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Maternal and child health

Maroondah MCH Service update - Pandemic Code Brown

While the Pandemic Code Brown has lifted, our MCH Service continues to be impacted by workforce shortages. We are currently scheduling catch up appointments. If your appointments was cancelled during the Pandemic Code Brown you will receive a call from the MCH service to rebook. 

About the Maroondah MCH Service

Maroondah Maternal and Child Health Service is a free service offering families information, advice and personal support in caring for their children.

Our Maternal and Child Health service offers:

  • Maternal health and wellbeing appointments
  • Child health and development screening
  • Regular maternal and child health programs and activities including:
  • Specialist maternal and child health programs and activities (referral from MCHN required) including:
    • Early Parenting programs 
    • Mindfulness for Mum 
    • Happy Scrappers scrapbooking group
  • Advice and resources on parenting, immunisation, nutrition, family dynamics, health education and family planning
  • Infant Settling/day stay program
  • Support groups
  • Playgroups 

Book an appointment or speak with the MCH team

  • Call 9294 5777 to book an appointment with a Maternal and Child Health nurse 
  • Call 132 229 to speak with a nurse at the  24 hour Maternal and Child Health Helpline
  • Call 9294 5736  (between 9-5 pm weekdays) to speak to the Maternal and Child Health Coordinator

Other available supports

There are a number of supports available to families in between MCH appointments. Families are encouraged to access supports including:

  • Contacting Maroondah Maternal & Child Health Services on 9294 5777.
  • Call the Maternal and Child Health Line on 13 22 29. The Line is staffed 24-hours, 7-days-a-week by qualified MCH Nurses and provides confidential support and advice about the care and health of your child (from birth to school age).
  • Contacting their regular General Practitioner or other regular health professional.
  • Visiting a SuperCare Pharmacy which provides 24-hour, 7-day-a-week access to healthcare advice and pharmacy services, including a free, on-site nursing service from 6-10pm each night.
  • Find out more on the Better Health Channel
  • Contacting an Optometrist for vision testing.

When you return home after the birth of your child/ren a Maternal and Child Health nurse will contact you to arrange a home visit.

Your Maternal and Child Health centre nurse will review your child's health, growth and development. The nurse will also talk to you about your own health and how your experience as a parent of a new baby has been so far. 

Your child will need regular appointments over the next 3.5 years with your Maternal Child Health Nurse. Please call 9294 5777 to make an appointment when your child reaches each age milestone:

  • 2 weeks 
  • 4 weeks 
  • 8 weeks
  • 4 months
  • 8 months
  • 12 months
  • 18 months
  • 2 years
  • 3.5 years

Developmental checks for children up to six years are in accordance with the Victorian Government Maternal & Child Health Framework. 

See more about your child’s 10 Key Age and Stage visits

Maroondah City Council runs a number of services and information sessions to ensure the health of babies and ease the concerns of new parents. They are held regularly and are free for Maroondah residents with young children. They include breastfeeding support, First Food for Babies, baby settling and more.

Breastfeeding program

Please call 9294 5777 to discuss your needs with our team.

Sleep & Settling Information sessions

We provide 3 separate information sessions. Both face to face and online group sessions are available.

Our Sleep and Settling Information Sessions cover a number of topics such as:

  • Typical sleep patterns and routines
  • Responsive settling strategies
  • Age specific development and what to expect
  • Challenging sleep problems
  • Family wellbeing

Book into a Sleep & Settling information session

See all sleep and settling sessions and make a booking. You can also view our sleep and settling video for new babies.

First Food for Babies

Coming back soon.

In the meantime, we’ve developed a First Food for Babies information video.

First time parent groups

If you have not received an invitation from your Maternal Child Health Nurse, please contact Maroondah Maternal and Child Health on 9294 5777.

Toddler Talk sessions

A session to teach simple strategies to improve your child’s talking skills. Learn communication skills expected for your child’s age, simple ways to help your child say more words, and strategies to help your child put words together. Suitable for 0-3 years old.

Please speak to your Maternal Child Health Nurse or call EACH’s Child Development Team 9837 3900 for more details.

Further information

For more information on these services, see Regular maternal and child health programs 

Specialist maternal and child health programs and activities require a referral by your Maternal and Child Health nurse, and bookings are essential.  Please speak to your nurse if you would like to know more about any of these programs.

Early Parenting Program

This program provides advice on sleeping and settling techniques, feeding support, understanding your baby’s behaviour and caring for yourself during baby’s first year. Please call 9294 5736 for more information. 

This program is continuing face-to-face during COVID-19 restrictions. A referral through your Maternal and Child Health nurse is required.

For more information about our services and how you can access them, please speak to your nurse or call the MCH appointment line on 9294 5777.

Key contacts 

  • Call 9294 5777 to book an appointment with a Maternal and Child Health nurse 
  • Call 132 229 to speak with a nurse at the  24 hour Maternal and Child Health Helpline

  • Call 9294 5736  (between 9-5 pm weekdays) to speak to the Maternal and Child Health Coordinator

Book an appointment

Call 9294 5777 to book an appointment at one of our centres. If you reach our answering machine, please leave a message and your call will be returned. Calls received after 2pm may not be returned until the following business day.

If your matter is not urgent

  • Call 13 22 29 to speak with the 24hr State Government Maternal and Child Health Helpline
  • Contact your GP
  • Call the Maternal & Child Health Team Leader on 9294 5736

If your matter is urgent

 If your matter is urgent call 000 or contact your nearest hospital or GP.

Find your closest centre

  • Enter your address in My Maroondah to find your closest Maternal and Child Health Centre
  • Use our interactive map to plan the best route to one of our centres by walking, public transport, or driving.
  • Phone our MCH line on 9294 5777 for further information. 

Arrabri

Arrabri Community House,
Allambanan Drive,
Bayswater North 
Google Map

Bonnie View

90 Bonnie View Road,
Croydon North
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Croydon

9 Civic Square,
Croydon
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Ringwood

Norwood Family and Children's Centre,
18 Notlen Street
Ringwood
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Ringwood East 

28-30 Freeman Street
Ringwood East
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Ringwood North

127 Oban Road,
Ringwood North
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Tarralla

Moved to 15 Civic Square,
Croydon
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Usually: 38 Gracedale Avenue,
Ringwood East.
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Your nurse is a qualified general nurse and midwife who has also completed further studies in Maternal and Child Health. The knowledge and skills of our nurses are constantly being updated. You will visit a maternal and child health nurse at 10 key ages and stages from birth to three and a half years. Your nurse can help you with things like breastfeeding and feeding your child; sleep and settling, making sure your child is growing, learning and developing well; being a parent and looking after yourself.

To practice in Victoria, maternal and child health nurses must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Authority (AHPRA) and:

  • be a Division 1 Registered Nurse
  • be a Registered Midwife
  • hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Child Health.

This free app for families offers trustworthy information and time-saving features:

  • Nora, the app’s digital assistant, can answer most common child health queries
  • reminders for upcoming MCH consultations
  • a library of information on popular health and development topics
  • click-to-call useful contacts
  • regular updates and messages.

The app is available for all Apple and Android smartphones. Download the app from the State Government's Education and training website

Download the MCH app on the App Store or Google Play.


MCHN App screen shots

In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, Council has been following the recommendations of the Chief Health Officer, and the Australian and Victorian governments, to keep everyone safe. 

We are committed to protecting the health of you, your family and our staff we ask you to adhere to the following:

  • If you are feeling unwell or have been in contact with someone who isn't well, or who has tested positive for COVID-19, we kindly ask that you please do not attend
  • Only household members to attend with your child
  • Wear a face mask
  • Use the hand-sanitising station as you enter the centre
  • Please ensure social distancing is maintained at all times
  • The room will be cleaned and sanitised before and after your appointment.
25/05/2017
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