Maternal and child health

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 make a face-to-face appointment.
• First Food for Babies
  We’ve developed a First Food for Babies information video
• Sleep & Settling Information sessions
  Sessions commencing Wednesday 1 September. We’ve also developed a Baby Settling information video
• First time parent groups
  These groups are currently online via MS Teams. If you have not received an invitation from Maroondah Maternal and Child Health please call 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. Suitabel 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. These sessions are currently held online on the first Friday of each month. Find out more information from your Maternal Child Health Nurse. 
• Pram Walks - Come along and enjoy some fresh air, make new friends and have a chat to our Maternal and Child Health nurses as we walk a 2.5km loop along Tarralla Creek Trail. The walk takes approximately 45 minutes. Due to current restrictions, no pram walks are currently scheduled. 
• Drop in appointments - Drop-in appointments have been postponed until further notice.

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.

Happy Scrappers Group

The Happy Scrappers Group is unique to Maroondah.

The group offers mothers the opportunity to discuss their birth and parenting experience in a friendly and supportive environment when the experience has been difficult, or not as expected. Scrapbooking techniques are used to create a beautiful keepsake for mother and baby to enjoy. It is facilitated by Maternal and Child Health nurses. Session times for this program will be updated when available.

This program has been postponed during current COVID-19 restrictions.

Mindfulness for Mum

Mindfulness for Mum is a supportive group for mothers to discuss the many challenges of being a parent, such as maintaining personal relationships and managing self care while looking after the family. Session times for this program will be updated when available.

This program has been postponed during current COVID-19 restrictions.

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 
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Bonnie View

90 Bonnie View Road,
Croydon North
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Croydon Central

9 Civic Square and the corner of Civic Square,
Croydon (enter via Civic Square) 
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Eastland

Currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Shop 1141, Level 1
Eastland shopping centre
Ringwood
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Ringwood

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

Moved to 15 Civic Square, Croydon. 
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Usually: 75 Patterson 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:

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.

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 one carer to attend with your child
• Check-in using the QR code at the entrance each time you attend the centre using your phone
• 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.