What is a child and family health nurse?

A child and family health nurse is a registered nurse who has postgraduate qualifications in child and family health nursing. Most child and family health nurses are also registered midwives. In Victoria, all maternal and child health nurses are also midwives.

Child and family health nurses give free support and information to families with children under six years of age. Depending on your state or territory, this support can be through your local community health service, your local council or your state child and family health service.

If you need to find a child and family health nurse, you can start by contacting your local council, local health service or community health centre or service.

Along with your GP, your child and family health nurse is a good starting point for support for your child’s health, development, behaviour, feeding and settling. You can also talk to your nurse about your own wellbeing. It’s all part of helping your child grow and thrive in the early years.

Why your child might see a child and family health nurse

Child and family health nurses offer regular check-ups on your child’s health and development in the early months and years. They offer information, support and advice on:

• breastfeeding and bottle-feeding
• solid foods and healthy eating
• sleep and settling
• parenting
• development, learning and behaviour
• child safety
• immunisation
• family planning (not all states and territories)
• health and wellbeing for you and your children.

If your child needs extra or specialised help, your child and family health nurse can refer you to other health professionals or services so that you and your baby get help early.

Child and family health nurses often hold parent education groups to help you meet other parents in your local area, and to give you health information and support for raising your baby. They can also put you in touch with parent groups in your area.

Seeing a child and family health nurse: what to expect

In most states and territories your baby’s first child health appointment will be at your home. Depending on where you live, your maternity hospital or birthing centre will inform your local child and family health service of your baby’s birth. The child and family health nurse will contact you to arrange an appointment.

You and your nurse can then plan your future appointments. These will usually be at your local child and family health centre. You might be able to make special arrangements if you can’t travel to the centre – for example, if you’ve had a caesarean and can’t drive, or if you live a long distance from the centre in country areas.

Your child will have regular appointments as he grows. This is so the nurse can make sure your child is reaching his development milestones and getting his immunisations at the best time. The appointments schedule is set out in your child’s personal health record book.

At appointments, it’s a good idea to talk with your child and family health nurse about the following things:

• Your child’s health and development: ask any questions and talk about any worries you have or things you’ve noticed about your child. You might also want to ask about what you can do for your child in between appointments.
• You and your family: talk with your nurse about how you’re feeling and how your family is going. If you’re finding it hard to cope or feeling low, it’s a good idea to tell your child and family health nurse.
• Making an appointment: check when your next appointment is and how you make it.

If you have any concerns in between your regular appointments, you can always make an appointment to see your nurse. If your child is sick, you need to see a GP or go to your local hospital.

Appointments with your local child and family health nurse are free.

Child and family health nurses in different states and territories

Different states and territories refer to child and family health nurses in different ways.

In most states and territories, they’re called child health nurses or child and family health nurses. In Victoria they’re called maternal and child health nurses.