Scott Morrison, the Minister for Social Services, is set to cut funding for the parent child program in Shepparton. This is a vital service for families in the Goulburn Valley and if funding is cut then the program will cease. The program educates parents on how to settle a baby to sleep, how to recognise tired signs, and  how to settle a crying baby. Without this service parents in the Shepparton region will have no choice but to travel to Melbourne. A baby who won't settle or sleep causes massive strain on a family and lack of sleep can cause symptoms similar to post natal depression. Some of the consequences if this program were to cease include:

*Put more pressure on families

*Increase the already long wait list of Melbourne sleep clinics

*Cause undue anxiety from having to travel to Melbourne for this service

*Split families apart if parents are unable to travel to Melbourne together

*Potentially increase the rate of post natal depression and feelings of helplessness.

They also offer and assistance support for:

- Multiple births
- Premature infants
- Isolation/Sole parenting
- Adolescent parents
- Providing childcare while services (such as the Perinatal Emotional Health Program) are running.
- Feeding - breast, bottle, food refusal
- Toddlers - Behaviour

In short it would be a devastating loss for the community with widespread effects.