QEC and Tweddle recommend voluntary merger to strengthen care… | 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 and 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.

The boards of the Queen Elizabeth Centre (QEC) and Tweddle Child and Family Health Service (Tweddle) have recommended a voluntary merger to the Secretary for the Department of Health following five months of consultation, due diligence and independent analysis.

Both boards have concluded that a merger is in the best interest of babies, children, families and carers and the broader Victorian community. Together, a merged organisation would improve how families find and access specialist early parenting support, deliver consistent, high-quality services across all locations, build a stronger workforce and make effective use of public resources.

The Secretary of the Department of Health will consider the proposal before advising the Minister for Health.

QEC Chair Nicki Batagol said the recommendation reflects a thorough and genuinely collaborative process.

"This has been a rigorous, evidence-based process and both boards have approached it with real care. We tested the case for merger openly and honestly, drew on a wide range of evidence and listened carefully to the people who know these organisations best," said Nicki.

"We are confident that working as one organisation would make a real difference for the families we support, our staff and Victoria's early parenting sector. We look forward to the government's consideration of our proposal."

Tweddle Chair Annette Mercuri said the recommendation builds on a strong foundation of shared values and collaboration.

"QEC and Tweddle have supported Victorian families for more than a century and have worked closely together in recent years across research, workforce development, digital health and sector leadership. This recommendation reflects our shared view that we can do more for babies, children and families as one organisation than we can as two," said Annette.

"We are grateful to everyone who took the time to share their views through consultation. What we heard was thoughtful, honest and genuinely valuable. Your feedback has shaped board decision-making."

The recommendation follows an extensive program of work undertaken jointly by both organisations, including:

  • consultation with more than 370 employees, families, partners, referrers, government representatives and sector peers across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria
  • due diligence across both organisations covering financial, clinical, workforce, legal and ICT matters
  • independent financial modelling and specialist legal advice.

Consultation found broad and consistent support across all groups. Seventy-six per cent of employees agreed or strongly agreed that a merger could strengthen the work both organisations do for babies, children and families. Seventy-one per cent of community survey respondents had no concerns about a merger proceeding. 

A summary of consultation findings is available here.

The merger requires approval by the Minister for Health before it can proceed. All services continue to operate as usual.

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