The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service is a free health service for all Victorian families with children, from birth up until school age.
This service supports families in the areas of parenting, health and development, family health and wellbeing and safety. It also gives referrals and helps link families with local communities.
There are eight MCH Centres in Yarra.
MCH Nurses are registered nurses and midwives with additional qualifications in maternal and child health and community health.
Find information for parents with infants and young children relating to MCH services on the Better Health Channel: Maternal and Child Health Services webpage.
Consultations
The service includes an initial home visit and 9 clinic consultations at key stages for your child.
- 2 weeks
- 4 weeks
- 8 weeks
- 4 months
- 8 months
- 12 months
- 18 months
- 2 years
- 3.5 years
Other services include:
- Early detection of health and development problems
- Breastfeeding information and support
- Health education and promotion
- Sleep and settling information
- Parenting education
- Nutritional information
- Child safety information
- Maternal health information and support
- First time parent groups
- Immunisation information
- Support for families in crisis
- Community networking
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
The MCH Nurse will contact you when you are discharged from hospital. You will receive information regarding our services, your nearest MCH centre and your first appointments will be made.
Making appointments
Appointments can be made or rescheduled by calling our central bookings line on 03 9205 5599, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Appointments can also be made via [email protected].
Parents will be reminded by their MCH nurse about these visits, but parents are welcome to contact their nurse if additional support is needed.
Families with young children who have just moved to the City of Yarra, can access the service by ringing our central bookings line on 03 9205 5599.
MCH centres
Abbotsford Maternal and Child Health Centre
Gahan Reserve
Park Street
Abbotsford VIC 3067
Alphington Maternal and Child Health Centre
Yarralea Children's Centre
54 Yarralea Street
Alphington VIC 3078
Collingwood Maternal and Child Health Centre
Gold Street Children's Centre
64 Gold Street
Collingwood VIC 3066
Fitzroy Maternal and Child Health Centre
Connie Benn Centre
160 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065
Fitzroy North Maternal and Child Health Centre
Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library
182 St Georges Road
Fitzroy North VIC 3068
Princes Hill Maternal and Child Health Centre
Princes Hill Primary School
Wilson Street
Carlton North VIC 3054
North Richmond Maternal and Child Health Centre
North Richmond Community Health Centre
23 Lennox Street
Richmond VIC 3121
South Richmond Maternal and Child Health Centre
Studio One Community Hub
15 Barnet Way (Please enter via Bendigo St)
Richmond VIC 3121
Other Support
When the local MCH Nurse is unavailable, the MCH Line is available 24/7 for information and support.
Telephone: 13 22 29
Parents in need of urgent medical advice should seek immediate medical attention and in an emergency call 000 and request an ambulance.
Maternal Child Health App
The free MCH app provides a modern digital solution and a resource families can use every day for trusted information on child and maternal health.
Time saving features include information on popular child health and development topics; click-to-call emergency contacts; prompts for upcoming MCH consultations and regular updates and messages.
This free app can be personalised and is available for all Apple and Android smartphones.
Feedback and complaints
Yarra City Council is committed to ensuring that complaints about its Maternal and Child Health Service are dealt with promptly, fairly and confidentially.
For all feedback regarding the MCH service please email [email protected] or call the MCH Team Leader on 03 9205 5457
Parenting and support services
Find information about events and services on our Parenting and support services page