For any new mum, the postnatal period can bring unexpected challenges, and for some, it comes with serious mental health struggles that need specialist care. Until now, getting that care has often meant being separated from a newborn baby at the exact moment connection matters most.
That’s set to change on the Sunshine Coast, with the Queensland Government confirming a new $27 million, eight-bed Mother and Baby Unit at Nambour General Hospital. The purpose-built unit will let mothers experiencing acute mental health challenges receive short- to medium-term care while staying with their babies, in a space designed to be safe and therapeutic for both.
The Nambour unit is one part of a broader $160 million statewide investment aimed at expanding perinatal mental health services, with a target of 30 new Mother and Baby Unit beds across Queensland. Two extra beds are already up and running at Catherine’s House in Brisbane, and work is progressing on eight beds in Townsville, four in Logan and four in Ipswich. In Cairns, health authorities have opted for a slightly different model — a Hospital in the Home approach that would allow mothers to receive acute specialist care without leaving their homes, while staying close to their babies and wider family.
Once complete, these services will sit alongside existing Mother and Baby Units at Mater South Brisbane and Gold Coast University Hospital, building a more connected statewide network for families who need this kind of support.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the focus of the Nambour unit was squarely on supporting mums, babies and families through a difficult chapter. “This is about looking after mums, babies and families when they need it most, ensuring mothers can get the specialist care they need while staying close to their babies,” he said.
Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt echoed that sentiment, pointing to the value of keeping new mothers near the people who support them most. “Keeping mums and babies close to partners, children, grandparents and their support networks while they receive specialist care can make an enormous difference,” he said. “This $27 million investment at Nambour General Hospital is about giving local families confidence that when they need specialised mental health support, high-quality care will be available closer to home.”
For Sunshine Coast families, the message is a reassuring one: help is getting closer, and no mother will have to face treatment alone.
