Jade’s Story: Maternal and Child Health at QEC | QEC Skip to main content

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

We pay our respects to Traditional Owners past, present and future. 

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.

"I recently completed the QEC Maternal and Child Health Nurse Early Parenting Centre Development Program, after more than a decade working in local government settings.

Initially I entered the program to gain a better insight into an early parenting center, something I hadn’t yet experienced. This enabled me to spend some time in 4 key areas; 5 Day Residential, PASDS 10 Day Residential, Day Stay and Assessment & Intake. I had weekly access to a mentor (thank you Josie!), alongside a VERY supportive team.

(Left to right) Elaine Grant, Mel Cain, Deidre Stuart, Jade Orlandi, Trish April, Josie Brosnan 

From the moment I commenced at QEC, I felt like I was welcomed by everyone. From admin to clinical staff to the learning team and management to Aaron in maintenance and Robyn in the Playroom - everyone makes you feel like part of the team from Day 1! Staff are all so friendly and supportive and genuinely love working alongside families. My knowledge and skills brought from Maternal and Child Health have been highly valued by others, even giving me the opportunity to run an education session for staff to support their learning as part of the program.

The structure of the development program gave me an opportunity to spend a few days watching the A&I process from referral into program allocation. From this, I gained an understanding of how families are triaged into Residential or Day Stay programs. This made commencing in Residential easier, as I had insight into what information is provided prior to admission. Moving into PASDS and Day Stay was an easier transition after gaining experience working in the Residential program first. On returning to A&I at the end of the program, I can confidently complete thorough assessments and determine the most appropriate program for each family.

When I came to QEC, I felt like I may have been entering a program that was targeted at Maternal and Child Health Nurses earlier in their career, however this is far from the case. This program caters for all levels of experience, enabling the best care for families through staff who value other professionals’ skills, knowledge and experiences. I want to particularly thank Deidre, who from the moment I commenced made me feel valued as she celebrated all my small achievements with families along the way.

To any Maternal and Child Health Nurses considering a change, I can’t recommend the program more highly! I am getting to spend quality time engaging with families every day and feeling so appreciated for it. I have learned so much, and supported others to learn along the way, And I truly cannot imagine a more welcoming team!!"

Learn more about the program here

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24 July 2026

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