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:
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 six 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.
Cancellations
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.
Interpreters
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.
Child health book
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.
Immunisation
The City of Melbourne maternal and child health nurses will cease providing immunisation during consultations from 1 January 2023. This will give them more time to focus on your family’s wellbeing.
Immunisations are still available free from the council visit Getting immunised at the City of Melbourne.
Supporting vulnerable children and families
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, some maternal and child health services may need to prioritise essential services. Based on workforce availability, this may mean that services are temporarily prioritised for:
- infants, children and families
- Aboriginal infants, children and families
- children and families with extra needs or concerns such as families on the Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Program, or those with COVID-19.
All vulnerable children and families are still eligible for maternal and child health appointments across Victoria.
Delivering maternal and child health services in different ways
Due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, maternal and child health services 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.