The Victorian Government will reshape how families find care, connection, and childhood support. The Government is making headway in its Early Parenting Centres (EPC) expansion and upgrade program rollout – a $168 million state-wide initiative that triples Victoria’s number of EPCs to support 5,000 families each year. The program is a roadmap to build nine new facilities and complete two major refurbishments that offer specialist care for families with children four years and under.

Each EPC is a family-first environment made up of open, light-filled spaces that support sleep, settling, feeding, and developmental care. The EPCs display thoughtfully designed facilities including play areas, multipurpose rooms, family kitchens, and outdoor spaces. Families and children will experience care that nurtures healthy development and wellbeing through specialist settings including residential units and day-stay places.

MBM was brought onboard to guide project costs across the entire expansion and upgrade program, from feasibility and cost planning, through to delivery and completion. Associate Director Matthew Walsh leads the team with support from Associate Arnea Vargas, Executive Quantity Surveyor Shaun Sciberras, Senior Quantity Surveyors Tim Rice and Tamara Perera, Quantity Surveyors Tram Truong and Deniz Aydin, and Assistant Quantity Surveyor Milad Elyasi. The team blends cost, function, and quality through value management strategies to support each EPC’s unique service delivery priorities.

Associate Director Matthew Walsh emphasised the team’s pride to help empower better family and childhood outcomes across Victoria:

“Supporting the VHBA on the EPC program has been a privilege and a fantastic opportunity to deliver impactful health services for Victoria’s diverse communities and families. MBM’s team has long worked with the Victorian Government, and through our knowledge of the client’s goals, we’re proudly contributing to family support networks that strengthens early intervention and better health outcomes.”

VHBA and its delivery partners have completed six new EPCs in Ballarat, Bendigo, Casey, Geelong, Whittlesea, and Wyndham, alongside upgrades to existing centres in Footscray and Noble Park.