopol followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.
• Monday 18 March from 9.30am to 10.30am – Sebastopol Library | 181 Albert St, Sebastopol followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.
• Tuesday 19 March from 9.30am to 10.30am – Lucas Community Hub |17 Coltman Plaza, Lucas followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the continuation of the project would be vital for parents and carers to be able to access the services available at Parent Place, even if they could not physically visit the Sturt Street facility.

“Parent Place Outreach is the perfect opportunity for parents and children to play, relax, connect with other families as well as receiving important local information,” Cr Hudson said.

“We saw some really promising signs during the trial that this project is providing benefit to the wider suburbs.

“To be able to remove those physical barriers is so important and we are proud to keep the service going for parents and carers who have used it.”