child health clinics - act
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community care child health clinics

ACT Community Health provide free Child Health clinics throughout the territory. This section broadly describes the services available at these clinics. There may be slight variations in the exact services offered from clinic to clinic. Services available include:

an initial health check between birth and 4 weeks of age - visit can take place at a clinic or at your home
regular appointments and check-ups
parenting information
free childhood immunisation clinics
help & advice over the telephone
specialist services when you need some extra help

All these services are offered free of charge to ACT residents.

regular check-ups
You will be given your free Personal Health Record booklet ("Blue Book") for your baby in hospital after the birth. This will be your complete history of your child's health and development as well as a vaccination record. The book will also contain a leaflet with details of local Child Health clinics and more information about the Child Health service.

You will be contacted by the Child Health service within 48 hours of your discharge from hospital to arrange your initial appointment, which can take place either at home or at a clinic. Ensure that you have your child's 'Personal Health Record' on hand for the appointment. This book should be taken to all appointments with your Maternal & Child Health nurse or GP. Health checks are recommended at regular intervals - see your Personal Health Record for more details.

If you wish, you can choose to schedule your baby's initial assessement and regular check-ups with your GP. Charges will depend upon your GP's fee structure and rebates available through Medicare.

Post-natal Parenting Information Referral Service (PPIRS)
PPIRS provide a range of services and assistance for new parents, including specialist assistance with infant sleep problems, feeding issues, post-natal depression and breastfeeding. Advice is available at clinics, over the telephone or at your home. For more information, see the the following web page.

free childhood immunisation clinics
A selected number of clinics offer regular free childhood immunisation clinics. For more information on childhood immunisations, see the immunisation section of this website.

specialist services
There are three centres in the region offering parents of new babies, upto 4 months old, support and education in parenting skills over a day stay. Appointments are usually made by referral from your Child & Maternal Health nurse. ACT Community Health also operate the Queen Elizabeth II Family Centre in partnership with the Canberra Mothercraft Society. This residential stay centre provides further parenting support for parents with children upto 3 years of age.

telephone information & advisory service
The following services provide telephone advice and support. For additional services, consult the helplines & support organisations page.


Community Health  ph: (02) 6207 1043  
provide information and advice about parenting services available in the ACT

ParentLink  ph: (02) 6205 8800  
Parenting information line for ACT residents. Operates Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm (not on public holidays)

Health First  ph: (02) 6207 7777  
24 hr medical information line - for ACT residents and surrounding areas only

Tresillian  ph: 1800 637 357  
24 hr parenting helpline

clinic locations
For clinic locations consult the leaflet in your child's Personal Health Record book or call (02) 6207 1043 to book an appointment.

ACT Community Health Child Health Service
> child health web page
> ph: (02) 6207 1043 (appointments & advice)
   Post-natal Parenting Information Referral Service (PPIRS)
> web page
> ph: (02) 6205 2000

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