Maternal and child health (MCH)

About Maternal and child health

Service update

With the easing of Covid restrictions, Cardina Maternal and child health is now able to offer face-to-face appointments for all Key Age and Stage assessments at our MCH centres.
To help protect our community and staff, you will be asked to fill out a health screening survey prior to your visit. We ask that you please do not attend the centre if you or your child are unwell or have any symptoms of illness.
 

Our Maternal and Child Health service is free and confidential, and provides Cardinia Shire residents with: 

  • 10 health and development checks for children from birth to 3 and a half years
  • Parenting support and advice
  • Health and wellbeing information
  • Group programs
  • Additional services for early-parenting issues, including referral services and support groups.

Your 10 MCH visits

Our liaison midwife will contact you soon after the birth of your baby to arrange your first MCH visit, which usually takes place in your home. We pre-book your first 4 centre visits up to 4 months, with future appointments then arranged by your nurse each time you visit the centre. You can also call our admin team on 5943 4250 between 9am and 4pm weekdays to make or change a booking.

For more information about the Maternal and Child Health Service go to the Better Health Channel 

Your child's information

  • Your child will have their own electronic child health record on the Child Development Information System (CDIS).
  • CDIS is a statewide program. It allows your child's MCH information to be accessed at any MCH centre across Victoria.
  • Your MCH nurse will talk to you about CDIS and give you a fact sheet at your first visit.

Make or change an appointment

Visits to MCH centres are by appointment only.

To book or change an MCH appointment call our admin team on 5943 4250 between 9am and 4pm weekdays.

MCH centre locations and opening hours

For information go to the Locations and opening hours page

Additional Maternal and child health services

  • The Enhanced MCH service is available for parents who are having significant early parenting difficulties.
  • Our workers can visit families at home, or another location, to offer support.
  • Referrals to the Enhanced program are made through the MCH nurse at your local centre

More info: Additional MCH services

Information and support groups

Your MCH nurse can provide a referral to support groups including:

After hours advice

For after-hours advice you can call the Victorian Government's Maternal and Child Health Line on 13 22 29

Extreme Weather

Extreme Fire Days: On CFA-declared 'Catastrophic' days (and some 'Extreme' days) some MCH centres will be closed. You can check fire danger ratings for the Central District on the CFA website or call us on 5943 4250 to check if your centre will be open. If a centre is closed, we'll contact you to discuss your appointment.

Questions?

Contact our Maternal and Child Health team on 5943 4250 or mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au

Fax: 03 9005 3772

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