All maternal and child health nurses hold specialist qualifications in nursing, midwifery and maternal and child health and are part of a local network of health and support services that can refer families to other support agencies if required.
Our maternal and child health services
New parent groups
We offer new parent groups. If you have not yet discussed joining a group with your maternal and child health nurse, do so when you next make contact so that you can be sent the relevant information.
Enhanced maternal and child health service
An enhanced maternal and child health service is available for families requiring a more intensive home visiting support. For more information about this service, please contact the Family Health Coordinator by email on emch@melbourne.vic.gov.au
There are 10 key stages of your child's development that you will attend a maternal and child health. These visits focus on optimising child and family health, safety and wellbeing, learning and development and include:
- home visit
- 2 weeks
- 4 weeks
- 8 weeks
- 4 months
- 8 months
- 12 months
- 18 months
- 2 years
- 3.5 to 4 years.
An SMS appointment reminder will be sent to you 72 hours before each of your maternal and child health centre bookings.
At these appointments your child will have a developmental assessment and you will receive information about a range of parenting topics and issues, including:
- infant feeding and nutrition advice (lactation consultants available for further support)
- sleep and settling
- starting healthy baby foods and dental health
- mother's health and wellbeing including postnatal depression
- family planning
- immunisation
- play and safety
- managing your child's behaviour
- playgroups, childcare options and pre school
- support with family issues including family violence and relationships
- screening and referral to additional services if required.
Your maternal and child health nurse may also book you into new parent’s group, sleep and settling groups and links to local community activities and services when extra support is required.
Once your hospital or midwife has advised Council's maternal and child health service of your baby's birth, a member of the maternal and child health service will phone you to arrange the date and time of your first appointment. This is usually attended in your own home.
Follow up appointments will be in one of our seven local centres closest to you, across the City of Melbourne.
If you have moved into the area, please telephone us on 03 9340 1444 (Monday to Friday 8.30 to 5pm) to make a booking with the nurse.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please phone 03 9340 1444 (Monday to Friday 8.30 to 5pm). If your call is not answered, please leave a message. Your call will be returned during business hours.
Alternatively email mchbookings@melbourne.vic.gov.au quoting your child's full name, date of birth and details of the appointment you are cancelling.
Do not email cancellations on the day of the appointment. Please phone 03 9340 1444 for late cancellations.
The maternal and child health staff regularly work with interpreters. This is a free service. The hospital will inform our service if an interpreter is required or is available on request.
Please bring with you the green book otherwise known as My Health, Learning and Development Record.
The hospital where your baby was born will provide you with a green book. At each appointment your maternal and child health nurse will record your child’s milestones, health, growth and development in this book. Your child’s immunisations will also be recorded here.
Our maternal and child health services team may provide services through alternative modes of delivery including telephone or online consultations.
Please contact your local maternal and child health service for information on change of service delivery. The 24-hour maternal and child health line continues to be open on 13 22 29.
Locations
City of Melbourne provides maternal and child health services from a number of centre locations across the municipality.
- Boyd Community Hub
207 City Road Southbank - Carlton Learning Precinct
Palmerston and Rathdowne Streets, Carlton - Community Hub at The Dock
912 Collins Street, Docklands - Kensington Maternal and Child Health Centre
81a Altona Street, Kensington - Lady Huntingfield Early Learning and Family Services Centre
89-97 Haines Street, North Melbourne - North Melbourne Community Centre
49–53 Buncle Street, North Melbourne - narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services
Level 3, 454 Queen St Melbourne
To contact the maternal and child health service at any of these locations, please phone 03 9340 1444 or email mchbookings@melbourne.vic.gov.au
| Health service | Address | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| Family Services at Carlton Baths | 248 Rathdowne Street, Carlton | To contact the maternal and child health service, please phone 03 9340 1444 or email mchbookings@melbourne.vic.gov.au |
| Community Hub at The Dock | 912 Collins Street, Docklands | To contact the maternal and child health service, please phone 03 9340 1444 or email mchbookings@melbourne.vic.gov.au |
| Kensington Community Childrens Co-operative | 81a Altona Street, Kensington | To contact the maternal and child health service, please phone 03 9340 1444 or email mchbookings@melbourne.vic.gov.au |
| North Melbourne Maternal and Child Health Centre | 505 Abbotsford Street, Kensington | To contact the maternal and child health service, please phone 03 9340 1444 or email mchbookings@melbourne.vic.gov.au |
| North Melbourne Community Centre | 49–53 Buncle Street, North Melbourne | To contact the maternal and child health service, please phone 03 9340 1444 or email mchbookings@melbourne.vic.gov.au |
| Family Services at Boyd | 207-229 City Road, Southbank | To contact the maternal and child health service, please phone 03 9340 1444 or email mchbookings@melbourne.vic.gov.au |
| Carlton Learning Precinct | Corner of Palmerston and Rathdowne streets, Carlton | To contact the maternal and child health service, please phone 03 9340 1444 or email mchbookings@melbourne.vic.gov.au |
