Fairfield families to get more support thanks to Karitane Child and Family Hub

Families in New South Wales will have greater access to health and parenting support services during the critical First 2000 Days of a child’s life through a boost to the Karitane Fairfield Integrated Child and Family Hub.

The 2024-25 NSW Budget is delivering $6.5 million to support an upgrade of the Karitane site at Carramar to deliver the new Karitane Fairfield Integrated Child and Family Hub as part of the NSW Government’s $130.9 million Family Start Package. The funds will be matched by a $6.5 million grant from the Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF).

Development of the Karitane Fairfield Integrated Child and Family Hub will support the growing and diverse community in the Fairfield area as well as offering virtual services to families across NSW. 

Karitane will establish a “One Stop Shop” for families to access a wide range of early parenting and support services they need to ensure their children get the best start in life.

The redeveloped hub will offer:

• perinatal and infant mental health services
• toddler behaviour clinics
• child and family health day stay services
• digital health hub
• integrated services with external providers.

Karitane provides a range of holistic and wrap-around parenting support services that include virtual home visiting and telephone support services, early parenting centres, and virtual and residential parenting services, which complement child and family services offered by local health districts.

The Family Start Package provides early intervention programs to boost lifelong maternal and child health ensuring that families across NSW have access to the health and support services they rely on.

“Karitane is an important partner in providing trusted parenting services for families seeking professional support with their unsettled babies, perinatal infant mental health issues and challenging toddler behaviours,” NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said. 

“By investing in Karitane, we’re improving the ability to deliver high quality care and support for children and their families in the critical early years.”

Karitane CEO Grainne O’Loughlin said the organisation was deeply appreciative of the support provided by the NSW Government and its partners the Paul Ramsay Foundation.

“By bringing together services from health, early education and social care, as well as providing parents with the opportunity to build social connections, we will support families to identify emerging issues before they become entrenched and help children to thrive,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

“Sometimes the challenges experienced by children and families are complex and require an integrated response to meet their needs. Having to travel to multiple locations to access multiple services or navigate complex systems prevents families from getting the right care, at the right time. The Fairfield Hub will ensure services that are more comprehensive, accessible, and responsive to families’ needs in an inviting, safe and welcoming space that has been co-designed by our local community.”