Strengthening care for babies, children and families in the early years

The boards’ recommendation is based on the conclusion that a merger would deliver lasting benefits for babies, children, families and carers.

The merger exploration identified opportunities to reach more families across Victoria, make it easier for families to find and access support and help families get support earlier.

Families and community members also told us what matters most. They want quality of care, trusted relationships and local community connections to be protected if a merger goes ahead.

A merger has not yet been approved. Families can continue to access services and support in the same way they do today.

The boards of QEC and Tweddle have recommended a voluntary merger to the Secretary of the Department of Health. Both boards have concluded that a merger is in the public interest and would deliver better services for babies, children, families and carers. A merger has not yet been approved. The Minister for Health must approve the merger before it can proceed.

Not yet. This is a recommendation to government, not a final decision. The Minister for Health must consider and approve the voluntary merger before it can proceed. Both organisations continue to operate as usual throughout this process.

No. Services continue as usual throughout the government consideration process. You will continue to receive care from the same teams, at the same locations, through the same programs.

Both boards undertook a thorough, evidence-based process to assess whether a voluntary merger would be in the best interests of babies, children and families. This included consultation with families, staff, partners and the community, due diligence and independent analysis. The evidence supports the conclusion that a single organisation would make it easier for families to access support when they need it, deliver lasting benefits for babies, children, families and carers – benefits that neither organisation can achieve alone.

Thank you for taking the time to contribute. What you shared helped us understand what families, staff and partners value most, what should be protected in any merger and what a stronger organisation could achieve. Those findings were considered alongside due diligence and independent analysis to inform the boards' recommendation. 

Across all groups, support was broad and consistent. Families and community members were clear about what matters most - being able to find help before reaching crisis point, maintaining the quality of care and trusted relationships they value and keeping the local connections that make both organisations work for their communities. People also identified what they want a merged organisation to prioritise including reaching more families across Victoria, improving how families navigate services and maintaining the family-centred, non-medical approach that defines both organisations. 

Read what we heard:

• What staff and employees told us 
• What families and communities told us 
• What partners and referrers told us 

The boards have now recommended a merger to government. The recommendation is being considered by the Department of Health before a final decision is made by the Minister for Health.

The Minister for Health will decide whether the merger proceeds.

The recommendation is now with the Secretary of the Department of Health, who will consider the proposal before advising the Minister for Health. We will share updates as this process progresses. In the meantime, both organisations continue to operate as usual.

We will keep you updated on our website as the process progress. For questions, email [email protected].