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We acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as traditional owners of the lands on which we walk, live and raise our children.

We pay our respects to traditional owners past, present, future and any Aboriginal people present here today. We acknowledge the importance of children being raised with connections to culture, community and family.

View our Acknowledgement of Country

Inclusion statement

At QEC, we work together with families and communities to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming environment. We celebrate the different strengths and experiences that everyone brings.

We embrace diversity and want to make sure our places, processes, and services are fair, more accessible, and open to all.

It is important to us that people can express their beliefs, values and needs and that these are heard and understood so that everyone feels safe, respected, and a sense of belonging.

What’s happening

QEC and Tweddle are exploring a voluntary merger.

We want to understand if working as one organisation could strengthen care and support for babies, children and families in the early years.

As part of our merger exploration, we want to hear what matters most to our people, families, community members and partners.

Have your say

Your voice matters in the process. Our online survey takes 5-10 minutes. Open until 31 March 2026.

Complete our survey
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Why we're exploring a merger

For more than a century, our organisations have supported Victorian families through specialist early parenting programs and a deep commitment to helping babies and children thrive.

As early parenting centres, we provide specialist support that strengthens family relationships, builds parental confidence and supports a child’s early development.

In recent years, we have collaborated successfully across research, digital health, workforce development and sector leadership.

This merger exploration builds on these strong foundations and asks: could we make a greater impact and contribution as one organisation?

What could a merger deliver

For families, children and babies

Working as one organisation could:

  • Improve access, experience and outcomes for babies, children and families
  • Provide more equitable access to services for families across communities
  • Give families more choice about where and how they access our services
  • Strengthen our ability to innovate and respond to the needs of families experiencing vulnerability

For the early parenting sector

A merged organisation could:

  • Strengthen our role in clinical care, research and development, teaching, training and sector leadership
  • Better position us to support the continued growth and maturity or Victoria's early parenting system
  • Make better use of our combined expertise, scale and resources

For our workforce

Working as one organisation could:

  • Increase capacity to support a skilled, future-ready workforce
  • Offer stronger career pathways
  • Offer better access to research, training and development

What this means for families

Services will continue as usual during this exploration. Families will continue to receive care at the same locations from the same teams they know and trust.

If we merge, all current services will continue. Services will not be reduced.

Families will:

  • Be able to choose to continue to receive care at the same locations, from the same teams they know and trust
  • Have more choice about which locations they access our services
  • Benefit from the combined expertise of both organisations, leading to better care and outcomes.

Have your say

Your voice matters in this process.

We are consulting with families, communities and partners from 24 February to 31 March 2026.

We want to understand:

  • What opportunities you see for a merged organisation
  • What matters most to you
  • What insights you can share.

Your input will inform the business case that boards and government will consider.

Have your say

Your voice matters in the process. Our online survey takes 5-10 minutes. Open until 31 March 2026.

Complete our survey
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Other ways to participate

  • Tell us if you’re interested in participating in a consultation session – email [email protected]

Timeline

24 February 2026

Merger exploration announced and consultation begins

31 March 2026

Consultation closes

April - May 2026

Business case developed

June 2026

Boards consider business case and, if supported, business case is submitted to Minister for Health for approval

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘exploring a merger’ mean?

Exploring a merger means taking a careful, evidence-based look at whether becoming one organisation would deliver clear benefits for babies, children, families, staff and the broader early parenting sector. It is not a decision to merge.

Has a decision been made?

No. This is exploration. Any future merger must show clear benefit to the Victorian community and requires support from both the QEC and Tweddle boards. If both boards support a merger, a business case is submitted to the Minister for Health for approval. 

Who is leading this process?

The process will be undertaken together, by QEC and Tweddle. We will work together as equal partners, with shared leadership and joint decision making, drawing on the strengths and expertise of both organisations.

This is about understanding if we can do more together for babies, children and families, for our staff and for the broader EPC sector.

What does this mean for babies, children and families?

There is no change to services, programs or how families access support as a result of the merger exploration.

Babies, children and families remain at the centre of this work. A key focus of the exploration is understanding what families value most about current services and how outcomes, access and experience could be strengthened in the future.

Families and community members will have opportunities to share their views as part of the consultation process.

What does this mean for staff?

For staff, work continues as usual during this exploration. There are no changes to roles or employment terms or conditions. All sites, programs and services continue to operate as usual.  

If we merge, staff will transfer to the new organisation on existing terms and conditions. No staff will be disadvantaged. There would be no change to the services we provide to the community. Frontline service delivery roles would remain unchanged and families could continue to receive care at the same locations and from the same teams they know and trust.   

A merged organisation would have one Board and one CEO, with reporting lines aligned to support a single organisation.  

What would a merged organisation look like?

This stage is about exploring ideas, listening carefully to staff, families, community and partners and understanding the options. Through this process, we will build a clearer picture of what a future organisation could look like, what it could achieve and whether it is in the best interest of babies, children and families.

How can I participate?

You can complete the online survey, attend a consultation session or submit written feedback.

The online survey is open now and closes on 31 March 2026. Click here to complete.

Consultation sessions will be held throughout March and will include in-person and online discussions and interviews with families who have used our services, community members and partners.

To register your interest please email [email protected].

Where can I get more information?

For more information about our services and programs, 'How we can help'.

To learn more about QEC, visit our 'About Us' page.

For questions about the merger exploration, email [email protected].

More information