First Steps Parenting Centre in Hunter New England

Adjustment issues are very common with parents and carers. Having a baby can be very challenging or when the birth experience may not have gone as hoped.

We offer counselling related to parenting concerns by our team's social workers, including support around post-natal depression or anxiety and understanding how it affects your parenting.

Learn more about mental health help for parents and babies, and getting parenting, emotional and legal support.

Sometimes we are so preoccupied with getting through the pregnancy and birth that we don’t think about what babies need after they are born.

Our Child and Family Health Nurses offer information and practical assistance with infant sleep cycles, settling techniques and feeding patterns.

Learn more about getting your baby to sleep and feeding your baby.

Attachment and relationship intervention is the foundational model of care at our Centre.

We often don’t think about playing with our infants or children, and how important this is to their day-to-day development and relationships with their carers. 

We offer information and advice on meaningful and affordable ways to play with your baby, which increases a positive connection and helps them develop a sense of security and trust in the relationship.

Learn more about child health and development.

Our staff use evidence-based models of practice to offer strategies and approaches that best fit the needs of your family. 

We help you understand and manage attachment and behavioural interventions with your toddler. 

Learn more about supporting your child's development. 

Day stay offer carers an opportunity to learn and practice responsive settling strategies using an attachment and infant cue-based approach. 

A maximum of 3 families can be seen at a time and are supported by a Child and Family Health Nurse and a social worker. 

Families have reported that sharing experiences with other parents has helped to normalise situations and make them feel like they are not alone.

When working with your family, our staff may need clarification around certain issues relating to your toddler or pre-schooler. 

We have limited access to paediatrician and speech pathology services. 

Sometimes, there can be significant wait times to access both services. When this happens, we provide other ways to access these services. 

Our Young Parent Social Worker supports young parents, aged 25 years and under, who are pregnant or whose youngest child is aged under 8 years.

This service is run with the support of other community partners in the Maitland and Port Stephens LGAs (Local Government Areas).

Find out about support for young people who are pregnant or parenting.

During school terms a Child and Family Health Nurse runs a weekly parent and child health clinic for young parents.

More information for young parents

• Teenage pregnancy - Raising Children Network
• Teenage pregnancy - Pregnancy Birth and Baby
• Health resources and contacts for young people

Videoing is a great tool that we use to review the different ways you and your baby or child communicate and identify opportunities to for changes.

You may be asked to consent to being videoed with your child at our Centre.

Postnatal Depression Group

This psychoeducational and therapeutic group runs for 7 weeks and focuses on the myths of parenting, managing depression and relationships.

Circle of Security Group

This 8-week parenting group focuses on how to identify and meet your child's emotional needs to better understand and manage their behaviour. 

Self-compassion Group

This 6-week group explores the 3 parts of self-compassion - mindfulness, humanity and self-kindness. 

The group focuses on teaching practical skills for better self-care and awareness, reduce parental stress, anxiety and negative self-talk.

Our 2 satellite programs require additional referral criteria. 

Both programs are for parents and families living in Maitland and Port Stephens LGAs (Local Government Areas). 

The Young Parents Network

This program is for young parents and families aged under 25 years and whose youngest child is aged under 8 years. 

Program of Initial Parenting

This specialised program is for first-time parents who are at-risk or have multiple vulnerabilities. 

Using attachment and strengths-based skills, the program is delivered by a Child and Family Health Nurse and social worker. 

Note: Referrals can only be made from Birra-Li or the Family Care Midwives and Social Work team at John Hunter Hospital.