Maternal and Child Health
Yarra City Council’s Maternal Child Health Service is a free service available for parents who live, work or study in Yarra. The service monitors the health and development of children from birth up until school age. It also provides ongoing support and advice to parents.
Maternal and child health (MCH) nurses are registered nurses and midwives with additional qualifications in maternal child health and community health. MCH nurses provide the following support as part of Yarra Council’s Maternal and Child Health Service:
- home visits
- information about immunisations
- advice on breastfeeding and nutrition
- advice on sleep/settling difficulties
- advice on accident prevention
- advice on parenting and parents’ health and wellbeing
- assessment of a child’s growth, development and behaviour
- access to information about services for families and children
- help with connecting new parents so they can form mother’s and father’s groups.
Visits with a maternal and child health nurses usually occur at one of Yarra’s nine maternal and child health centres.
The service is confidential and recognises the great diversity of families in Yarra. Interpreters are provided to non-English speaking families.
Accessing the Maternal and Child Health Service
Soon after a baby is born, the hospital notifies Council’s Maternal and Child Health Unit. A maternal and child health nurse will contact the family to arrange the first visit, which is usually in the home. During this visit, parents will receive information about the services available to them, information about their nearest maternal child health centre, and advice about how to get further information or support. Additional appointments will also be made.
Families with young children who have just moved to the City of Yarra, can access the service by ringing their local maternal child health centre directly.
Once families are registered with their local maternal and child health centre, appointments can be made or rescheduled by sending an email to mchbookings@yarracity.vic.gov.au or by calling 9205 5599. A council officer will be available on this number from Monday – Thursday, between 9am - 1pm, and will return any missed calls the next business day.
Key Visits
It is recommended that children attend their local maternal and child health centre at the following key developmental ages:
- 2 weeks
- 4 weeks
- 8 weeks
- 4 months
- 8 months
- 12 months
- 18 months
- 2 years
- 3.5 years.
Parents will be reminded by their maternal and child health nurse about these visits, but parents are welcome to contact their nurse if additional support is needed.
Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Service
The Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Service is provided to families who have complex needs or who require additional support and guidance. The maternal and child health nurse refers families to this service, which is normally provided in the home.
Other contacts
A 24-hour Maternal and Child Health Line is also available for over the phone information and advice. The number is: 13 22 29.
Parents in need of urgent medical advice should call emergency service on 000 or contact the Royal Children’s Hospital on 9345 5522.
Complaints Procedure
Yarra City Council is committed to ensuring that complaints about its maternal and child health service are dealt with promptly, fairly and confidentially.
For more information or to raise concerns about the service, contact Wendy Jones, Coordinator - Family Services, on 9205 5441 or at info@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Further information
Wendy Jones
Coordinator - Family Services
9205 5441
info@yarracity.vic.gov.au
External Sites
Australian Breastfeeding Association
Better Health Channel - Parenting
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Raising Children Network
Sids and Kids Victoria
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