Maternal and Child Health

Maternal and Child Health Centres are ‘well baby’ clinics. Please do not go to the Centre if you or your child are sick as other infants and families may be exposed.

The service operates throughout the municipality with clinics at the following centres:

Swan Hill

Robinvale

Lake Boga

Lake Boga Preschool
Lalbert Road, Lake Boga.
5032 0300

Manangatang

Community Centre
1 Wattle Street South, Manangatang.
5032 0300

Nyah West

Children’s Centre
Lloyd Street, Nyah West.
5032 0300

After a baby is born, the hospital or midwife will notify our service. A MCH nurse will then contact the new mum and arrange to visit you and your baby at home. After this initial home visit a series of follow up appointments will be scheduled as the baby develops.

A total of 10 free MCH appointments are recommended over a four year period at key ages and stages:

• At any time a parent needs further support or is concerned about their child

The Maternal Child Health team can provide you with support and information on a range of topics:

• Child health and development
• Nutrition
• Breast Feeding
• Sleep and settling
• Parental Health and Wellbeing; including Family Violence
• Child Safety Awareness
• Immunisation
• Managing infant / child behaviours
• Links and referrals to other support services
• New Parents Groups
• Playgroups and Activities for Children

Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Service

The Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Service is a more targeted service for families who may need some extra support such as:

• Children/parents with chronic or recurring illness
• Children/parents with complex needs
• Families with babies who were born prematurely or with a low birth weight
• Children with a disability
• Parents experiencing mental health issues
• Families experiencing or affected by issues with sleep and settling
• Child behaviour / development concerns
• Feeding concerns
• Social isolation
• Family member with mental health challenges
• Families affected by Domestic Violence
• Families affected by homelessness
• Families affected by alcohol or other drugs.

Services are provided free of charge.

Referrals for the enhanced service are made by your Maternal and Child Health nurse.

New parents group

First-time parents can join new parents groups. The groups are a chance to meet and socialise with other new parents and their babies, and get health and parenting information.

Sessions cover topics such as sleep and settling, infant nutrition, baby massage, common childhood illness, childhood safety awareness and postnatal physio.

Talk with your MCH nurse to book in.

Playgroup

Playgroups for children are a very important part of childhood. Children learn to interact with other children, develop social skills, and have fun interacting with parents. For parents it is a great way to meet other families, have an opportunity to talk to Maternal Child Health staff informally and develop parenting skills.

Baby playgroup is an ideal follow on activity from First Time Parents Group allowing you to keep in contact with other first time parents.

Maternal and Child Health Line on 13 22 29

This is a 24-hour telephone service staffed by qualified maternal and child health nurses can provide information and advice to all families with young children.

Accessibility services are available:

• Interpreters – Translating Interpreter Service
• Hearing and speech impaired – National Relay Service (NRS).

The Maternal and Child Health app (MCH app) provides reliable information that families can use every day.

Download the free MCH app for trusted information matched to the age of your child, at your fingertips! The app can also track your child’s growth, and remind you about upcoming MCH appointments or immunisations. And with Nora the digital assistant on hand to answer your questions, it’s like having an MCH nurse with you 24 hours a day!

The MCH app helps to manage your child’s vaccinations:

• Detailed information on the benefits of child immunisation, and how to detect and manage reactions
• A list of Victoria’s immunisation schedule, which details the vaccines given at each age
• A link to access your Australian Immunisation Record online – this replaces the need for families to keep track of vaccinations, and is now required under federal legislation to access child care and to receive family assistance payments
• Automated reminders, so you don’t have to worry about missing a scheduled immunisation.

The app is also available in Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Dari, Khmer, Persian, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese.