Child & Family Health
Child & Family Health Nursing supports families with babies & children
Our Child and Family Health nurses offer parenting support and developmental health checks for babies and young children.
What we do
Child and Family Health nurses provide health and developmental checks for infants and young children, promote responsive parenting, and support emotional wellbeing.
We provide support, guidance and information on:
- infants/child's emotional, physical growth and development
- breastfeeding and infant/child feeding
- sleep and settling strategies
- coping with crying
- baby's growth and development
- immunisation
- safety
- playing with your baby or child
- emotional health and wellbeing
We also run parent/carers groups:
- sleep and settling
- parenting across developmental stages
- emotional wellbeing for parent/carers
Who we care for
Babies and children aged 0-5 years.
How to access this service
A Child and Family Health nurse will contact you after you arrive home with your new baby.
You can also ask for the service by calling the Central Referral Service on 1800 600 681.
Service Providers please refer your clients using our referral form. We will confirm acceptance of your referral following receipt and review of eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the service provided?
Child and Family Health nurses provide services in the home, at a Child and Family Health Nurse Clinic or in parenting groups.
Contact us
Is there a cost for this service?
This service is free if you have a Medicare card and live, work or study in the Cumberland, Parramatta, Blacktown or Hills local council areas.
Who will I meet at my appointment?
You will meet one of our Child and Family Health nurses. A Child and Family Health nurse is a registered nurse who has extra qualifications in child and family health nursing.
Our nurses are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
What can I expect at my first appointment?
If the appointment is at your house, you will get a phone call from your Child and Family Health nurse on the day telling you when they will arrive.
If the appointment is at a Child and Family Health Centre you might be greeted by a receptionist or you might need to ring a bell and one of our Child and Family Health nurses will come to greet you.
At the appointment your Child and Family Health nurse will talk with you about how things have been going. They will go through your child’s Blue Book (My Personal Health Record) and talk to you about your child’s health, growth and development. They will also ask you how you (and your partner) are coping with being parents.
What is the Blue Book (My Personal Record)?
Your child’s Blue Book (My Personal Health Record) is given to you in the hospital after you’ve had your baby.
Notes about your child’s health and progress can be made in the Blue Book by you, a Child and Family Health nurse, your doctor or any other health professional your child sees.
The Blue Book has helpful information - look in the ‘Useful contacts and websites’ section and on the back cover.
The Blue Book is also available in other languages.
What do I need to bring to my appointments?
To your first appointment:
- your Medicare card
- your child’s Blue Book (My Personal Health Record)
- parent’s are asked to complete a set of questions in the Blue Book before their baby’s first health check appointment. Please make time to read and think about these questions and discuss any concerns you have with your Child and Family Health nurse at your appointment
To every appointment:
- your child’s Blue Book (My Personal Health Record)
I would like to join a local parent’s group. Can you help me find one?
Parent’s groups offer a space where local families can learn together and share parenting stories.
There are many different types of groups, e.g. early parenting, parenting for different ages, breastfeeding support and emotional wellbeing groups.
Your Child and Family Health nurse can talk with you about local group options, and tell you how to enrol and where the group is being held.
Do I need a referral from my GP?
No. Referrals from a GP are not required.
Do you speak a language other than English?
A free and confidential interpreter service, including Auslan, is available. Ask staff to arrange an interpreter for you.
Child development describes the changes in your child’s physical growth. As children grow they also learn social, emotional, behaviour, thinking and communication skills.
Learn the Signs Act Early is a new tool in your child's Blue Book that you can use
to
learn about your child's brain and physical development.
We can help if you have questions about your child’s development.