Our Maternal and Child Health (MCH) team have a COVID Safe Plan and protective measures in place to keep our community and staff healthy and safe.
Please keep the following points in mind when coming to or booking your MCH appointment:
- To make an appointment or to reschedule please call us on 03 5272 4741
- Please let our staff know prior to arriving at the MCH centre or Home Visit if you or a family member living with you have tested positive to COVID are currently isolating or are awaiting a COVID test result. This is so an alternative consultation can be arranged.
- Please cancel if you or any member of your family are unwell with a cold runny nose sore throat fever chills cough shortness of breath.
- Masks must be worn as a requirement when attending this service including at New Parent Groups.
- No food please in consulting rooms
- Telehealth appointments will be available on request for some of our services.
Our service will continue to provide services to ALL age groups based on staffing capacity.
For additional assistance the 24-hour MCH line is 132 229. Find out more about caring for yourself or your child with COVID
The Maternal and Child Health service is a free service and works in partnership with families to care for babies and young children until they start school. The visits focus on optimising child and family health well-being safety learning and development.
Appointments
You will visit your MCH nurse at 10 key stages of your childs development. The visits focus on optimising child and family health well-being safety learning and development.
Health information is provided on nutrition feeding parenting development safety and current immunisation practices.
The 3½ year assessment includes a vision screen.
Additional visits can be requested.
Sleep and Settling program
The Victorian MCH Sleep and Settling program provides families with the information and support they need to confidently respond to early childhood sleep and settling concerns using safe and effective techniques.
Our free sleep and settling group sessions focus on age appropriate information about sleep and provide you with tips and strategies to promote positive sleep patterns. All group sessions also promote self-care and the wellbeing of parents and caregivers.
Currently the Geelong MCH service is providing online group sessions via ZOOM for infants 0-3 months 6-8 months and toddlers 18 months to 2 years.
Book for 18 months to 2 year olds
For more information on group sessions please email sleepandsettling@geelongcity.vic.gov.au.
Feeding support service
Our Feeding Support service is available to anyone who is needing extra support with any breast or formula feeding issues. This service is free and available until your babe is 3-months old. This is a drop in service that operates
- Mondays between 1:00pm and 4:00pm at Norlane MCH
- Wednesdays between 1:00pm and 4:00pm at Reynolds Road MCH
- Thursdays between 1:00pm and 4:00pm at Bop Bop Barwon Heads MCH
You can see one of our knowledgeable and supportive MCHNs to help with any feeding issues you may be experiencing. You can also book via admin by calling 03 5272 4741.
To make to most of your time with the nurse please bring your baby in when they are due to feed or hasn’t been fed 1-2 hours prior to your arrival.
Norlane open session
If you’ve missed an appointment or just require some additional support we have an open session every Monday 9.00am -12.00pm at the Norlane Maternal and Child Health Centre 52-56 Gerbera Ave Norlane. No bookings required.
This is a great flexible option for MCH appointments if life is busy - we look forward to seeing you at the Norlane open session.
Open sessions
Currently our drop in sessions have been replaced by appointment only at all Maternal and Child Health centre centres due to Covid-19
Service availability
The MCH Line is available 24 hours a day on 132 229.
The National Breastfeeding Helpline (Australian Breastfeeding Association) is also available 24 hours a day on 1800 686 268.
Download the app
Use the phone app to access child health and development information matched to the age of your child at your fingertips! The app is available in 9 languages and will remind you about upcoming MCH appointments and virtual MCH nurse Nora can answer your questions.
 |  |
(If searching on App Store on an iPad select "iPhone only")
New parent groups
First time parents are invited to attend new parents groups. These groups have now returned back to face to face and can become an important social network for you and your child.
Topics covered include:
- adjusting to parenthood and women’s health
- sleep and settling
- development and play
- safety.