Victoria's hub for health services and business
A gateway to the strategies, policies, programs and services delivered by the Department of Health & Human Services.
Victorian government portal for older people, with information about government and community services and programs.
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Being immunised from an early age helps protect your child against serious childhood infections...
There is a range of subsidised and free health services, including services for mental health and dental health, available for children in Victoria...
A young child is naturally active, so build upon their inclinations to use their body...
Snacks are an important part of a healthy diet for active children, so offer nutritious as well as high energy snacks...
Babies and young children do not usually grow in a perfectly smooth way, but instead grow in 'bursts'...
Everyone's immunisation needs are different and are influence by your health, lifestyle, age and occupation...
Parenting is one of the most important tasks we undertake but it doesn't always come naturally...
Your child is starting to understand social skills like sharing and being kind, but they can only practise these skills for a short time while feeling safe and happy...
A child learning to walk receives important sensory information from the soles of their feet, and shoes can make walking more difficult...
Dyslexia is a type of specific learning difficulty (SLD) in which the person has difficulties with language and words...
Growing pains may cause a lot of pain but they are harmless and can respond to simple treatments...
Always see your doctor if you are concerned about your child's growth or weight...
Some athletes and bodybuilders wrongly believe that taking synthetic growth hormone will help build up their muscles...
By law, parents or guardians must provide an Immunisation History Statement when enrolling children in any childcare service, kindergarten or primary school in Victoria...
If your child is naturally left-handed, don't try to force them to use their right hand...
When your child turns three-and-a-half, it is time for their final key age and stage appointment with your maternal and child health nurse...
Adjusting to the many changes that happen around puberty can be difficult for both parents and young people...
Teething symptoms are common in children and can be managed without medications...
Teach your children to sort out minor differences themselves... 10 tips for managing sibling rivalry...
Visit the school before the school year starts ... 10 tips to prepare your child for high school...
Be a positive role model ... 10 tips to raise an optimistic child...
A Healthy Start to School – a guide for parents of children in their foundation year of school...
You can help your child overcome anxiety by taking their fears seriously and encouraging them to talk about their feelings...
Parents can help with bullying by supporting their child and involving the authorities to find solutions...
Your child is literate if they know how to speak, read and write their language with confidence...
If your child's shyness is especially debilitating, you may like to consider professional help from a counsellor or psychologist...
Sibling rivalry is a common problem, particularly among children who are the same sex and close together in age...
Children with untreated conduct disorder are at increased risk of problems including substance use, personality disorders and mental illnesses...
Cyberbullying (or online bullying) happens when technology is used to bully someone...
Disciplining your child means teaching them responsible behaviour and self-control...
Expressive language disorder means that a child has difficulty with verbal, written or other information...
Oppositional defiant disorder is a childhood behavioural problem characterised by constant disobedience and hostility...
Peer groups can be a very positive influence on your teenager's life...
Receptive language disorder means the child has difficulties with understanding what is said to them...
Your child may have only a few scary dreams a year, or be troubled by nightmares much more often...
Children thrive with words of encouragement and praise...
Some people diet because they have a poor body image, not because they want to be a healthy weight...
Children who skip breakfast may lack sufficient vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin B2...
Childcare centres should provide healthy meals for your children...
If you eat and enjoy fruit and vegetables every day, your child may eventually follow your lead...
Children are able to decide how much food they need for activity and growth if allowed to eat according to their appetite...
Carbohydrate is the most important nutrient for athletes...
Simple ways to make your child's school lunch healthier...
A good balance between exercise and food intake is important to maintain a healthy body weight...
Healthy foods that are great for school lunch boxes...
Victorian State Public Health Nutritionist Veronica Graham takes us shopping for the right foods to include in your childs lunchbox...
Victorian State Public Health Nutritionist Veronica Graham shares three healthy and delicious lunchbox examples for the kids and provides some great food preparation tips to save you time throughout...
By planning ahead, you can make sure that your child's lunch box has each of the six key elements of a healthy lunchbox...
Encourage children to help choose and prepare their own healthy snack or lunch...
Encourage children to drink and enjoy water. Sweet drinks such as juice, cordial and soft drinks may cause health problems for children if consumed in large amounts...
New Year's resolutions and how to stick to them...
Children can learn new skills, have fun and develop self-confidence when they grow their own plants...
Good nutrition and physical exercise help to keep Koori kids healthy and avoid diseases when they get older...
Physical activity is an important part of health and wellbeing, and girls should remain active as they grow up...
Make sure that some family outings offer opportunities for physical activity, such as playing sport together...
Body mass index or BMI is an approximate measure of your total body fat...
Once children are overweight, it takes a lot of effort for them to return to a healthy weight...
If your child is overweight, you can help by making healthier lifestyle choices for yourself...
You can help your child to develop healthy patterns for life and avoid obesity...
Taking care to restrain children correctly while travelling in a car is the best way to prevent injuries...
Children should have an oral health check by the time they turn two...
Some immunisations are recommended for all Australian teenagers...
If you think your child is in pain, always see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment...
All children are eventually exposed to drugs ‒ prescription medication, alcohol and tobacco, and sometimes illegal drugs too ‒ or to messages about drugs...
The pressure on young girls and boys to be physically perfect is creating an epidemic of children and teenagers with low self-esteem and negative body image. Reporter Flip Shelton introduces us to the...
Give your child opportunities to appreciate their body for what it can do, rather than what it looks like...
Children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to experience emotional and behavioural problems...
Asthma cannot be cured, but with good management people with asthma can lead normal, active lives...
Parents and children talk about some of the factors that can cause a child's asthma to flare up...
Understanding asthma triggers for your child can help to reduce the risk of an asthma attack...
Children with back pain may grow into adults with chronic bad backs, so it is important to encourage sensible back care...
Bedwetting is a problem for many children and punishing them for it will only add to their distress...
Mild vomiting is normal in most babies and improves over time...
A healthy diet, plenty of fluids, exercise and regular toilet habits can help relieve constipation in children...
Many parents worry when their child with diabetes starts or returns to school...
Fever is a way in which the body fights infection. A fever is not dangerous and does not always indicate a serious illness...
Gastroenteritis or Gastro can be dangerous for very young babies. Gastro is common in young children and spreads easily. Gastro is a bowel infection which causes diarrhoea (runny or watery poo) and...
No product can prevent head lice, but regular checks can help prevent the spread...
Despite the unsavoury reputation, a pinworm infection (worms) is relatively harmless and easily treated...
Children should always be closely supervised near animals and taught how to behave safely around pets...
As they grow and develop, and with the help of adults, children become increasingly aware of how they can manage their own safety and become safer road and bicycle users...
Most hot tap water scald injuries to children happen in the bathroom...
By making a few practical changes to your home, you can dramatically reduce the risk of injury to your child...
The best way to reduce the risk of injury to children is to remove a potentially dangerous item or add a safety product...
Children who live on farms are at greater risk of injury and death than their parents or other farm workers...
Babies and children can quickly lose body fluids in hot weather, which can lead to dehydration...
A child's digital footprint can be as easy to follow as their real footprints...
Teach your child strategies for responding to mobile phone bullying...
Play environments can be safe and beneficial for your child. With proper planning, you can make sure your child gets plenty of playtime activity...
Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 immediately if you suspect your child has been poisoned or given the wrong medicine or the wrong dose of medicine...
As they grow and develop, and with the help of adults, children become increasingly aware of how they can manage their own safety, and become safer road users...
Scooters can travel at fast speeds and falls and collisions are disturbingly common...
Toddlers are most at risk of drowning because they are mobile and curious but don't understand the danger of water...
Child Protection provides child-centred, family-focused services to protect children from harm caused by abuse within the family...
It can be difficult to talk to a child about death, but it is important to be honest with them...
People who have support from family and friends are less likely to suffer poor health after bereavement and loss...
Provides an overview of family support programs and health services available to refugees and asylum seekers living in Victoria...
Preschoolers may not have the words but will show their distress at traumatic events through changes in behaviour and functioning...
Children look to their parents or carers to judge how to deal with a crisis...
Teenagers may turn to friends rather than parents for support in times of trauma and distress...
Children (up to 14) are more sensitive to the effects of breathing in smoke from fires. Their symptoms can be worse at lower smoke concentrations compared to other people.There are steps you can take to avoid smoke and protect their health.
Provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse. Call 1300 60 60 24
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