In Pictures: Eaton Family Centre welcomes mums and bubs for Maternal Health and Wellbeing Expo

Eaton Family Centre brought smiling mums and bubs together on Thursday to learn and exchange information about wellbeing services for new parents and families. Now in its second year, the centre’s Maternal Health and Wellbeing Expo brought together community organisations and businesses working in fields including maternal wellbeing, women’s health and mental health. Centre chair Billie Hagan said they aimed to build on last year’s efforts and gathered exhibitors from all around the South West. “It is trying to get the word out there that there are all these facilities and organisations available to help new parents, not just mums but new parents, expecting parents, through to the elderly,” she said. “Whether it’s mental health, looking for groups to join, like-minded people, the services are here.” Ms Hagan said a benefit of the expo and the centre’s other programs was the face-to-face networking, relationships formed and helpful information available. “We’re trying to grow all of our programs and events to be bigger and better and yeah hope to shine a light”, she said. “We would love the community’s input on different things, so if they would like to see something happening in the centre or if they have attended any events we want to hear from them and get their feedback”. Centre manager Jan Pedersen said the original date of the event was during Mental Health Week, but harsh weather conditions and flooding in and around the centre forced them to reschedule. “We want to keep doing these events a few times a year and welcome the community to come,” she said.