First impressions of Belgrave Community Hub

The Yarra Ranges community is now accessing essential health services including maternal and child health, youth development services and paediatric occupational therapy and speech therapy, at Belgrave Community Hub.

The hub, which was completed in April this year, was built in partnership between Inspiro Health Services and Council, to respond to a high demand for allied health, family and children services and dental services in the region.

Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service (DRERS) also operates out of the hub and provides emergency relief to those in need, including crisis counselling, food, vouchers, payment of prescriptions, clothing vouchers, assistance with paying bills, advocacy, referrals and information.

Inspiro Health Services offers counselling, diabetes education, dietetics, physiotherapy, podiatry, social support, occupational therapy services, paediatric occupational therapy and speech therapy, a no interest loans scheme and a needle syringe exchange program.

Council Maternal and Child Health Nurse Ann Ferguson said Council offered a free fully funded service to all the children from birth to five years.

“With the 10 key age and stage visits, we look forward to having the parents bring up any concerns they might have along these years,” Ms Ferguson said.

“So that when they reach their school and kindy years, hopefully any concerns have been addressed, through early intervention.”

Yarra Ranges resident Sarah Collins said the hub provided a sense of community and a way to connect with other local families.

“We love to come to the hub because there are other mums and dads here with their little ones,” Ms Collins said.

“It’s such a community for us and it’s just a really open space. There is a sense of welcoming when you come here, especially in the way the building has been designed.”

Ms Collins remembers Ann phoning her in hospital to let her know that maternal and child health services were available.

“I didn’t even know that a maternal health nurse reached out to you. Ann said she would be coming around and checking on Polly. And on that visit she said to us, I will be with your child pretty much until they start school,” Ms Collins said.

Mother of two Joh Skelton said the best thing about the hub was the location.

“We can walk here from my house. We love the view and we love that you can see the trees,” Ms Skelton said.

“The maternal and child health office is amazing. It’s a really beautiful, private but open space. And when the babies lie down to get measured, they can see out the window.

“It’s just beautifully built with the window right there.”

Mother of three Jenny McAdam whose twins were born early, said Council’s maternal and child health service kept her informed of what was developmentally appropriate for their age.

“We have had their weigh-ins, their check-ins, sessions on their feeding and starting solids and how they’re going developmentally,” Ms McAdam said.

“And we have had a few extra services because they were born early. So just basically checking that everything is going well with them.”

Inspiro Health Services Program Manager Gillian Smith said the partnership allowed Inspiro health professionals to work closely with the maternal and child health nurse.

“This has always been the vision for the building that we work together collaboratively, to provide the best possible care for mums, parents and their families,” Ms Smith said.

“Predominantly we do see people who live in the Yarra Ranges.

“And often it’s people who might also be doing it tough. The other great thing is, we have emergency relief services here. As well so again we are hoping in the long term once our services are established it will be like a one stop shop for families.

“Our youth and family counselling work really closely with Yarra Ranges youth development team, and that’s a really positive outcome for families and kids as well.”

Dental services will soon be operating from the hub in 2019, to provide quality, affordable dental care for the whole family. DRERS’ Mi Place offers free support and friendship to individuals and families living in the hills and beyond.

Mi Place offers coffee, tea, a light lunch, guitar; crafts, games, a quiet area, a listening ear; group support, community resource contacts, a shower and emergency food.

This project was jointly funded by the Federal Government ($3.835 million), the State Government ($1.723 million) with $723,000 from the Growing Suburbs Fund and $1m from the Community Infrastructure Fund, Yarra Ranges Council ($3.865 million) and Inspiro Community Health Service ($250,000).

Belgrave Community Hub is open 8.45am – 4.45pm Monday to Friday.

To make an appointment with Council’s Maternal and Child Health nurse please phone: 1300 368 333.

Contact Inspiro Health Services: 9738 8801

Belgrave Hub address: 1616-1624 Burwood Highway, Belgrave

inspiro.org.au/