The first 2,000 days of life – from conception to age five – are critical for a child’s brain development, emotional wellbeing and lifelong health, with 90 per cent of brain development occurring before the age of five.
Yet parenting can also feel overwhelming and isolating. Research shows 85 per cent of parents report a moderate-to-high need for support, 42 per cent wish they had sought support sooner and one in five mothers and one in 10 fathers experience postnatal anxiety or depression.
Many parents delay seeking support due to feelings of guilt, shame or fear of judgement.
Families thrive when they are supported by a village of care around them. Connecting parents with evidence-based information and support early can strengthen parent confidence, nurture healthy child development and have lifelong benefits.
A range of face-to-face, virtual and community-based supports are available, allowing families to access care in ways which best suit their needs.
Information and resources
Parents, carers and families can explore the following resources and services:
- Early Intervention – Where and How to Refer
- Raising Children Network
- Thriving Kids
- Karitane
- Tresillian
- Playgroup listings for Liverpool and Fairfield local government areas
- Child and Family Health services
Explore these resources to find information and support that suits you and your family.
This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.
