The Child and Family Health Service follows on from postnatal maternity care and provides a range of community health and support services for children and their parents/carers to give every child the best possible start in life.
By providing parenting support, health promotion, early intervention and prevention services we aim to ensure that children are nurtured, safe and able to realise their full potential.
Services are free of charge and may be offered in the home, or in community child health clinics or in local early years community centres. Care is offered by an experienced team of child and family health nurses and early intervention clinicians (either social workers or psychologists).
Services include:
Antenatal home visits are available by referral from Gold Coast Health Midwifery Services where more complex health concerns exist.
Available 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. Nurses can offer you guidance and reassurance as you adjust to your new role as parents/carers.
No appointment needed. Available at various locations on specified days.
Please call 5687 9183 to register with our service before attending Drop-in clinics.
Practical assistance for mums experiencing breastfeeding concerns. Drop-in available - no appointment needed. Appointments also available by referral. Please call 5687 9183 to register your baby before attending breastfeeding drop-in clinic.
Development checks are conducted at key ages 0-4weeks; 6-8weeks; 4, 6, 12 and 18months; 2, 3 and 4 years as set out in the Personal Health Record (red book).
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.
By appointment only by calling 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.
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 by referral only. Speak to your child health nurse for more information.
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 programmes such as Circle of Security, a relationship-based early intervention program designed to enhance attachment security between parents and children. Booking is by referral from the community child health team. Please see your child health nurse for information on other programmes.
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.
| Breastfeeding | |
| Australian Breastfeeding Association | Relevant information regarding breastfeeding and beyond. |
| Sleep and Settling | |
| Safe Sleep Space | Gentle and effective sleep solutions. |
| Rocky a bub | Phone application. |
| Ellen Barron Family Centre | Positive parenting techniques and responsive feeding and settling strategies for home. |
| The period of Purple Crying | Understand your baby’s cry. |
| Introduction of Solids | |
| Babies first foods | All the information you need to know about baby's first foods. |
| Recipes | Tips and strategies to help manage fussy eating behaviours. |
| Immunisation | |
| Free Community Immunisation Clinics | Free family-friendly community immunisation clinics run by Gold Coast Public Health. |
| Development | |
| Gymbaroo - Active Babies, Smart Kids | Information regarding the development of babies and ideas that help mum and dad get babies off to a great start. |
| First 5 Forever | Explore ways to make learning fun. |
| Raising Children's Network | Evidence-based information on child development 0-18 years. |
| Gr8 Start | Aims to provide children with the best possible start by facilitating organisational partnerships with a focus on promotion, prevention, early identification and intervention. |
| Mental Health | |
| Mums Space | Support for the emotional health of new mums at every step |
| Beyond Blue | Covering everything from bonding with your baby to spotting the signs of anxiety and depression. |
| Panda | Dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of expecting, new and growing families. |
| Acute Crisis Team | Provide assessment and referral services for people who experience serious mental health problems. Phone: 1300 642 255 |
| Safety | |
| Kids Safe | Up-to-date information all about keeping children safe in their home, car and community. |
| Red Nose (SIDS) | Learn how to keep your baby safe day and night, and why safe sleeping practices save little lives. |
| Domestic Violence | |
| DV Connect | Information, services and support for people impacted by domestic and family violence. Phone: 1800 737 732 |
| Domestic Violence Prevention Centre (DVPC) | A wide range of programs to support women and their children affected by domestic and family violence. Phone: (07) 5532 9000 |
| Act for kids | A series of resources that can help keep kids safe, heal from trauma, and lead happy lives. |
| Financial Hardship | |
| Services Australia | Delivering government payments and services. |
| Community recovery and support services | Provides support to vulnerable members of our community. Phone: 1800 173 349 |
| Drugs and Alcohol | |
| Insight | Alcohol and drug training and workforce development services. |
| Groups on the Gold Coast | |
| Women’s Health QLD | Facebook Group for Mums. |
| MUSH | Phone application to meet local mothers nearby. |
| Gold Coast Libraries | Baby rhyme time, read & grow story time, toddler time,share talk and read. |
| Active Gold Coast | Programs for Mums and bubs. |
| Play Matters Australia | Deliver programs and services that support children and families to connect and play. |
| Early Years Centre - Benevolent Society | Playgroups and family support. |
| What were we thinking | About common experiences in the early months of parenthood and effective ways of managing them. |
| Frequently Asked Questions | |
| Covid-19 - Children, young people and parents | Information about helping you and your family throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. |
