THE community should nurture teenage parents rather than isolate them according to the city’s leading health organisations.
The City of Greater Bendigo, NETschool, Bendigo Community Health, Bendigo Health, Centacare and Loddon Mallee Women’s Health have joined forces to support young parents.
Their aim is to empower teenagers who are pregnant or have given birth to become confident parents.
According to City of Greater Bendigo family and well-being co-ordinator Maureen Tessier, offering support to young parents is vital.
“There is a high teenage pregnancy population in Bendigo,” she said.
“We wanted to make sure we were supporting those parents as  much as possible.
“Teenage parents have particular needs.
“Often they’re isolated, many don’t have family close by, some don’t have relationships or supportive partners.
“Their friends are often still at school, they don’t always have licenses.
“We need to be out there supporting them ... and we need them to be telling us how we can best support them.
“They’re great parents, they do a fantastic job and it’s absolutely critical we support these families.”
After being approached by NETschool to provide maternal and child health advice to students, the City of Greater Bendigo moved to bring the health care providers together.
“We thought, if we’ve got little bits here there and everywhere, let’s get together and see what services we are providing and ensure we don’t lose track of these kids and make sure they don’t miss out of vital information and education we can provide them,” Ms Tessier said.
Young mothers meet each Tuesday at The Mews maternal and child health centre for Bendigo Community Health’s Young, Pregnant and Parenting Program, while Centacare men’s health workers will speak with parents about the needs of teenage
fathers.
“We would love for these parents to feel they are supported and that we are supporting them to create their own networks, that it empowers them,” Ms Tessier said.