Community Child Health provides a range of community health and support services for children and their parents or carers to give every child the best possible start in life. By providing early intervention and prevention services at the right time, the service aims to ensure children and young people are nurtured, safe and able to realise their full potential.
Our specialist clinical teams offer:
- health and developmental checks
- hearing assessment and referral (four years and over)
- feeding and nutritional support/information
- education and support groups
- parenting interventions to enhance parenting
- bedwetting program
- information and advice for parents for healthcare referrals.
By following a schedule of visits at key ages set out in a child’s Personal Health Record book, parents can monitor the health, wellbeing and development of their child in partnership with Child Health Nurses and health professionals.
It is recommended that your child has a check up at:
- 0–4 weeks
- 6–8 weeks
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 12 months
- 18 months
- 2.5–3.5 years
- 4–6 years.
Child Development Service (CDS)
The Child Development Service is a community-based, multidisciplinary team within Community Child Health that specialises in the assessment and management of children, predominantly under school age, with development and behaviour concerns.
Parenting programs and groups
Designed for parents of children up to eight years old, parenting programs, seminars and individual sessions offer parenting strategies for parents to use at home. Bookings may be required.
Early intervention parenting support
Our team of social workers and psychologists provide parenting strategies and short-term support for parents with children from birth to six years of age, either at a community health centre or in the home. This service is available by referral only. Speak to your child health nurse for more information.
Early parenting service (day stay)
The early parenting service offers practical assistance for parents requiring more intensive support for complex parenting concerns, such as feeding routine and sleeping. This service is available by referral only. Speak with your local child health nurse for further information.
Indigenous child health workers
Our team of Indigenous child health workers support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to access a variety of relevant services delivered by Gold Coast Health.