The long-awaited building and services had been a decade in the works before it was finally available to families in February last year. 

Horsham Rural City Council community services and emergency manger Mandi Stewart said services had flown through the doors, which provided great benefits to families and child health professionals alike.  

“The professionals are able to share resources and learn from each other,” she said.

“Those involved have a closer relationship and are able to share planning and ensure we are not doubling up and the different agencies are not trying to cover the same cohort of people.” 

Maternal children health services were the first service made available followed by supported play groups, an immunisation clinic, new parents play group and kindergartens.

A first-time parenting group, supported playgroup for premature or unwell babies at birth, an aboriginal playgroup and a toy library are also operating from the hub. 

Ms Stewart said she looked forward to “continue building on what” has been started. She said the hub allowed more agencies to “work more closely” for the benefit of young families. 

“We have plans with Uniting Wimmera around how we can better support fathers and working with grandparents who are carers,” she said. “We would be interested to talk to both fathers and grandparents on how that might look like for them.” 

Related: Vision to activate Kalkee Road Children’s and Community Hub | Video

Ms Stewart said there was a large amount of people access the hub’s services. 

“We have about 90 children access the kindergarten services and the maternal and child health rooms would see on average 105 clients a week and then we have the playgroups and other services, so there is a high volume coming through the doors,” she said. 

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