Vulnerable young mothers living in the Bendigo area will benefit from a new family support program regarded as the first of its kind in regional Victoria.

The state government’s Cradle to Kinder initiative has launched in the Loddon region and will target disadvantaged young mothers and their children with support that starts before birth and continues until the child is aged four.

The program will be provided by MacKillop Family Services in partnership with Bendigo Community Health Services and CatholicCare Sandhurst.

MacKillop CEO Dr Robyn Miller said the program aimed to break the cycle of disadvantage often seen in vulnerable young families.

“A child’s health, safety and development can be influenced by many different experiences during pre-birth and in the early years of their life,” Dr Miller said.

“We know effective, caring support in the early months and years of a child’s life is so important for their healthy development.

“Family issues like poverty, insecure housing, intellectual disability, family violence, alcohol or other drug misuse can have a profound effect on a child’s home environment. Cradle to Kinder connects vulnerable young mothers to community services that provide resources to improve their life, and that of their child. We want to empower young mums to take responsibility for giving their child the best possible start to their lives.”

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Bendigo Community Health Services CEO Kim Sykes said Cradle to Kinder was a great addition to the service model being delivered from the new kidzspace hub at Kangaroo Flat.

"kidzspace recognises that some parents and children need more help than others.  Wrapping key services around these families for a sustained period, as Cradle to Kinder does, gives the best chance of achieving real change," Kim said.

“This is an exciting partnership which has the potential to change lives and we feel privileged to play a role.”    

Cradle to Kinder will target pregnant women aged under 25 who are Aboriginal, have a learning disability or are living in emergency accommodation. The program places young mothers experiencing difficult personal, family or social issues with a dedicated support team who assists them access parenting, childcare, educational and social services.

The Loddon region has some of the highest rates in the state for unemployment, low income families and registered mental health, drug and alcohol clients. More than 16 per cent of households in the region are single parent, and of these 82 per cent are women.

Access to Cradle to Kinder is through the Loddon Child FIRST (1800 260 338) with referrals from local GPs and health, disability or Aboriginal care services.