The Royal New Zealand Plunket society has offered free parenting and pregnancy education (PEPE) for all expecting parents. They highly encourage those first-time parents to sign up for this free program funded by the District Health Board.
Plunket is focusing on first-time parents who are in remote places like Asia, Pacific and Maori. They also aim to help those parents who are under 24 years old and who has limited English speaking skills.
According to Scoop Independent News, starting March 1 Plunket will start to deliver the free parenting and pregnancy education in Canterbury. The program emphasizes on how the parents can take good care of themselves and stay healthy during their pregnancy. This support extends through 6 weeks after giving birth.
The Plunket southern operations manager, Sonya Marshall, said, "We will offer parents the same high-quality education about pregnancy and birth, and also how to look after and build a relationship with their newborn." Marshall is looking forward to offering free parenting education for families at the earlier stage of their parenthood.
It has been reportedly said that Plunket will be improving the deliverance and access to education for parents by using an online education programme for those who are in very remote areas. Canterbury and West Coast DHB General Manager Planning & Funding, Carolyn Gullery, said, "Plunket has been involved with supporting new parents and their babies for years, and this contract extends on that."
The Parenting and Pregnancy Education has a series of five courses that can be taken by those parents who signed up for the programme. Here are the specific courses as posted by Plunket on their official website:
1. Your New Baby- Parenting in the first six weeks
2. Your Growing Baby- Parenting from 6 weeks until baby is rolling or crawling
3. Your Moving Baby- Parenting when baby is moving but not yet walking
4. Your Active Toddler- Parenting from around 14 months to around 2.5 years
5. Your Curious Young Child- Parenting from 2.5 years until your child is at school
Plunket has pledged to have this free programme available for all parents and families. The program is supported by KPS Ltd and the Ministry of Health and this is voluntarily funded by communities.
