Maternal Child Health Centre Relocation:
Due to building works commencing soon, the Buninyong and Mount Clear Maternal Child Health Centres will temporarily relocate as follows:
- Buninyong Maternal Child Health Centre
Buninyong Tennis Centre
208 Forest Street, Buninyong
Hours: 9am – 5pm Monday to Thursday
- Mount Clear Maternal Child Health Centre
Girrabanya Children’s Centre
Corner Peel & Steinfeld Streets, Ballarat
Hours: 9am – 5pm Monday and Thursdays only
Sebastopol Maternal Child Health Centre
183 Albert Street, Sebastopol
Hours: 9am – 5pm Wednesday only
These arrangements are effective from Tuesday 12 March 2013 until further notice - Find out more about the centre developments.
All MCH appointment bookings and general enquiries: 5320 5155. SMS appointment reminder messages will be sent prior to appointments advising of new location. 24 hour MCH Healthline: 132 229
Key Visits - Ages and Stages
Visits to a Maternal and Child Health Centre at key ages are recommended to review the health, growth and development of every Victorian pre-school child. Your child's progress is recorded in the Health & Development Record (the green book), which is provided to you at the time of your child's birth.
Following discharge from maternity services, Maternal & Child Health offer a home visit to all families with a new baby.
Key visit checks are encouraged at two weeks, four weeks, eight weeks, four months, 12 months, 18 months and 3.5 years. Additional visits can be arranged by your Maternal & Child Health Nurse if indicated.
All visits are by appointment. Contact 5320 5155 to arrange an appointment.
In Victoria from July 2009 the Maternal & Child Health framework provides a guide to the health promotion activities offered at each key age visit. Below is a link to the outline of the health promotion topics that will be discussed during your child's visit. Follow this link for further details on the key ages and stages visits.
From 4 months of age parents are requested to complete a short questionnaire - The Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) at each key visit. This alerts the Maternal & Child Health Nurse to any concerns you may have about your child's health, development, learning or behaviour.
Key Visits
Evidence based written health information is distributed at each key age and stage consultation.
This information is designed to support a facilitated discussion with parents about key health promotion messages. It will also ensure that consistent quality written information is provided to parents across the state.
Click here to see the key health information provided at key visits.
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Our Centres
There are five Maternal and Child Health Centres in the municipality. For more information or to make an appointment with a Maternal and Child Health Nurse contact 5320 5155 .
Centres also operate at:
- Girrabanya Maternal & Child Health Centre.
11B Steinfeld & Peel Street, Ballarat, 3350
Maternal and Child
P: +61 5320 5155
- Maternal and Child Health Centre - Wendouree (Cooinda)
10 Learmonth Road Wendouree
P: +61 3 5320 8820
- Maternal and Child Health Centre - Mount Clear
2 Dallas Avenue
Mount Clear
P: +61 3 53352 290
- Maternal and Child Health Centre - Buninyong.
208 Learmonth Street Buninyong
P: +61 3 53413 749
- Maternal and Child Health Centre - Sebastopol
183 Albert Street Sebastopol
P: +61 3 53359 161
Council provides free developmental screening and consultation for all children aged 0 - 6 years through the Maternal and Child Health Service. The centres are staffed by Division One Registered nurses, who are also midwives with a diploma or degree in maternal and child health nursing. Maternal and Child Health Nurses conduct consultations to promote health, growth and development of babies and children, and to provide support to parents in raising their children.
Visits for babies and children are recommended at key ages to assess:
- hearing
- vision
- speech & language
- fine & gross motor skills
- social & emotional development
- growth
Maternal and Child Health Nurses can provide up to date health information and referral as required. Parents are offered information and discussion on a variety of parenting and child related topics including:
- infant feeding & nutrition
- sleep & settling strategies
- child behaviour & development
- family health & wellbeing
Each centre facilitates new parent groups and is an excellent link to local services for families with babies and young children.
Key visits are recommended at the following ages: newborn, two weeks, four weeks, eight weeks, four months, eight months, twelve months, eighteen months, two years and three and half years old.
FEEDBACK
Would you like to provide feedback on your Maternal and Child Health service?
The City of Ballarat's Maternal and Child Health team welcomes feedback on the services it provides. Click here to complete a quick survey.