Antenatal home visits are available by referral from Gold Coast Health Midwifery Services where more complex health concerns exist.

Postnatal or initial contact with the service is offered in the home, in clinic or via telehealth.  Once linked in with the service, you will be assessed based on your level of need.

Breast feeding drop-in offers practical assistance for mums experiencing breastfeeding concerns.

No appointment is needed, however, registering ahead of time by calling 5687 9183 will reduce administration time on the day.

If additional one-on-one assistance is required, appointments for breastfeeding support are also available by referral by your child and family health nurse.

Drop-in clinics are available at seven Gold Coast Health locations should you wish to check your baby’s progress between routine clinic visits.

These open clinics focus on supporting your infant’s early feeding, sleeping, and settling issues and other parenting concerns. Child and family health nurses can offer guidance and reassurance as you adjust to your new role as parents/carers.

No appointment is needed, however, registering ahead of time by calling 5687 9183 will reduce administration time on the day.

Development checks are conducted at key ages depending upon your level of need.

The checks involve routine tracking your child’s growth and assessing developmental progress including gross motor and fine motor skills, speech and language as well as social and emotional development. Health advice and guidance is provided to help you better understand your child’s development needs with a focus on health promotion and building your confidence as a parent/carer.

Referrals can be made to other services if there are concerns about developmental delay.

To book a Well Baby/Child Clinic assessment, please call 5687 9183

Practical assistance for those parents experiencing more complex parenting concerns (eg, feeding, sleep/settling, maternal distress) where a longer period of one-to-one time with a Child Health Nurse is required.  Referrals to Ellen Barron Residential support may be made if further support is needed. This service is by referral only. Speak to your local child health nurse or GP for more information.

The Early Intervention Parenting Service (EIPS) specialises in providing individual and group programs for parents of children under 8 years of age who wish to improve, and seek support with:

• parent-child relationship/attachment,
• caregiving challenges,
• ability to understand and respond to challenging child behaviours,
• adjustment to parenthood, 
• postnatal depression,
• coping with anxiety and stress,
• parenting confidence,
• birth trauma, and 
• infant mental health. 

We offer services through a multi-modal approach, they include:

Groups 
An opportunity to meet other parents and carers while strengthening parenting skills and wellbeing. 

Individual 1:1 sessions 
We provide short to medium term therapeutic support to families, within our inclusion criteria through 1:1 appointments in-person or available via telehealth.

Please see your child health nurse for referral to the EIPS program.

An informal way to get to know other parents and to discuss health issues common to all. These groups often result in further socialising opportunities and lasting friendships for many. A wide range of topics are discussed including sleep and settling; transitioning to parenting, infant social-emotional development; introducing solid food; safety; speech and language; play, development milestones and oral health. Ask your child health nurse for more information.

The Early Childhood Service offers a range of parenting programs.  

• Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P)

Circle of Security is a relationship-based early intervention program aimed at parents of children 4 months to 6 years of age. This eight-week program focuses on a child’s emotional and behavioural needs, building a positive relationship with your child, helping children manage their feelings and enhancing self-esteem. 

Places are limited so please contact (07) 5687 9183 to register your attendance. You will be contacted closer to the group starting to confirm your place and suitability for the program.  
 
Children may attend with parents if under 12 months of age. 
 

• Triple P - Positive Parenting Program

Triple P aims to support family relationships and develop strategies to manage the everyday challenges of parenting. It is an Australian based program and is offered to parents of children 2 – 8 years of age. 

You will learn about: 

• What is positive parenting.
• Creating an environment to support your child’s development. 
• Strategies to manage child behaviours.
• Helping your child/ren develop new skills.
• Support your child’s emotional regulation.

It is a four-week in-person program that includes follow up telephone check ins.  

Bookings essential (07) 5687 9183 as places are limited. 

The Triple P program is also accessible online so families can work through the modules at their own pace. 

Our Advanced Health Worker links closely with the Gold Coast Waijungbah Jarjums Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maternity and Child Health Programme to ensure families are appropriately  supported by providing  culturally safe, high quality care.

Free, family-friendly community immunisations clinics are available across the coast, with no appointments required.  Immunisations can also be accessed through your GP.