Victoria’s first parenting kit for new mums and dads

• Developing the Parenting Kit, an invaluable resource for new parents
• Victorian Coalition Government contributed $1.3 million towards kit
• Australia’s largest specialist hospital dedicated to health of women and newborns

In an Australian first, mums and dads, along with health experts, are being asked for their top parenting tips to help develop a trusted parenting kit for all new parents in Victoria.

Visiting the Royal Women’s Hospital today in the lead up to Christmas, Minister for Health David Davis launched a new website where Victorian parents and health professionals can contribute to the development of the new kit.

“The Victorian Coalition Government and the Royal Women’s Hospital, Australia’s first and largest specialist hospital dedicated to improving the health of women and newborns, are developing a credible and reliable information kit for first time parents,” Mr Davis said.

“The information collected through the website www.haveyoursay.thewomens.org.au over the next six months will help develop a unique Parenting Kit for parents from conception to 12 months of age.”

The Coalition Government has provided $1.3 million to the Royal Women’s Hospital for the development of the kit.

Mr Davis said research shows that parenting information delivered by health professionals during pregnancy care has the most impact.

“This kit is another way for expecting and new parents to build on the good health choices we know they are already making.” Mr Davis said.

“The kit will provide valuable and trusted information for all expectant and new parents and it will help us foster lifelong health and wellbeing for babies and their parents.”

“Victoria’s parenting kit will be designed by and for Victoria’s parents and health professionals with significant input from midwives, obstetricians and maternal child health nurses. “And I believe this information will be invaluable for new parents.”

The Parenting Kit is being modeled on an idea of Hollywood actor Rob Reiner who worked with the University of California, Berkeley, to create a Kit for Parents in response to a need for parenting education resources.

Mr Davis said pregnancy and parenting was different for everyone, but there were many experiences and emotions that parents everywhere could relate to and share.

“It’s also true that sharing these stories is a great way for expectant and new parents to feel connected to each other and to realise that their experience is perfectly ‘normal’,” Mr Davis said.

“I encourage mums and dads across Victoria, and those that provide services to them, to get online and help design a truly useful kit for all Victorian families.”