The Tasmanian Government has announced new support for mums and bubs with the statewide launch of a parenting support line from today (July 1), as part of a partnership with Tresillian Family Care Centres.
Tasmanian parents can now freecall 1300 TAS BUB (1300 827 282) between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week – where they can receive telephone support and guidance from a specialist Tresillian child and family health nurse.
Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Wellbeing, Guy Barnett said the Government was proud to partner with Tresillian to deliver the new service, which will provide vital support, advice and reassurance to Tasmanian families.
“Tresillian provides professional advice and specialist support to parents on topics ranging from settling their baby, breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, toddler behaviour, postnatal depression and anxiety, and more,” Minister Barnett said.
“We welcome the launch of the service, which we know will make a big difference to the health and wellbeing of many Tasmanian families.
“We know that this will be a particularly vital service for parents with a baby or young child in rural and regional Tasmania, as it will improve accessibility to Tresillian’s important child and family health support services.”
Tresillian CEO, Professor Rob Mills said Tresillian was excited about working in partnership with all levels of the Tasmanian Government to launch a Parent’s Help Line and next year continuing the expansion of Tresillian’s vital early parenting services into communities across Tasmania.
“Easy access to a dedicated parents’ help line will be positively life-changing for Tasmanian families especially for those living in regional and geographically isolated areas,” Professor Mills said.
“Parents with concerns about their baby or their own emotional wellbeing can call on our qualified clinicians for practical advice and guidance. It’s so important that parents feel supported, to give them and their child the best start in life.”
In addition to the Tasmanian Parenting Support Line, Tresillian’s day and residential services will be established in the Launceston Health Hub in late 2025 under the Tasmanian Government’s 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.
This service will include:
- A four-bed residential unit will be for parents with a child aged from newborn to three years who are experiencing significant parenting challenges. Parents can live-in for four nights/five days with rooms complete with their own nurseries and ensuites.
- Consultation rooms where parents can visit with their baby for a free face-to-face consultation with a Tresillian nurse to discuss concerns about their child or their own mental health. To book a visit, parents can either self-refer by completing a short online contact form on the Tresillian website (www.tresillian.org.au) or ask for a referral from their local GP, child and family health service, the Department of Education, Children and Young People, or non-government organisations providing services to families with young children.
- Mental health support, Gidget House co-located with the Tresillian centre to provide free psychology services to parents experiencing perinatal mental health and anxiety.
- As part of Tresillian’s launch into Tasmania, parents will also have free access to the SleepWellBaby app. The app helps parents keep track of their baby’s sleeping and feeding patterns while sharing the expert knowledge and approach of Tresillian. Parents can download the app free of charge from the Tresillian website.