City of Greater Dandenong Maternal and Child Health and Parenting  

The City of Greater Dandenong Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service is a free, confidential service providing child health and developmental checks, information, advice and support to families with young children from birth until 6 years of age. 

It is important to have your child checked by the Maternal & Child Health Nurse at key ages and stages. These are: New baby home visit; 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 4 months, 8 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2 years, and 3.5 - 4 years old.

How Do I See a Maternal and Child Health Nurse?

When your baby is born the hospital will advise council’s Maternal and Child Health service of the birth. Administration staff or your Maternal and Child Health Nurse will phone you to arrange the date and time of the first appointment. This usually takes place in your own home. For other checks, you will be asked to attend your Maternal & Child health Centre.

If you have recently moved to the City of Greater Dandenong from overseas or elsewhere in Australia and have children less than 4 years of age, contact Maternal & Child health Administration. 

To book an appointment

Phone central bookings on 9767 0880 Monday to Thursday, 9am – 4:30pm and Friday, 9am - 4pm. 

An SMS text message appointment reminder will usually be sent to you the day before each of your Maternal and Child Health centre bookings.
 

Information and advice is provided at the Maternal and Child Health Centre Regular child health and developmental checks Screening and referral to additional services if required such as allied health, early parenting centres, counselling or your local Doctor.  Information about a range of parenting topics and issues:  Breastfeeding (Lactation Consultants available for further support) and bottle feeding Sleep and settling   Starting healthy baby foods and dental health  Mother's health and wellbeing including postnatal depression  Family planning   Immunisation   Sleep and settling   Play and safety  Managing your child's behaviour   Playgroups, child care options and pre school  Support with family issues including domestic violence and relationships

Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Service The Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Service assists families who are in need of more intensive support within their home environment. Referrals are made by your local Maternal and Child Health Nurse. Please speak to your nurse if you think you are in of this service.

Parenting Groups

New Parent Groups welcome parents with babies aged 0-6 months. Most parents are first time parents however if you have other children and missed out on attending a group in the past, you are welcome to attend. A range of parenting topics is discussed in 2 hour morning or afternoon sessions, once a week for 7 weeks.  Some groups are provided in languages other than English. For more information or to make a booking phone 9767 0812. Dads Groups are conducted bi-monthly. The 2.5 hour evening session provides tips on how to make your home safer to prevent childhood injuries and teaches life saving infant resuscitation (CPR) skills in the event of an emergency. For bookings phone 9767 0812.

Maternal and Child Health Nurses qualifications

In addition to General Nurse and Midwife qualifications, the Maternal and Child Health Nurse has completed further studies in family, child and community health. Your nurse’s knowledge and skills are continually updated to ensure the parenting and child health information and advice provided to you is up to date.

Providing feedback on the service

The City of Greater Dandenong Maternal and Child Health service is committed to providing the very best service possible to you and your family. Client satisfaction surveys are conducted on a regular basis and your feedback on how you have found the service is welcome anytime by either completing a client feedback sheet (available from your nurse) or phoning the Maternal and Child Health Coordinator on 9767 0809. 

All information is treated in confidence and in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2000 and the Health Records Act 2001. 

After hours parenting help and advice

Maternal and Child Health Line (phone 13 22 29) – qualified Maternal and Child Health nurses provide information, support and advice to Victorian families with children from birth to school age (5 years old) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Nurse on Call (call 1300 60 60 24) – this telephone service provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Poisons Information Centre (call 13 11 26) – for 24 hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week advice on poisoning, bites and stings. 

Parent Line (phone 13 22 89) – this parenting telephone counselling service is available to parents and carers of children aged from birth to 18 years throughout Victoria. (The service does not provide legal or medical information). 8am-midnight, 7 days a week. 

Breast Feeding Help Line (1800 686 268) 

Beyondblue (1300 22 4636) – depression prevention and response

W.A.Y.S.S. ( 9791 6111) – housing and support services.

Womens’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service (9322 3555/1800 015 188)
24 hours each day  

Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Service (Mon-Frid 9am-5pm) (8413 6800) 
 

Helpful websites

• www.dandenongkids.com.au (extensive list of local community service & support groups
• www.raisingchildren.net.au (Raising Children Network)
• www.rch.org.au (Royal Children’ Hospital)
• www.breastfeeding.asn.au (Breastfeeding support with a range of video links)
• www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/fact-sheets/language (different languages)
• www.playgroup.org.au (list of playgroups including maps)
• www.iwdvs.org.au (womens domestic violence support-multilingual)
• www.dvrcv.org.au (domestic violence)
• www.panda.org.au (postnatal depression)
• www.mensline.org.au (mens health and support)
  http://www.health.vic.gov.au/aod/index.htm (drug and alcohol support)
  www.secasa.com.au (child safety and wellbeing)