Tweddle Child and Family Health Service is a statewide early intervention organization that aims to support families with children from birth to school age. It has operated for 93 years in Footscray, Victoria, focusing on health and vulnerable families. The document outlines Tweddle's strategic plan from 2012-2017 to continue providing services like parenting programs, health education, and therapeutic support. The goals are to expand services, support families facing various challenges, deliver services in areas of high need, build organizational capacity, and collaborate with other organizations.

1. Web www.tweddle.org.au
Tel + 61 3 9689 1577 Fax + 61 3 9689 1922
53 Adelaide Street Footscray Victoria 3011 Australia
Healthy families
StrategicPlan
2012 - 2017 OurVision
AboutUs OurPurpose
Tweddle Child + Family Health Tweddle operates statewide and Tweddle is a statewide early intervention and prevention health service.
Service has continued to develop prioritises its services to families with
and evolve in response to children up to school age who live in Our purpose is to provide parenting support to families during pregnancy
community need throughout its the north and west of Victoria. Services and with children from birth to school age, resident in the north and west
proud 93 year history in Footscray. are delivered either in partnership with of Victoria.
One constant in that history of other organisations or directly
development and change has been in the community. As a result of our work families will:
its uncompromising focus on health.
Acquire sound parenting skills
This plan sets direction for further Tweddle services include:
development in its focus on Childbirth education Develop parenting confidence
vulnerable families and children. Improve health and early childhood development outcomes
Residential parenting programs
The health focus remains as
important, if not more so, into the Community-based day programs Enhance relationships and attachment
future. Health is fundamental to Group therapeutic support programs Connect to support networks in their local communities.
wellbeing in all aspects of our In home breastfeeding support
lives and is intrinsic to healthy Families will receive services from Tweddle that are collaborative, accountable,
Parenting and relationships
resourceful families connected evidence based and subject to external evaluation and national accreditation.
education and support for both
to their communities.
mothers and fathers in prisons
Our highest priority is to provide assistance to families that are facing multiple
Tweddle offers interventions to Parenting assessment and skill challenges and are in urgent need of therapeutic support and intervention. These
infants, children and their families development service challenges are commonly underpinned by isolation compounded by health issues,
to promote the restoration of Parenting advice and support addiction, family instability and violence, sleep deprivation, feelings of being
health and wellbeing where there through publications and multimedia unable to cope and the complexities that can arise from financial stress, age,
is distress and disruption in the ethnicity and other factors.
Professional support and advice in
infant-parent relationship.
the areas of child and family health
With this in mind Tweddle’s priority Advocacy on key parenting issues
is to provide community resources facing families in our community.
and therapeutic support and
intervention.

2. Web www.tweddle.org.au
Tel + 61 3 9689 1577 Fax + 61 3 9689 1922
53 Adelaide Street Footscray Victoria 3011 Australia
Healthy families
StrategicPlan
2012 - 2017 OurVision
AboutUs OurPurpose
Tweddle Child + Family Health Tweddle operates statewide and Tweddle is a statewide early intervention and prevention health service.
Service has continued to develop prioritises its services to families with
and evolve in response to children up to school age who live in Our purpose is to provide parenting support to families during pregnancy
community need throughout its the north and west of Victoria. Services and with children from birth to school age, resident in the north and west
proud 93 year history in Footscray. are delivered either in partnership with of Victoria.
One constant in that history of other organisations or directly
development and change has been in the community. As a result of our work families will:
its uncompromising focus on health.
Acquire sound parenting skills
This plan sets direction for further Tweddle services include:
development in its focus on Childbirth education Develop parenting confidence
vulnerable families and children. Improve health and early childhood development outcomes
Residential parenting programs
The health focus remains as
important, if not more so, into the Community-based day programs Enhance relationships and attachment
future. Health is fundamental to Group therapeutic support programs Connect to support networks in their local communities.
wellbeing in all aspects of our In home breastfeeding support
lives and is intrinsic to healthy Families will receive services from Tweddle that are collaborative, accountable,
Parenting and relationships
resourceful families connected evidence based and subject to external evaluation and national accreditation.
education and support for both
to their communities.
mothers and fathers in prisons
Our highest priority is to provide assistance to families that are facing multiple
Tweddle offers interventions to Parenting assessment and skill challenges and are in urgent need of therapeutic support and intervention. These
infants, children and their families development service challenges are commonly underpinned by isolation compounded by health issues,
to promote the restoration of Parenting advice and support addiction, family instability and violence, sleep deprivation, feelings of being
health and wellbeing where there through publications and multimedia unable to cope and the complexities that can arise from financial stress, age,
is distress and disruption in the ethnicity and other factors.
Professional support and advice in
infant-parent relationship.
the areas of child and family health
With this in mind Tweddle’s priority Advocacy on key parenting issues
is to provide community resources facing families in our community.
and therapeutic support and
intervention.

3. Web www.tweddle.org.au
Tel + 61 3 9689 1577 Fax + 61 3 9689 1922
53 Adelaide Street Footscray Victoria 3011 Australia
Healthy families
StrategicPlan
2012 - 2017 OurVision
AboutUs OurPurpose
Tweddle Child + Family Health Tweddle operates statewide and Tweddle is a statewide early intervention and prevention health service.
Service has continued to develop prioritises its services to families with
and evolve in response to children up to school age who live in Our purpose is to provide parenting support to families during pregnancy
community need throughout its the north and west of Victoria. Services and with children from birth to school age, resident in the north and west
proud 93 year history in Footscray. are delivered either in partnership with of Victoria.
One constant in that history of other organisations or directly
development and change has been in the community. As a result of our work families will:
its uncompromising focus on health.
Acquire sound parenting skills
This plan sets direction for further Tweddle services include:
development in its focus on Childbirth education Develop parenting confidence
vulnerable families and children. Improve health and early childhood development outcomes
Residential parenting programs
The health focus remains as
important, if not more so, into the Community-based day programs Enhance relationships and attachment
future. Health is fundamental to Group therapeutic support programs Connect to support networks in their local communities.
wellbeing in all aspects of our In home breastfeeding support
lives and is intrinsic to healthy Families will receive services from Tweddle that are collaborative, accountable,
Parenting and relationships
resourceful families connected evidence based and subject to external evaluation and national accreditation.
education and support for both
to their communities.
mothers and fathers in prisons
Our highest priority is to provide assistance to families that are facing multiple
Tweddle offers interventions to Parenting assessment and skill challenges and are in urgent need of therapeutic support and intervention. These
infants, children and their families development service challenges are commonly underpinned by isolation compounded by health issues,
to promote the restoration of Parenting advice and support addiction, family instability and violence, sleep deprivation, feelings of being
health and wellbeing where there through publications and multimedia unable to cope and the complexities that can arise from financial stress, age,
is distress and disruption in the ethnicity and other factors.
Professional support and advice in
infant-parent relationship.
the areas of child and family health
With this in mind Tweddle’s priority Advocacy on key parenting issues
is to provide community resources facing families in our community.
and therapeutic support and
intervention.

4. Web www.tweddle.org.au
Tel + 61 3 9689 1577 Fax + 61 3 9689 1922
53 Adelaide Street Footscray Victoria 3011 Australia
Healthy families
StrategicPlan
2012 - 2017 OurVision
AboutUs OurPurpose
Tweddle Child + Family Health Tweddle operates statewide and Tweddle is a statewide early intervention and prevention health service.
Service has continued to develop prioritises its services to families with
and evolve in response to children up to school age who live in Our purpose is to provide parenting support to families during pregnancy
community need throughout its the north and west of Victoria. Services and with children from birth to school age, resident in the north and west
proud 93 year history in Footscray. are delivered either in partnership with of Victoria.
One constant in that history of other organisations or directly
development and change has been in the community. As a result of our work families will:
its uncompromising focus on health.
Acquire sound parenting skills
This plan sets direction for further Tweddle services include:
development in its focus on Childbirth education Develop parenting confidence
vulnerable families and children. Improve health and early childhood development outcomes
Residential parenting programs
The health focus remains as
important, if not more so, into the Community-based day programs Enhance relationships and attachment
future. Health is fundamental to Group therapeutic support programs Connect to support networks in their local communities.
wellbeing in all aspects of our In home breastfeeding support
lives and is intrinsic to healthy Families will receive services from Tweddle that are collaborative, accountable,
Parenting and relationships
resourceful families connected evidence based and subject to external evaluation and national accreditation.
education and support for both
to their communities.
mothers and fathers in prisons
Our highest priority is to provide assistance to families that are facing multiple
Tweddle offers interventions to Parenting assessment and skill challenges and are in urgent need of therapeutic support and intervention. These
infants, children and their families development service challenges are commonly underpinned by isolation compounded by health issues,
to promote the restoration of Parenting advice and support addiction, family instability and violence, sleep deprivation, feelings of being
health and wellbeing where there through publications and multimedia unable to cope and the complexities that can arise from financial stress, age,
is distress and disruption in the ethnicity and other factors.
Professional support and advice in
infant-parent relationship.
the areas of child and family health
With this in mind Tweddle’s priority Advocacy on key parenting issues
is to provide community resources facing families in our community.
and therapeutic support and
intervention.

5. Our Tweddle acknowledges that the process of rapid change in early intervention and prevention services is ongoing and strongly reflected in government
Goals:
policy and reviews, including the “Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry” (PVVCI). Services need to continue to be underpinned by
evidence-based practices and services that meet the highest standards of quality accreditation. This plan enables the Tweddle team, our leaders
and staff, our clients and our stakeholders to be part of the next stage of organisational change and development. Tweddle has found that vulnerable
families are the most in need of our services and support and that has become and will remain the primary focus of our work. These families
require specialist and intensive services delivered either in a multidisciplinary model or in partnership with organisations that provide complementary services and supports.
The Tweddle 2012-2017 strategic plan will be implemented within the following context:
1. The decision to extend our services and 2. We will continue to provide services within the public health 3. A move to the provision of 4. Services will be
support to families with children from 0-4 model which prioritises services for those most in need. While coordinated or integrated services / cost effective to ensure
years to families during pregnancy and with working within this supply-based system of ‘at risk’ parent ”wrap around” services to improve ongoing sustainability
children from birth to school age. referrals, Tweddle will investigate and adopt new methods of service access. and viability.
encouraging participation of parents with
pre-existing challenges.
Child + family health promotion Support parents with existing Support parents with emerging
1 and advocacy 2 challenges 3 challenges
Many families, not only vulnerable families, seek support Tweddle recognises that some people come to the job of Tweddle will place high priority on meeting the needs of
with parenting especially in the first few years of a child’s parenting with considerable challenges. Tweddle will provide families with problems that emerge during pregnancy or
life. Tweddle is well known as a provider of advice and supportive and preventative services in order to meet the following the birth of a child such as:
support. With our focus on vulnerable families we will complex needs of these families which may include: Infant development or disability.
continue to provide support and resources on parenting Very young parents. Post natal depression/perinatal mental health issues.
in the early years that will be trusted and accessible to Parents with intellectual disabilities or a mental illness. Emerging mental illness.
the broader community. Parents who are drug or alcohol dependent. Family violence.
We will: Families that are homeless. Major events like loss of income, change of family
Further develop our social media presence. Families with previous child protection reports. structure or death.
Service support will be provided to regional maternity hospitals In most cases these families will have some contact
Participate in research partnerships to continue the
and ChildFIRST alliances by allocating existing residential beds for with universal health services and networks such as
development of evidence based practice in early parenting.
priority referral. Existing services will be developed to increase kindergartens and child care centres.
Share quality research findings within professional and access to comprehensive, evidence based parenting support. We will:
community settings.
We will: Strengthen relationships and referral pathways with
Maintain strong contemporary communications as a Provide priority access to families identified by regional primary health care professionals.
means of influence and connection with stakeholders maternity hospitals and regional family services and ChildFIRST Exchange knowledge and evidence informed practice
and community. alliances as needing intensive early parenting support. approaches with other professionals to support families.
Continue to build partnerships with community agencies, Ensure clinical practice models are meeting the
health services and hospitals that work with vulnerable groups. needs of vulnerable families.
Deliver services in areas of
4 most need 5 Capacity Building 6 Working Together
Tweddle will work to develop at least one place-based Quality service initiatives can only be delivered with high When working with higher levels of complexity it is
parenting support program. Monitoring indicators of quality teams and supporting infrastructure. In recognition increasingly important to ensure services are easy for
vulnerability can help us direct resources to areas of that service delivery in a changing environment can be families to access and get the support they may need
greatest need. challenging. from a range of services. We must actively work together
We will: We will: across government, community and health education
Analyse prevalence indicator data to inform the Build on existing quality expertise with a major services to ensure quality and cost effective service delivery.
introduction of a population-based prevention initiative. professional development program for all staff. We will:
Continue to deliver our current place-based programs Continue to seek ways of improving facilities and Deliver the Tweddle action plan for supporting
and initiatives. service reach. aboriginal families and communities.
Seek seed funding for implementation of an area Continue to support research and development to Continue to develop and promote our brand and
focused parenting support program. ensure increasing understanding of early childhood reputation as a specialist health service.
Develop and implement place based service models development and parenting. Grow relevant community and health services partnerships.
to operate in priority communities. Foster staff wellbeing. Work collaboratively with governments and other key
Provide a safe and healthy work environment. stakeholders to ensure that services evolve to meet
changing health priorities.
Further develop understanding of cultural differences
and values in family and parenting. Pursue national partnerships, especially in the
development of evidence informed practice.
Influence public policy affecting families.