Maternal and Child Health services

About MCH services

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) service supports families from the time their child is born until they start school. It is free for all Victorian families and delivered in local communities.

MCH nurses work with you and your family to help your child grow up healthy, safe and happy.

The service offers:

• free appointments with qualified and caring MCH nurses
• 10 check-ins at key stages of your child's development
• support with feeding, development, and sleeping and settling
• support for parents and carers in the postnatal period
• links to other local health and family services.

Key Ages and Stages visits

There are 10 check-in appointments at key stages of your child's development:

• home visit within 2 weeks of your baby's birth or arrival at home
• two weeks
• four weeks
• eight weeks
• four months
• eight months
• one year
• 18 months
• two years
• three and a half years.

Most centres offer a range of times when families can access the service. They typically operate through scheduled appointments, open consultation sessions and some after-hours appointments.

How MCH nurses help

MCH nurses are Registered Nurses and Midwives with additional qualifications in child and family health. They can help you with:

• feeding your baby
• learning about baby behaviour and bonding
• sleep and settling
• growth and development checks
• looking after yourself as a parent or carer, including your mental health
• joining new parent groups.

Your nurse can also refer you to other services like Early Parenting Centres, parenting support and community groups, like playgroups.

If you and your family need some extra support, your MCH nurse can help by making a referral.

Your first appointment

Your local MCH service will be notified when your baby is born. A nurse will contact you during the first 1 to 2 weeks to book your first appointment. This is usually a visit in your home.

At your first home visit, your nurse will:

• tell you about the MCH service, including the details of your local MCH centre
• weigh your baby and check their growth and development
• provide support with feeding
• check in with your and your family's wellbeing, including physical postnatal health and mental health
• answer any questions you have
• tell you how to get support at any time.

If you do not hear from your nurse within 2 weeks of your baby's birth, call your local service or Aboriginal MCH service.

Find your local MCH centre

MCH centres are in communities across Victoria. Some are run by local councils, others are run by health services or Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

No matter where you live in Victoria, you can access the free MCH service.

Aboriginal MCH services

Aboriginal MCH services are free and open to families with babies/children from birth to school age who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

You can choose to use the Aboriginal MCH service at your local Aboriginal community organisation. These services:

• are grounded in the principle of self-determination
• are culturally safe, respectful and welcoming
• are tailored to your needs
• provide continuity of care
• let you choose the service that suits you best, and you can move between services as needed.

Aboriginal MCH service providers

Providers of Aboriginal MCH services are:

• Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service Cooperative
• Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative
• Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Incorporated
• First Peoples Health and Wellbeing (Thomastown)
• Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative
• Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Cooperative
• Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative
• Mallee District Aboriginal Service Limited (Mildura)
• Mallee District Aboriginal Service Limited (Swan Hill)
• Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative
• Njernda Aboriginal Corporation
• Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation
• Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative
• Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)
• Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Co-Operative Ltd
• Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation (Heywood)
• Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation (Hamilton)

Remember your 'green book'

Your My Health, Learning and Development book, or 'green book,' is given to you by your pregnancy care provider after your baby is born. It belongs to you and your child. It has important information about your child's development, and services and support available to you.

Take it to each appointment with your nurse, doctor, dentist, or any other health professional you see. It should be used to record your child's growth and development, immunisations, and other health information. If you keep it up to date, it will become an important family record from birth to adolescence.

If you do not have one, let your MCH nurse know.

Call the 24-hour MCH Line

You can speak to a maternal and child health nurse at any time by calling the MCH Line on 13 22 29.

This free service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is private and confidential, and provides support for parents of children from birth to school age.

The qualified maternal and child health nurses can help with:

• child health and nutrition
• feeding advice
• your own health and wellbeing
• parenting questions.

Download the MCH app

The free Maternal and Child Health app (MCH app) can be download to your mobile phone. It lets you track your child's growth, get reminders about appointments and immunisations, and find reliable health information.

Extra support through the Enhanced MCH (EMCH) program

Responding early to health and development issues can help a child thrive. Families experiencing challenges that are impacting their role as parents or carers may benefit from the extra support available through EMCH. Extra support can help parents and carers respond to any issues to give their child the best start in life.

What EMCH offers

The program can:

• support you to build your confidence
• help you bond with your child
• help you respond to your child's cues and needs
• guide you through family violence and next steps
• improve your parenting strategies and explore ways parents can work together
• link you to local support services (such as disability support)
• refer you for specialist help
• provide long-term follow-up.

Visits can happen at home, in your local centre or in the community.

Who EMCH is for

The EMCH program provides free extra support hours to Victorian families with children from birth to age 3 who are facing extra challenges that impact their role as a parent or carer.

You may be eligible if you:

• are having trouble bonding with your child or a child in your care
• have a child with a disability or developmental delays (like not reaching milestones)
• are a young parent or carer (under 20 years old)
• are experiencing family violence or safety issues
• have a disability or health condition (including substance abuse)
• are struggling with mental health or substance use
• are at risk of homelessness or job loss
• are finding it hard to engage with the MCH service.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, families who need language support, and children in Out of Home Care are given priority access.

How to access EMCH

You will need a referral from one of the following:

• MCH nurse or service
• Aboriginal MCH program
• general practitioner (GP)
• maternity service
• allied health and support service.

Where to get help

• The MCH Line Tel. 13 22 29 (telephone support available 24 hours, 7 days per week)
• Your local MCH service provider
• Your GP (doctor)
• The hospital or maternity service where you had your baby
• Emergency department of your local hospital
• Urgent Care Clinic
• Virtual Emergency Department
• Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) Tel. 131 450 (24 hours, 7 days) for callers who speak other languages
• The National Relay Service is available to help callers who are d/Deaf, or find it hard to hear or speak to hearing people on the phone
• Other supports are also listed on the back cover of your 'green book', which is given to you in hospital when your baby is born.