New ‘Toddler Garden’ blooms at Campbelltown Hospital’s Karitane Early Parenting Centre

Kids, parents and staff at the early parenting centre in Campbelltown Hospital can now enjoy the perfect place to play or wind-down with the opening of three curated garden spaces.

Parents and kids can enjoy the new 'toddler garden' and outdoor spaces now open at Karitane Early Parenting Centre, Campbelltown. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

Young families and staff at Campbelltown Hospital’s early parenting centre can now enjoy three beautiful curated gardens for both kids and adults to enjoy.

Karitane’s Campbelltown Early Parenting Centre officially opened its newly refurbished outdoor facilities on Friday, fostering spaces for connection, relaxation, and play.

With approximately 50 staff members, including GPs, nurses and child psychologists, the facility offers a range of services from peri-natal and counselling support to residential programs for up to 19 families and 23 children at a time.

The new garden spaces also include a ‘Toddler Garden’ with colourful play spaces for young children.

There’s also a dedicated culturally inclusive courtyard for First Nations families, and a staff wellbeing garden providing them with a tranquil space to wind down.

The newly unveiled 'toddler garden' at Karitane Early Parenting Centre. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

The outdoor play area got a tick of approval from the kids. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

Kids and tots trying out all the new play spaces and activities. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

Karitane Early Parenting Centre has a dedicated courtyard and suite for First Nations families. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

First Nations courtyard area. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

Karitane CEO Grainne O’Loughlin thanked generous donors and government funding for making the outdoor transformations possible.

Water feature and seating area for parents and staff to wind down. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

Lawn games set up in the staff wellbeing garden. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

“These spaces are a reflection of our commitment, really, to that holistic care, not just for our families, but also for the staff and the broader community,” she said.

Landscape designers of the new gardens Barbara Landsberg (left) and Camilla Hyles (right) from Landsberg Garden Design. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

Federal MP for Macarthur Dr Mike Freelander praised Karitane’s century-long contribution to the community, and its crucial role in providing support to “one of the most fertile electorates” in NSW.

“My associations with Karitane go back half a century, if you can believe that,” Dr Freelander said.

“Karitane is essential in providing that early intervention service … giving our kids the best start in life, because they are our future.”

Macarthur Federal MP Dr Mike Freelander at the opening of new gardens at Karitane Early Parenting Centre Campbelltown. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

Dr Freelander also highlighted the increasing pressures faced by families in Macarthur, from housing to education, and stressed the importance of early childhood support.

“As a pediatrician, I’ve had a blessed career working in this area now for over 40 years … it really is great to have something like Karitane, where young families can come to get the support they need,” he said.

Karitane provides vital early support for new parents and families from peri-natal to preschool. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

The early parenting facility has the capacity to house up to 19 families and 23 children at a time. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

One of the centre’s unique offerings is its toddler clinic, where parents struggling with their child’s behaviour can receive real-time guidance from a child psychologist through an earpiece, as they engage in activities on the other side of a one-way glass wall.

Karitane Early Parenting Centre has roughly 50 staff members including GPs, specialists and nurses. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

Parents and families can access Karitane’s services by boarding, visiting or virtually free of charge through either a referral or calling directly for assistance through Karitane’s Care Line.

The care line also connects them directly to child and family health nurses who can offer advice over the phone and direct families to appropriate services.