The 97th Annual General Meeting of Tweddle Child and Family Health Service was held yesterday Wednesday 22nd November in the Tweddle Conference Centre. Tweddle Chair Dr Nicole Milburn, CEO Ms Jacquie O’Brien, Treasurer Ms Melanie Telford, board members, staff and a consumer panel of a Tweddle Mum, Dad and volunteer gathered to reflect on a year of enormous growth.
In 2016/17 Tweddle commenced development on a new family pod which will see Tweddle’s capacity grow to support more families and an ever expanding community. This growth is imperative when the west grows by over 250 babies a week.
Dr Milburn spoke about new programs, partnerships and projects. These included Tweddle’s HoPEs program, the Whittlesea Day Stay program and the Cradle to Kinder program.
Tweddle delivered the very successful Working Out Dads program to 59 dads across Melbourne’s west. The unique program took a preventative approach to men’s health, isolation, relationships and parenting confidence.
Tweddle’s Business Breakfast, Babies, Business and The Bottom Line saw more than 130 people gather to hear inspiring words about resilience from Western Bulldogs president Mr Peter Gordon and leading American Child Psychiatrist and internationally acclaimed speaker Dr Bruce Perry in the area of neuro-plasticity. Following the event, Ben Carroll MP acknowledged the work of Tweddle in Parliament.
Tweddle launched a new Professional Development and Research unit, a new website and branding, and hosted an open day. The commencement of a new Friends of Tweddle volunteer team has transformed Tweddle’s residential unit and family play area.
Donors have also supported Tweddle’s growth. A new staff e-learning platform was developed thanks to Collier Charitable Fund. The delivery of Two Circle of Security programs was possible with thanks to The State Trustees Australia Foundation and the Flora and Frank Leith Charitable Trust. A Computer upgrade was installed at our Geelong Day Stay with thanks to Give Where You live
Another highlight has been the introduction of volunteer concierge Carol McDonald and our continuing partnerships with Sons of The West.
Dr Nicole Milburn expressed Tweddle’s gratitude for the support of The Honorable Jill Hennessy MP, who contributed $100,000 towards the refurbishment of our residential unit and the purchase of a new client vehicle.
A new strategic plan (2017-2021) was launched. The plan outlines Tweddle’s commitment to providing quality care, a teamwork approach, sector leadership and organisational growth. The acronym for Tweddle’s values is CARE which addresses the values of Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Engagement.
Tweddle’s vision, ‘secure babies, strong families, safe communities’ reminds families that while at Tweddle, the seeds of confidence and hope are planted for a resilient life that starts in infancy and continues along a continuum to the workforce and beyond.
Key influences of Tweddle’s programs and services outlined in the strategic plan are anchored by 5 pillars.
These are:
- Babies and toddlers within their families
- Partnerships
- Development and Trauma-informed care
- Underpinned by evidence
- Sustainability
As a public hospital, Tweddle has the privilege to work with a wide range of health consumers around policy development, service design, delivery and evaluation.
The highlight of the AGM was without doubt a consumer panel featuring Carol McDonald, grandmother and Tweddle volunteer concierge, inspirational dad and HoPES participant Savvas Haralambous and Deidre Bignell, lawyer and MyTime facilitator.
Their reflections spoke to the need for an increased focus on programs supporting parents experiencing adversity such as programs for single parents of children with additional needs and programs designed specifically for fathers.
Dr Milburn reminded all present that Tweddle’s supports families through a lens that asks ‘what has happened to you, rather than what is wrong with you’.
Tweddle is well positioned to continue expanding upon an incredibly successful year of growth which will guide the path towards our centenary in three years’ time.
Photos of the event can be seen on Tweddle’s Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/TweddleAustralia/
