Supporting young families

Early childhood is a time of significant change and development, providing a foundation for lifelong physical, social and emotional wellbeing. That’s why the City of Ballarat’s team of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurses are available to support young families.

Welcoming a new baby into your family is a special time.

However, it can also be daunting, with parents and carers needing to learn new skills to care for the baby while recovering from labour and functioning on minimal sleep.

The City of Ballarat’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services exist to provide support to parents and young children during this important time of transition, all the way through to when the child starts school.

From sleep and settling support, to immunisation and connection to parent’s groups, Maternal and Child Health Coordinator Belinda Joyce and all of the other MCH nurses at the City of Ballarat are here to support families to give their children the best start in life.

A key part of the role of the City of Ballarat’s MCH nurses is to monitor children’s health and development progress, Belinda says.

"The MCH program consists of 10 key age and stages consultations with an MCH nurse,” she says.

They include an initial home visit, and consultations at two, four and eight weeks, and four, eight, 12 and 18 months, and at two and three and a half years of age.

“These consultations provide an excellent opportunity for families to raise and discuss concerns they have around their child’s health and development,” Belinda says.

“Families are offered information and assessment of growth and development, safety, feeding and nutrition, language and motor development for their child.”

Consultations are free and confidential and are supported by joint funding from the State Government and the City of Ballarat.

Despite what its name may suggest, MCH services are designed to support the whole family. After all, the health and wellbeing of other family members can also have significant impacts on the health and wellbeing of a child. 

MCH nurses are uniquely placed to support families in early parenting, from birth through to commencing primary school. 

The City of Ballarat’s MCH service can also help identify parental health issues and provide support and appropriate connection with other health services.

The Maternal and Child Health team at the City of Ballarat operate several services, including:

• Universal Maternal and Child Health Service: key age and stage visits offered to all families, includes home visits and centre based visits.
• Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Service: involves home visiting to families that have more complex needs.
• Sleep and Settling Program: includes information groups, home visits and clinic visits for parents and carers of children to support them with sleeping and settling.
• First Time Parents Groups: facilitated discussion with time afterwards to connect with other parents, these groups are offered to all first-time parents/carers to network, make friends and learn together.

The key age and stage visits are:

• First home visit*
• Two weeks
• Four weeks
• Eight weeks
• Four months
• Eight months
• Twelve months
• Eighteen months
• Two years
• Three and a half years

*Usually soon after discharge from the hospital.

Appointments are available 9am-4.30pm on weekdays at the following locations:

• Ballarat: Girrabanya, 11B Steinfeld Street, Ballarat Central
• Wendouree: Corner Gillies and Hastings Streets, Wendouree
• Buninyong: 208 Learmonth St, Buninyong
• Sebastopol: 183 Albert St, Sebastopol
• Bonshaw: 284 Morgan St, Sebastopol
• Lucas: 17 Coltman Plaza, Lucas

Drop-in Maternal and Child Health services:

• One Saturday morning each month
• Drop in MCH sessions run at Parent Place every Friday 9.30am-2.30pm
• Drop in MCH sessions run at Wendouree Children’s Centre every Monday 1-4pm.
• Drop in sleep and settling sessions are offered at Parent Place every Tuesday 9.30am-12.30pm (No appointments are required for these drop-in sessions).

To book your child in for a Maternal and Child Health visit, please call 5320 5720.

Visit the follow pages:

• Families, Youth, & Children's Services
• Maternal and Child Health
• Sleep and Settling Program

Download the free MCH app for trusted information matched to the age of your child, at your fingertips:

• MCH App - Apple Store
• MCH App - Google Play

The Maternal and Child Health app (MCH app) provides reliable information that families can use every day. The app can also track your child’s growth and remind you about upcoming MCH appointments or immunisations.