Early Parenting Centres – Our programs

Our programs  

Responsive Parenting 

• We practice responsive parenting and responsive sleep and settling.  We do not practice ‘cry it out’ or timed crying techniques.    

• Changing the way, a baby or toddler goes to sleep can result in crying, but children are never left alone or left to cry it out 

• Making these changes for your family often results in less sleep for the parent or carer during their stay.  Change takes time and practice.  Our staff will support, guide and coach you through these changes as we aim to improve sleep for your whole family 

Here are some links to settling videos we use in the centre 

Responsive Settling: Hands on Settling 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8SSGONn72w 

 Responsive Settling: Comfort Settling 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mZ46DHGISY 

 Responsive Settling: Toddler in a Bed 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtPZXsBYcCU 

 Care by Parent 

• You are responsible for the care of your children at all times because you are their safe and secure space and the expert on your family 

• Our team are happy to help when you need to have a shower, make food or a drink or spend time with our mental health team 

• Our team are not able to provide care for your child or settle your child for you 

• We are here to guide, coach and support you in your parenting goals 

 Red Nose Safe Sleep Practices 

• We follow the research-backed safe sleeping guidelines from Red Nose Australia 

• WEPC is not able to support you to co-sleep with your baby/toddler at our centre 

• Part of our safe sleep practices includes our team checking your child once every one hour when they are asleep, including overnight 

• Our staff will discuss how you would like them to do this check over night while you are sleeping, and you will plan what this looks like together 

• https://rednose.org.au/ 

  Health and Wellness 

• To prevent the spread of germs between families, everyone participating in our programs must be well. 

• We also know that trying to settle a sick child is not responding to their needs 

• Unwell children need extra cuddles and feeds, so it is always best to come when all family members are well 

• To protect our staff and the other families please let us know if you or your child are unwell, and we will rebook you to attend a program as soon as everyone in your family is well again. 

 Going Home 

• Before you go home at the end of your program, we will talk to you about the goals you set for your family and if you feel like you have achieved what you wanted to during your stay 

• We will connect your family back to your community support network.  This may include your Maternal and Child Health Nurse and GP 

• With your permission we may suggest referrals for other services to support your family 

• Your family will have a discharge plan made in partnership with you 

• You will get a discharge summary by email before you go home 

• With your permission we will also send a discharge summary to your MCHN or GP or any other community supports 

Coming to our EPC  

Day Stay  

• When you arrive, you can park your car in our large car parks.  

• There is no cost for car parking. 

• Please come to our main reception where we will ask you to complete some admission forms.  Some families find it helpful to have their pram with them while they are filling in forms. 

• Our clinical team will come and meet you in reception once you have completed your forms and take you to Day Stay.  They will show you to your baby/toddler room and start talking to you about the program and the parenting goals you have for your family. 

•  Day Stay Program runs from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm 

• We have up to 4-6 families participating in our Day Stay Program 

• Every family is allocated a baby/toddler bedroom and highchair for the day 

• There will be 2-3 clinical staff working in Day Stay, each staff member will introduce themselves to you 

• We run some group sessions during day stay to talk about sleep and settling and parent/carer’s health and well-being 

Food: 

• Our EPC’s do not provide food in our Day Stay program; however, we have tea, coffee and a variety of milk available. 

• Please bring food, drinks (and formula if required) for yourself and your baby/child for the day 

• Please bring a water bottle and any special snacks you might want for the day. 

• No nuts please. Our EPC’s have a nut minimisation policy. Please do not bring any nut products for the safety of everyone in our care.   

• We have fridges and microwaves available. Please note there are no cooking facilities.  

What you will need to bring to Day Stay  

• Your child’s My Health, Learning and Development Record book (Green Book)  

• Medicare card 

• Cot Sheets and linen for your child’s sleeping needs – what your baby normally sleeps with 

e.g. wraps, blanket or sleeping bag.  Please do not bring any weighted blankets or weighted sleeping bags. 

• Play mat for the floor 

• Childs Sippy cup if required 

• Toys: Bring your child’s favourite toy. Please do not bring any toys with button batteries  

• Clothing and toiletries you may need throughout the day 

• Disposable nappies, wipes and nappy bags  

• Personal items to help comfort your child, such as a dummy or special toy 

• Breastmilk and breast pump if required 

• Formula and bottles if required 

• Pram or stroller 

• Anything else you might need for a day away from home 

 Residential Program  

• When you arrive on you can park your car in our large car parks. There is no cost for car parking. 

• Please come to our main reception we will ask you to complete some admission forms.  Some families find it helpful to have their pram with them while they are filling in forms. 

• Our clinical team will come and meet you in reception once you have completed your forms and take you to the Residential building.  They will show you to your family suite and start talking to you about the program and the parenting goals you have for your stay. 

• We ask everyone to join us in the playroom for our orientation to the program session.  This session takes place a couple of hours after you have arrived.  The team will let you know the exact time.    

•  Residential Program runs from Monday morning to Friday morning for 2-4 nights 

• We have 8-10 families participating in our Residential Program each week. 

• Every family is allocated a family suite which includes a parent’s bedroom, ensuite or bathroom, 1 or 2 children’s bedroom. 

• There are no TVs in our family suites 

• We have clinical staff working day, evening and night duty shifts each day.  They will always introduce themselves to you at the start of their shift.  Each clinical staff member is allocated to care for 2-3 families each shift. 

• Every day we run groups session in our playroom. These include sleep and settling, play, reading, dental care, nutrition and parent/carer’s health and well-being.  There is a timetable in the orientation booklet in your room, and the clinical team will let you know each day what time groups are running. 

 Food   

• Our EPC’s have a nut minimisation policy. Please do not bring any nut products  

• We provide all meals for you and your child during your stay  

• We order your meals prior to your admission.  We ask if there are any dietary requirements for your family when we speak to you the week before your admission.   

• If your partner/support person stays overnight, they are welcome to use the self-serve breakfast items, but unfortunately, we can’t provide other meals. 

• We will try to meet your food needs/preferences. We are a public hospital and are limited in our choices/options. If you have specific needs/ preferences, you are welcome to bring some foods from home. 

• We have fridges, freezers and microwaves available. Please note there are no cooking facilities.  

 Snack items available: 

• A variety of milk (full cream milk, light milk, soy milk and lactose free milk) 

• A variety of bread (white bread, wholemeal bread, fruit toast, crumpets and pikelets) 

• Fruit, eggs, cheese slices, microwave rice, tinned tuna, cereal, biscuits, baked beans, tinned spaghetti and yoghurt are available. 

• An avocado, will be placed in your allocated fridge box for you to use as you would like during your stay 

Nespresso Coffee Machine  

• We have a Nespresso Coffee Machine available for all clients to use during their admission  

• We do not provide coffee pods; you are very welcome to bring standard Nespresso or Nespresso compatible pods to use during your stay  

• There is always instant coffee available, milo and assorted teas 

VISITING PARTNER / SUPPORT PERSONS 

• Your partner or support person is welcome anytime, including staying overnight  

• You can have two other visitors during visiting hours from 12 noon to 6 pm, including your children 

• We will encourage you to consider having your visitors spend time with you outside at the nearby park if the weather allows 

  What you will need to bring:  

• Medicare card 

• Your family’s medications  

• A letter from your GP or your current script listing your prescription medications and your current dose of each medication 

• Your child’s My Health, Learning and Development Record Book (Green Book)  

• Cot sheets and linen for your child’s sleeping needs –what your baby normally sleeps with e.g. wraps, blanket or sleeping bag (No weighted sleeping bag or weighted blankets) 

• Play mat for the floor 

• Drink bottle for yourself 

• Childs Sippy cup if required 

• Toys: Bring your child’s favourite toys. Please do not bring toys with button batteries to WEPC 

• Clothing and toiletries for you and your child, including appropriate night wear for all family members 

• Disposable nappies, wipes and nappy bags (Cloth nappies cannot be used at WEPC) 

• Potty or toilet seat if you are currently toilet training 

• Sunscreen and hats for outdoor play (October-April) 

• Warm and wet weather gear for outdoor play (May – September) 

• Pram or stroller 

• Phone Charger 

• A notebook, if you wish to record details of your stay 

• Breastmilk and breast pump if required 

• Formula and bottles if required 

• To sterilise your bottles, dummies and breast pump parts, EPC’s provide you with reusable Microwave Sterilizing bags.  You are welcome to bring your own microwave steriliser, we ask that you do not bring a plug-in electric steriliser. 

What our families say – 

I was nervous coming to stay and found the first day difficult, but I was glad that I stayed as I learnt so much and became more confident in my parenting. 

Consistent strategies…Tailored advice to suit our goals.  Staff were the most kind and caring, they taught us so much. 

Support was great. listened to how we were feeling and advised on ideas / solutions. 

Consistent reassurance. 

Asked about wellbeing.  

Lots of active support, I always felt I could approach anyone. Clear and consistent advice. 

Great to have a psychologist on-site, groups sessions extremely helpful.  

The presentations were very informative.  

The playroom toys and entertainment were a lot of fun.  

The facility feels warms and nurturing. Great toys and books for the children.  

Helped to set a more sustainable feeding schedule. Gave hope and encouragement to be consistent with approach.  

Each staff member having different types of advice so I could figure out what suits myself.  

 Smooth /very clear enrolment/admission process. 

I enjoyed being with other families who were also having challenges.  We were able to share our stories