Galaxy of services for kids that are all free
FAMILIES in Launceston’s northern suburbs will be able to have a play with their kids while accessing a galaxy of free services like speech pathology, child psychology and midwifery, with the opening on Monday of the muylatina Child and Family Learning Centre.
The centre, one of six to be opened by the state government in the next year, is co-located with East Tamar Primary School at Mayfield.
Centre leader Trudi Cross said the centre’s aim is to provide a welcoming, joy-filled space for parents and carers from Lilydale to Invermay with children between the ages of 0–5 to access a range of services to give their children the best start to life possible.
She said muylatina had staff including a teacher, speech therapist, social worker, child psychologist one day a week, and lawyer once a fortnight, all of whom could be accessed for free.
“You don’t need appointments, you can just pop up to a kitchen bench and have coffee with someone rather than having to go somewhere more clinical,” Ms Cross said.
Other services include midwifery, access to training opportunities for parents, and playgroups.
Ms Cross said it was an “open book” as to what future services would be located at the centre, as it would be directed by community need.
Liberal Bass MP Simon Wood said the state government was fulfilling its 2018 election pledge to build six new centres across Tasmania.
Waratah-Wynyard is expected to open next month, Kingborough, Glenorchy and West Ulverstone by Christmas, and Sorell by September 2024.
“These are an opportunity for families to come together, find out what they need and access services normally scattered throughout an area or region,” he said.