Our health services

Early Parenting Centres

Overview

Mercy Health has two Early Parenting Centres (EPCs), these are:

 

EPCs strive to support happy, healthy and safe babies and toddlers (up to the age of four) by promoting the parent-child relationship, and equipping parents with pathways to achieve their parenting goals. These goals relate to sleep and settling, child behaviour, and health and wellbeing. EPCs recognise that the health and wellbeing of the primary caregiver, and the wider family, is vital to children’s development and outcomes.

Referrals

Referrals can be from a health professional or the family can self-refer and complete the referral form themselves.

Referral to O’Connell Family Centre

Referral to Woi-wurrung-yagila-wulumperi, Whittlesea Early Parenting Centre (WEPC)

Early Parenting Centres
O'Connell Family Centre (OFC) is located at 6 Mont Albert Road, Canterbury, Victoria, 3126
Whittlesea Early Parenting Centre (WEPC) is located at 34 Anchorage Drive, South Morang, Victoria, 3752

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Clinics and services

We offer clinics and services across Victoria and southern New South Wales. Our services are available to all public and privately insured patients.

Getting here

Early Parenting Centres
O'Connell Family Centre (OFC) is located at 6 Mont Albert Road, Canterbury, Victoria, 3126
Whittlesea Early Parenting Centre (WEPC) is located at 34 Anchorage Drive, South Morang, Victoria, 3752

OFC has a large gravel car park, there is no cost for car parking the entrance is from Parlington Street.

WEPC has a large car park underneath the centre, there is no cost for car parking.

OFC has ramp access to front reception.

WEPC has ramp access to front reception, disabled toilets and disabled suites in residential building.

Parking availability

There is free on-site car parking at OFC.

There is free on-site car parking at WEPC.

OFC spaces available close to the front entrance of the centre

WEPC spaces available close to the front entrance of the centre.

There is no cost for parking at OFC

There is no cost for parking at WEPC.

Public transport

OFC – five minute walk to trams on Burke Road and a 15 minute walk to Camberwell Train Station.

WEPC – five minute walk to South Morang Train Station and Bus Depot at Westfield Plenty Valley.

Taxis

There are no taxi ranks at either centre. Reception staff are able to assist in calling and arranging taxis.

Visitor information

Open hours

Mercy Health’s Early Parenting Centres (EPCs) are open Monday-Friday and closed on weekends.

EPCs are closed for two weeks over the Christmas Holiday period.

After hours access

To access our Early Parenting Centres after hours, please use the doorbells at the front entrance and wait for staff to let you in.

General visiting hours

Mercy Health’s Early Parenting Centres (EPCs) are open Monday-Friday and closed on weekends.
EPCs are closed for two weeks over the Christmas Holiday period.

General visiting hours are between 12noon-4pm. Please discuss visitors with the staff looking after your family

On site shops and cafes

Our Early Parenting Centres do not have shops or cafes but are located within a five-minute walk of local shops and cafes.

Contacts

Main reception contact details

O'Connell Family Centre main reception

O'Connell Family Centre main reception

  • Phone numbers:

    O'Connell Family Centre main reception
    03 8416 7600
    Monday – Friday 8:30am-5pm.
    You are able to leave a voicemail message when the office is closed.


  • Phone number: 03 8416 7650
Early Parenting Centres
O'Connell Family Centre (OFC) is located at 6 Mont Albert Road, Canterbury, Victoria, 3126
Whittlesea Early Parenting Centre (WEPC) is located at 34 Anchorage Drive, South Morang, Victoria, 3752

Last reviewed November 14, 2023.

Close up of a new born baby attached to a tube from the nose asleep tucked into pink blankets.

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