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Maternal and Child Health (MACH) Nursing Service

Maternal and Child Health (MACH) Nurses provide support, information and health advice to parents and families in the first weeks, months and years of your child’s life. MACH Nurses are registered nurses with specialist qualifications in maternal, child and family health and are available to assist families in a variety of ways.

MACH Nursing Services are free and available to all Medicare and Asylum Seeker card holders.


First Home Visit

All families with a newborn baby are offered a home visit with a MACH Nurse following referral from your hospital midwife. A MACH Nurse will contact you by telephone to arrange a convenient time to come and visit you in your home.

This home visit is an opportunity to discuss the health and wellbeing of you and your baby. Your MACH Nurse will be able to provide you with information about other MACH and community services available to you.

If you would like to arrange a first home visit with a MACH Nurse please contact Community Health Intake on 02 6207 9977 between 9am – 5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 9am – 3:30pm Wednesday.


Drop in Clinics

Drop in clinics are available for brief visits best suited for quick questions and updates rather than comprehensive health checks. Self-weigh facilities are available at most locations to weigh your baby.

No appointment is required to attend the Drop in Clinics. As the clinics can become busy, appointments are limited to 15-20mins per client. If you require a longer appointment to address your concerns the MACH Nurse will be able to assist you making the appropriate appointment.

For information on clinic locations and times, please contact Community Health Intake on 02 6207 9977 between 9am – 5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 9am – 3:30pm Wednesday.


Booked Appointment Clinics

You can make an appointment to see a MACH nurse for information and advice on breastfeeding, parenting, child health, nutrition and feeding issues, child safety, toddler behaviour issues and maternal emotional health through the Booked Appointment Clinics.

You can also make an appointment for your Child Health Checks which provide you with the opportunity to gain information, support and relevant advice on caring for your child at various stages of their life.

Regular health checks are recommended to monitor how your child is growing and to offer early intervention and treatment if required for certain conditions. Your MACH nurse can check your child’s development and growth and will discuss any concerns you have about your child.

Child Health Checks

For information and to make an appointment at one of the Booked Appointment Clinics, contact Community Health Intake on 02 6207 9977 between 9am – 5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 9am – 3:30pm Wednesday.

You will need to bring your child’s Personal Health Record (blue book) with you to your appointments.

The clinics are operated out of the following locations:

Northside

Belconnen – Belconnen Community Health Centre, 56 Lathlain St (Cnr Lathlain & Cohen St).
Dickson – Dickson Health Centre, Dickson Place (Opp. Library)
Florey – Ratcliffe Cres, Florey (next to Florey Preschool)
Gungahlin – Gungahlin Community Health Centre, Corner of Ernest Cavanagh Street and Futsell Ln, Gungahlin
Ngunnawal Child Health Clinic – 103 Wanganeen Ave, Ngunnawal (Next to Ngunnawal Pre-School)
West Belconnen Child & Family Centre – Cnr Luke and Starke St, Holt

Southside

Lanyon – Lanyon Family Centre, Sidney Nolan Street, Conder
Phillip – Phillip Health Centre, Corner Corinna & Keltie Streets, Phillip
Tuggeranong Child and Family Centre, 159 Anketell Street, Greenway
Weston Creek – Weston Creek Child Health Clinic, Parkinson St. Weston (Independent Living Centre)


Early Days

Early Days is a group information session to address feeding and settling concerns of mothers with infants under 3 months old.

No appointment is necessary to attend the Early Days sessions. Partners, support people and babies up to 3 months of age are welcome to attend.

For information on clinic locations and times, please contact Community Health Intake on 02 6207 9977 between 9am – 5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 9am – 3:30pm Wednesday.


Sleep and Settling Groups

The MACH Nurses within the Division of Women, Youth & Children Community Health Programs offer sleep groups for children and babies over 3 months of age.

For information and bookings please contact Community Health Intake on 02 6207 9977 between 9am – 5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 9am – 3:30pm Wednesday.

 


New Parent Groups

New Parent Groups are four, weekly group information sessions facilitated by a MACH Nurse. The sessions are designed for first-time parents providing the opportunity to meet other first-time parents with babies of similar age and to discuss topics and issues related to parenting. The sessions also provide you with information about community services available to you.

Parents need to book well ahead to attend New Parent Groups. Please contact Community Health Intake on 02 6207 9977 between 9am – 5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 9am – 3:30pm Wednesday.