We offer first home visits for all ACT families with a newborn baby.
About this service
Maternal, Child and Family Health nurses/midwives hold additional qualifications in maternal, child and family health.
We offer first home visits soon after your baby is born. This home visit is a chance to discuss the wellbeing and any health concerns of you and your baby.
We can also provide you with information about local support services for parents and families.
We are here to support you with information and health advice.
Who we care for
Our service cares for families who live in the ACT.
We care for parents/carers and children up to the age of 5 years, providing support, education, and information on aspects of adjusting to parenting, child development and wellbeing.
Our services are free to Medicare and Asylum Seeker card holders.
How to access this service
Your midwife or maternity unit will refer you to us.
You don’t need to make an appointment. We will contact you once we receive the referral to arrange a time to come and see you at home. We will ask you some questions to make sure it is safe for our team to visit you at home.
If you don’t hear from us within one week of being at home with your baby please feel free to call Central Health Intake on (02) 5124 9977.
You can also use this number to book an appointment for you and your baby at one of our Maternal and Child Health clinics.
What to expect
This first visit is a chance for you to ask questions or raise any concerns about your health and wellbeing, or your baby’s health and wellbeing.
We can give you information and advice about things like sleeping and feeding and connect you with other services to help you and your baby. It might help to write down any questions before the visit, so you remember to ask.
We will complete your baby’s 1-4 week health check during this visit. We will also measure your baby’s growth and development.
The nurse will make a record of the assessment in your baby’s Blue Book.
You are welcome to have your partner or other caregiver there during the visit.
If you have any pets, please make sure they are contained during the visit.
New baby and parenting information
- Tips for safe sleeping and wrapping
- Your healthcare rights
- Understanding your baby
- Tummy time for babies
- Child health clinic locations
- Women’s health physiotherapy service
- Mother and child physiotherapy service
- Perinatal wellbeing centre
- COPE
- PANDA
What to bring to your appointment
- Your child’s personal health record (Blue Book).
Where we’re located
We see you at your home during this first visit.
