A new Maternal and Child Health (MCH) consult room has been officially opened at Orana Community Place, providing families in Clyde North with improved access to vital health services.
On Tuesday 3 February, City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen and City of Casey Deputy Mayor Cr Michelle Crowther joined General Manager Balcon Developers, Jason Shaw, to celebrate the opening. Maternal and Child Health Nurse Kimberley, who will operate from the new consult room on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and local resident Shannon and son Bobbie, were also in attendance.
This important addition to Orana Community Place has been made possible through a partnership between Council and Balcon Developers, who saw the value in our service, and offered Council the interim space.
Cr Koomen said: “providing a local service in this part of Clyde North will help ease some of the pressure on surrounding services such as Ramlegh, Manna Gum and Smiths Lane who are also experiencing growing demand for this service.
“The addition of this new space will help address these challenges and provide families in the Orana and surrounding catchment area with a much-needed MCH service close to home.
“As the area grows, providing essential services like Maternal and Child Health, and making sure they are convenient, accessible, and fit-for-purpose, is fundamental to supporting the wellbeing of our youngest residents and their families.”
Mr Shaw said: “Orana Community Place is an outstanding example of how a developer and Council can work together to find innovative solutions to provide much-needed social infrastructure in new communities.
“Balcon identified the delay in permanent community infrastructure as a key challenge in the establishment of a strong and connected community at Orana. Orana Community Place is a novel way of providing a temporary facility that still meets the essential needs of community, as well as providing a focal point where people can meet, have a coffee at Humble Merchant and enjoy the beautiful Orana Park.
“Adding Maternal and Child Health to the offering at Orana Community Place effectively makes it a full-service community facility – all provided on three blocks of land. Whilst Balcon remains focussed on working with Council to deliver larger permanent facilities at Orana as soon as possible, Orana Community Place is proving to be a very successful temporary solution. Balcon hopes that Orana Community Place provides some inspiration and can be a template for other new communities around Australia.”
Located at 16/18 Playwright Street in Clyde North, the Orana site will also host first-time parent groups and offer a welcoming space for families.
Appointments at the Orana Community Place consult room can be made online via Council’s website or by calling 9705 5590, Monday to Friday during business hours.
For more information about the range of MCH Services offered by Council, visit the City of Casey website and search ‘Maternal and Child Health Services’.
Caption for photo: Jason Shaw; Cr Michelle Crowther; Cr Stefan Koomen; MCH nurse Kimberley; and local resident Shannon and son Bobbie.