A Warm Welcome to Melbourne’s New Families

Becoming a parent is one of life’s biggest adventures — and Melbourne’s here to help you every step of the way. Whether you’ve just welcomed your baby or you’re about to, the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service is one of Victoria’s most trusted and heartwarming support systems for families.

The best part? It’s completely free.

This service isn’t just about baby check-ups — it’s about helping Melbourne families feel confident, supported, and connected from the very first day home with their newborn until their child starts school.

What Is Melbourne’s Maternal and Child Health Service?

The Victorian Maternal and Child Health Service is a state-wide, free program that collaborates with families to develop the health, safety, and wellbeing of babies and young children – up until school age.

All the nurses you will encounter are specifically trained in nursing, midwifery, and maternal and child health, or in other words, you are dealing with nurses who are specialists in terms of their expertise and view on parenting both through the medical and the emotional lens.

They’re also deeply connected to local support networks – so, should you ever need additional assistance (be it sleep consultants, family support agencies and so on) they are in a good position to refer you to the correct path.

The 10 Key Stages of Your Child’s Health Visits

Melbourne’s MCH program follows a simple rhythm of 10 essential visits, each designed to track your child’s growth, development, and wellbeing.

You’ll meet your nurse at these milestones:

Home visit: soon after birth
2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks
4 months, 8 months, 12 months, 18 months
2 years, 3.5–4 years

Each visit includes:

Developmental check-ups
Guidance on feeding, sleep, and settling
Support for emotional health and postnatal wellbeing
Parenting and safety tips
Play and early learning advice
Referrals to other services if needed

You’ll even receive an SMS reminder 72 hours before each appointment, because — let’s be honest — new parents have enough to remember!

Beyond Check-Ups – Groups and Extra Support

Melbourne maternal and child health nurses are aware that parenthood may be a happy- difficult task. That is why the service is much more than medical care:

New Parent Groups

When you are in need of some fellowship with other new parents, these groups become gold. You will get to share stories and tips and even laughs in the process of learning practical parenting skills.

All you need to do is to ask your nurse to join in the next time you chat.

Increased Maternal and Child Health Service.

Not all families do not require assistance. In case that is you the Enhanced Service provides additional home visits by trained nurses.

You can contact EMCH by emailing emch@melbourne.vic.gov.au or request your nurse to refer you online.

Immunisation Services

By January 2023, you will no longer receive immunisations when visiting the nurses at the maternal and child health clinic in Melbourne (this will give the nurses more time to concentrate on the overall wellbeing of your family).

However, there is no cause to be alarmed as free immunisation centers are availed by the City of Melbourne. All the details of the session can be found on the Immunisation Services page of the council web site.

Register, book and manage your vaccination appointments

Where You Can Access Maternal and Child Health Services in Melbourne

You’ll find MCH centres conveniently located across the city. Here are the main hubs:

Boyd Community Hub – 207 City Road, Southbank
Carlton Learning Precinct – Palmerston & Rathdowne Streets, Carlton
Community Hub at The Dock – 912 Collins Street, Docklands
Kensington MCH Centre – 81a Altona Street, Kensington
Lady Huntingfield Early Learning Centre – 89–97 Haines Street, North Melbourne
North Melbourne Community Centre – 49–53 Buncle Street, North Melbourne
narrm ngarrgu Library & Family Services – Level 3, 454 Queen St, Melbourne

If you’ve just moved into the city, simply call 03 9340 1444 (Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm) to book your first appointment.

What Happens After Your Baby Is Born

As soon as your baby is born, you will be contacted by a friendly nurse who will come and organize your first visit at home after the notification of the council by your hospital or your midwife.

Subsequently, follow-up appointments are done in your closest local centre.

And in case English is not your mother tongue – that is fine. There are interpreter services that it offers to ensure that all parents feel comfortable and understood.

Why These Services Matter

All children should have the most optimal beginning in life, and the MCH Service in Melbourne is set to provide all that to all the children, including the parents.

It helps parents:

Develop a sense of trust in taking care of their child.
Identify development or health issues at an early stage.
Refer to community and local resources.
Get emotional and psychological care.
It is not just healthcare, but community care.

In a City That Cares

Whether it is the tree-lined streets of North Melbourne or family centricity of Docklands and Carlton, Melbourne still keeps showing that it is a city that sticks strongly to family and wellbeing of the community.

In case you are a new parent or pregnant, call your local Maternal and Child Health Service, who will support you step by step through all the smiles, milestones and midnight feeds.

Because in Melbourne, you’re never doing parenthood alone.

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