This program has been a ‘lifeline' for new parents. It's now been quietly axed
The government informed Victoria's councils in late May that it would cease funding group education, one of two components of free, municipal-run sleep and settling programs, which has been a crucial first point of contact for exhausted parents grappling with sleep challenges.
Funding was silently axed as part of the state budget for the 2025-26 financial year, with councils being notified just six weeks before the change that took effect on July 1, forcing many to suddenly cancel sleep group classes at their maternal and child health services.
Councils are warning that overall sleep support services will be significantly impacted; without group sessions, which provide early preventive help, demand for more intensive one-on-one services and stay-in programs will increase, leading to blowouts on waitlists.
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The Municipal Association of Victoria estimates the state spent almost $5 million on the group classes program last financial year, allocating funds to councils according to their population. The state government has declined to confirm the precise figure.
Mother of two Anna Gilmore, from Altona in Melbourne's south-west, first attended a sleep session with her husband when their son was three months old. She found it so helpful that they attended several more over two years, facilitated by Hobsons Bay Council.
'It helped us with the sleep, but it also helped my partner and I to align on what we were doing,' she said.
Gilmore believes receiving fundamental evidence-based advice helped divert her from bigger challenges down the track that could have put her in costly sleep schools.
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Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
This program has been a ‘lifeline' for new parents. It's now been quietly axed
New parents seeking advice about their baby's sleep from local maternal and child health centres face a fresh struggle after the Victorian government quietly pulled millions of dollars from a popular program. The government informed Victoria's councils in late May that it would cease funding group education, one of two components of free, municipal-run sleep and settling programs, which has been a crucial first point of contact for exhausted parents grappling with sleep challenges. Funding was silently axed as part of the state budget for the 2025-26 financial year, with councils being notified just six weeks before the change that took effect on July 1, forcing many to suddenly cancel sleep group classes at their maternal and child health services. Councils are warning that overall sleep support services will be significantly impacted; without group sessions, which provide early preventive help, demand for more intensive one-on-one services and stay-in programs will increase, leading to blowouts on waitlists. Loading The Municipal Association of Victoria estimates the state spent almost $5 million on the group classes program last financial year, allocating funds to councils according to their population. The state government has declined to confirm the precise figure. Mother of two Anna Gilmore, from Altona in Melbourne's south-west, first attended a sleep session with her husband when their son was three months old. She found it so helpful that they attended several more over two years, facilitated by Hobsons Bay Council. 'It helped us with the sleep, but it also helped my partner and I to align on what we were doing,' she said. Gilmore believes receiving fundamental evidence-based advice helped divert her from bigger challenges down the track that could have put her in costly sleep schools.
The Age
a day ago
- The Age
This program has been a ‘lifeline' for new parents. It's now been quietly axed
New parents seeking advice about their baby's sleep from local maternal and child health centres face a fresh struggle after the Victorian government quietly pulled millions of dollars from a popular program. The government informed Victoria's councils in late May that it would cease funding group education, one of two components of free, municipal-run sleep and settling programs, which has been a crucial first point of contact for exhausted parents grappling with sleep challenges. Funding was silently axed as part of the state budget for the 2025-26 financial year, with councils being notified just six weeks before the change that took effect on July 1, forcing many to suddenly cancel sleep group classes at their maternal and child health services. Councils are warning that overall sleep support services will be significantly impacted; without group sessions, which provide early preventive help, demand for more intensive one-on-one services and stay-in programs will increase, leading to blowouts on waitlists. Loading The Municipal Association of Victoria estimates the state spent almost $5 million on the group classes program last financial year, allocating funds to councils according to their population. The state government has declined to confirm the precise figure. Mother of two Anna Gilmore, from Altona in Melbourne's south-west, first attended a sleep session with her husband when their son was three months old. She found it so helpful that they attended several more over two years, facilitated by Hobsons Bay Council. 'It helped us with the sleep, but it also helped my partner and I to align on what we were doing,' she said. Gilmore believes receiving fundamental evidence-based advice helped divert her from bigger challenges down the track that could have put her in costly sleep schools.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Childcare centres' big call on male staff
Male educators will reportedly no longer be involved in changing nappies or toileting duties at a string of Victorian childcare centres. Inspire Early Learning – which operates 16 childcare centres in the state – sent a letter to parents on Friday announcing the changes, as per 7News. Chief curriculum and quality officer Eleinna Anderson told families the changes were to ensure they remained 'sensitive and responsive to family needs', and that male staff would still play a 'vital role' in activities and classroom preparation among other duties. 'The wellbeing and safety of your children are at the heart of everything we do,' she said. 'We're writing to share a few important updates to our guidelines around staff interactions with children and team responsibilities – changes made with careful thought and a continued commitment to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all.' Police allege Joshua Brown sexually assaulted young children, produced child abuse material and contaminated food with bodily fluids among other charges. Picture Supplied., Credit: Supplied It has been reported educators have also been told to refrain from kissing or having other unnecessary contact with children, and to seek consent if holding hands or a gentle hug is needed. It comes after childcare worker Joshua Brown was charged with more than 70 offences, after he allegedly abused eight children at a childcare centre in Point Cook, Melbourne. It is alleged some children were as young as five months. The families of 1200 children have been directed to have their children tested for sexually transmitted infections. Police confirmed they are investigating Mr Brown's employment at 20 Melbourne childcare centres and had a suppression order on his name removed to inform families with children at the affected centres to get tested. Inspire Early Learning is not among the centres Mr Brown is said to have worked at. Independent Collective of Survivors founder Louise Edmonds called for a ban on male childcare workers following the shocking allegations against Melbourne educator Joshua Brown. Credit: Supplied The allegations against Mr Brown sparked an immediate reaction from authorities and advocates around the country. Child abuse victims' advocate Louise Edmonds, a founding member of the independent Collective of Survivors, was among the most prominent voices calling for men to be banned from working at childcare centres. 'This is the third case of huge amounts of children being exposed to alleged pedophiles and alleged child sex abuses in a childcare centre,' she said on Today. 'We actually have to look at the safety first and foremost of our most vulnerable citizens, which are our children, and a lot of them are voiceless. 'So children start communicating well at around two years old. The children under two years old, they cannot speak. 'The sad reality is there's so much lived experience and evidence and data around child sex offenders, and 97 per cent of them are male. 'And this is a scary topic and a lot of people, we don't want to talk about it because it's so horrific when it comes to the abuse of children.' Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said he would introduce legislation to strengthen working with children checks. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Politicians have vowed to introduce new laws to strengthen working with children checks, that were recommended a decade ago during the 2015 Royal Commission into Institutionalised Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said he would introduce legislation to allow fraud investigators to conduct random, unannounced visits at childcare centres without a warrant, and without the need to be accompanied by police. He would also introduce laws to allow the federal government, which currently provides $16bn of annual funding to centres, to scrap payments to places which do not meet standards. State and federal ministers will discuss how CCTV cameras can be used to monitor childcare centres and Attorneys-General will work out better ways to share information.
