A re-elected majority Liberal Government will bring the nation’s best parent support service to mums and dads across Tasmania and invest in a new four-bed Mother Baby Centre in Launceston.

“Being a parent is the most important and one of the toughest jobs in the world, especially for new mums,” Premier Jeremy Rockliff said.

“Settling, feeding and caring for a new baby is as rewarding as it is exhausting, and we know that many mums need extra support.

“To offer more help, we’re going to invest in Tasmania’s first four-bed Mother Baby Centre at the Launceston Health Hub, with two new consultation rooms too.

“In a Tasmanian first, we will partner with Australia’s most trusted, experienced, and expert parental support provider Tresillian Family Care.

“Tresillian will transform the way we support new mums and new dads with those all-important first 1,000 days of a new-born’s life.

“In the first 100 days, Tresillian will set up a state-wide phone service with nurses on hand to support parents and a critical tele-health service too, from Hobart, to Launceston, to Burnie and beyond.

“Tassie mums and dads will have an expert nurse on the end of the phone who is there to talk to – to offer support, to listen, and help.

“Tresillian will also offer the critical tele-health support service too, for parental emotion and psychological wellbeing, especially for stress, anxiety or depression.

“Tresillian has helped more than 80,000 Australian families in the early years of their child’s life, for more than 100 years.

“They provide professional advice, education and guidance to new parents about breastfeeding, sleep, settling, nutrition and so much more.

“This is a great new service that will help mums and dads gain confidence in their all important new roles as parents.”

Minister for Health Guy Barnett said the new Mother Baby Centre at the Launceston Health Hub would help hundreds of families.

“The new $9 million four-bed Mother Baby Centre will have rooms where mums and their bubs can stay, in the care of expert nurses, with children aged from newborn to three years.

“This additional support includes rooms complete with their own nurseries and ensuites, two consultation rooms and space to provide mental health support from the Gidget Foundation.

“Planning and design will start in our first 100 days, and it will be open by this time next year.

“We will also continue funding for the recently established Mother Baby Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital, with a $4 million investment to continue providing the three dedicated public beds in a separate nurturing environment.

“Our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania is all about taking action right now, on issues affecting Tasmanians including delivering important health support for Tassie parents.”

The total cost of this policy is $14.25 million.

(Tresillian Family Care Service and new Mother Baby Centre $10.25 million, the continuation of the RHH Mother Baby Unit is $4 million).