Maternal and child health

About Casey's MCH services

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service is a free program provided to support your family with information and child health, wellbeing and developmental checks from birth to 6 years of age.

Council is committed to supporting all families and parents in our community and continues to provide free:

Council’s Maternal and Child Health Team also continues to provide in-home support for parents who are referred to Council by a MCH nurse, GP, or other health professionals.

Alternative community support services are also available:

Call the Maternal and Child Health Line on 13 22 29. The line is staffed 24-hours, seven-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).
Contact your regular general practitioner or other regular health professional.
Visit a SuperCare pharmacy, which provides 24-hour, seven-day-a-week access to healthcare advice and pharmacy services, including a FREE, on-site nursing service from 6.00pm - 10.00 pm each night.
Contact an optometrist for vision testing.
Contact your regular MCH service to discuss your concerns. The central booking number for Casey's MCH service is 9705 5590.
Visit Better Health Channel

Once your baby is born

Your hospital will notify our MCH service of your baby’s birth.

We will contact you to arrange the date and time of your first appointment. The first appointment is usually held in your own home, and following appointments are held at your local MCH centre. If you have recently moved into the City of Casey, please call 9705 5590 to make a booking with one of our nurses.

MCH nurses often work with families using interpreters. This is a free service to the family. The hospital will inform our service if an interpreter is required, or it is available on request.

Recommended schedule of visits

The Victorian Department of Health recommends 10 'Key Age and Stage' visits.

For your first appointment, a MCH nurse will visit you in your home. We will make this appointment for you and you will receive an SMS reminder. Most families will visit a MCH centre for later visits. An SMS text message appointment reminder will be sent to you in the days leading up to each of your MCH Centre bookings.

You can find out more about each of the key ages and stages below:

2 weeks (we will book your 2 week appointment for you)
4 weeks
8 weeks
4 months
8 months
1 year
18 months
2 years
3.5 years

During your visits

At each nurse appointment you can talk about your concerns or ask questions about your child and your parenting experience. The nurse will check your child's health, growth and development, including hearing, vision, speech, and fine and gross motor skills.

The MCH nurse can give you information about parenting and children, including:

• infant feeding and nutrition,

• sleep and settling strategies,

• child behaviour and development,

• family health and wellbeing, and

• support for the emotional wellbeing of new parents.

The information we collect and information we provide as part of these visits are recorded in your child’s electronic health record. This information is protected under the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic).

For more information, simply access our what happens to information about you, your child and family web page, speak with your MCH nurse, or call 9705 5590.

Making an appointment

If you need to make a new MCH appointment, you can now submit your preferred times online. Simply complete the Request to book an appointment form at the bottom of this page and a member of our team will be in touch within 2-3 business days to confirm your booking.

To change or cancel an appointment please call 9705 5590 during business hours 8:30am – 4:30pm

Maternal and Child Health programs

First time parent groups

5 sessions, once a week
for parents / carers with babies from 6 weeks to 4 months old
Free without any costs

Who can join

all families of the Casey community
partners and support persons are welcome.

What we offer

a safe, inclusive space for first-time parents
opportunities to connect, share experiences, and support each other.

Purpose

build social connections
gain confidence in parenting
receive guidance through your parenthood journey.

Topics covered

adjusting to life as a parent and getting to know your baby
introducing your baby to solid food
sleep and settling, and keeping your baby safe
development and play, and many other useful topics.

How to join

For further information or to join, speak to your MCH nurse or email ftpg@casey.vic.gov.au

Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Services

The Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Service (EMCH) provides in-home support to families who are experiencing significant early parenting difficulties.

Some issues that can impact their ability to cope with being a parent include:

understanding child behaviour
skills and knowledge for raising a child
attachment concerns
isolation
mental health concerns for either parent
family violence
or drug and alcohol concerns.

Referrals into this program can be made by the hospital, your GP or your local MCH nurse. The child being referred into the program must be aged 3 years or younger. If you think you require this service, please consult your MCH nurse.

Sleep and settling

These FREE sessions provide information appropriate to your family's needs and the child's developmental age, covering:

Typical Sleep patterns and behaviours
Preventing sleep concerns
Solutions and strategies for sleep concerns
Support and self-care

Three types of group sessions are offered online and in-person:

Newborns to 3 months
4 to 8 months
18 months to toddler

You can book online via TryBooking

book on TryBooking

For families requiring additional support, FREE individual home visits with a Sleep Consultant can also be requested.

For more information or bookings, email mchsleepsettling@casey.vic.gov.au

Support around sleep and settling can also be provided via the 24 hour Maternal and Child Health Line on 13 22 29.

Introducing foods online info session

City of Casey Maternal Child Health Service is offering an online information session around introducing solid foods (suitable for babies aged 4 months to 1 year old). This will go for around 90 minutes and will be via Microsoft Teams. Please register your interest to by completing the online form.

Topics will include:

Signs that your baby is ready for food
What to and what not to offer
How to cope with gagging and choking
Finger foods
Allergies
How to embrace mess and avoid food battles
Incorporating foods into the daily routine
When to stop bottles
Dental care

Breastfeeding support

Our Breastfeeding Support Service is a free service available only to families living in the City of Casey.

Face-to-face appointments are available throughout the City of Casey. Please call the Central Booking Number (9705 5590) to book an appointment with a lactation consultant.

For immediate support, the Australian Breastfeeding Association Counselling Service is available 7 days a week by calling 1800 686 268.

Casey Cardinia Australian Breastfeeding Association drop-in is open on Tuesdays from 10am – 12pm at 45 Bridgewater Blvd, Berwick.

Contact numbers

Your General Practitioner
Maternal & Child Health Line – 13 22 29 (available 24 hours)
Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26
Children’s Hospital (Royal) 03 9345 5522
Child Protection Crisis Line 13 12 78
Parent Line 13 22 89
Child Safety Centre (RCH) 03 345 5085
Dental Health Services Victoria (Royal Dental Hospital)
- 03 9341 0222 (8am - 5pm) Monday to Friday
- 03 9341 0345 after hours
- (country areas check listings in White Pages)
Kidsafe - 03 9427 1008
Kidsafe is an independent, non-profit, organisation dedicated to the prevention of unintentional death and injury to children through education, advocacy and research.
Koori Maternity Services / Bunurong Health Service (located in Dandenong) - 9794 5933.
This State Government program offers flexible, inclusive, culturally appropriate pregnancy and postnatal care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Victoria.
PANDA - 1300 726 306
Monday – Friday 9am – 7.30pm
National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline for women, men and their families affected by perinatal mental illness.

Emergencies

Child Protection Crisis Line – 131 279
A child in need of protection is a child who has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect, and there is no one to protect them. If you believe that a child is in need of protection please call the Child Protection Crisis Line.
inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence - 8413 6800
Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm
Gives voice and provides culturally sensitive services, state-wide, to meet the needs of women and children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds (CALD) backgrounds affected by domestic violence.
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre - 9322 3555 or 1800 015 188
A 24-hour phone line service for women and children experiencing violence and abuse from a partner or ex-partner, another family member or someone close to them.
Early Parenting Centres
- O’Connell Family Centre, Canterbury 03 8416 7600
- Queen Elizabeth Centre, Noble Park 03 549 2777
- Tweddle Child and Family Health Service, Footscray 03 9689 1577

Immunisation dates and times
Dads matter programs
Playgroups
Grandparent support and resources