Maternal and Child Health Services

The arrival of a new baby is a challenging and busy time for you and your family. The Maternal and Child Health Service is a free service that provides information, support and health checks to children from birth up until the time they start school. The service provides health checks at 10 key stages of your child’s development. These health checks consist of a home visit to the family after birth, and centre visits at:

• 2 weeks   
• 4 weeks
• 8 weeks   
• 4 months
• 8 months
• 12 months   
• 18 months
• 2 years and
• 3 ½ years (includes vision tests).

Among the services available are:

• Breast feeding advice
• Maternal health advice
• Early detection of health and development problems
• Immunisation information and advice
• Advice and support with parenting
• Information on nutrition and hygiene
• Guidance about growth and development of children
• Child safety advice
• First time parents' group
• Referral to support groups and agencies
• Ante-natal information.

Contact

For all Maternal and Child Health enquiries please contact:

(03) 9217 2365

Maternal and Child Health Centre Locations

Maternal and Child Health centres are located as follows. A map is also available for download on the right.

Barry Road
36 Barry Road
Thomastown VIC 3074
(Melway 8 E4)
   
Boori Children’s Services
Corner Winchester & Derby Drive
Epping VIC 3076
(Melway 182 E9)

Bundoora
17/5 Nickson Street
Bundoora VIC 3083
(Melway 9 J12)             
                                                  
Centenary Drive
68 Centenary Drive
Mill Park VIC 3082
(Melway 10 A1)

Dalton Road
Cnr Dalton Road & Maple Streets
Lalor VIC 3075
(Melway 9 C6)

Epping Plaza
Shop 111, Epping Plaza Shopping Centre
Cnr Cooper & High Streets
Epping VIC 3076
(Melway 182 A12)
    
Mill Park Lakes Community Activity Centre
280 Gordons Road
South Morang VIC 3752
(Melway 183 D6)

Laurimar
25 Hazel Glen Grove
Doreen VIC 3754
(Melway 391 G6)

Main Street
52 Main Street
Thomastown VIC 3074
(Melway 8 G7)

Mill Park Drive
7 Mill Park Drive
Mill Park VIC 3082
(Melway 10 A6)
                    
South Morang
8 Doreen Rogen Way
South Morang VIC 3752
(Melway 10 G1)

Whittlesea @ Plenty Valley Community Health Centre
40-42 Walnut Street
Whittlesea VIC 3757
(Melway 246 H9)

First Time Parents' Group

A number of Maternal and Child Health Centres offer a First Time Parents' Group. These groups help families with parenting issues and gives them an opportunity to meet other parents.

Baby Capsule - Hire Facility

The City of Whittlesea provides a Capsule Hire Service - available for hire for a period of six months.

The cost to hire a capsule is $100 of which $50 will be refunded when all of the following items are returned:

• Capsule
• 7 piece anchor bolt
• Extension strap
• Instruction booklet.

If any of the following items are not returned, your deposit will not be completely refunded.

To hire a capsule it will be necessary to have:

• Proof of pregnancy or expected birth date (letter from doctor, hospital or ante-natal card)
• Proof that you live in the City of Whittlesea (either a rates notice, Telstra or gas bill)
• For safety and legal reasons the registration papers of the car in which the capsule is to be fitted must be shown at the time of hiring
• If the parent or guardian is not the hirer of the capsule, the parent or guardian’s licence must be shown at the time of hiring.

Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Service (EMCHS)

This service provides extra, short-term support to families with children 0-3 years. It is a free, confidential and culturally sensitive service. EMCHS is located at the Boori Children’s Services Centre, 21 Winchester Avenue, Epping.  

This service provides:

• practical information and support
• advice on parent issues
• improved health and wellbeing
• help increasing confidence in parenting skills
• health education
• emotional support
• groups
• referral to other services.

How to make referrals:

Referrals (with prior approval of the client) can be directed via the primary Maternal and Child Health Nurse.  Referrals can be from:

• Health professionals
• Self and family members
• Other agencies
• Protective services
• Families may self refer directly to the EMCHS