Maternal and Child Health Service resources

Government's committment to self-determinationon the Vic.gov.au website.

The Orange Door

The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children. 

Statewide Clinical networks

Clinical networks are groups of health professionals, health organisations and consumers who work collaboratively to provide leadership and clinical service development across a number of specialty areas of healthcare.

Child protection contacts on the Services website

Locations and contact details of  child protection intake services

Making a report to Child Protection on the Providers website

To make a report to child protection a person needs to have formed a reasonable belief that a child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect, and that their parent has not protected or is unlikely to protect the child from harm of that type. 

Mandatory reporting advice on the Child protection manual website

Information regarding the statutory requirements for mandatory reporting to child protection.

Best interests case practice model summary guide

Provides a foundation for working with children, including the unborn child, young people and families.

Delivering for diversity: cultural diversity plan 2016–2019

This plan is a framework to embed cultural diversity in all the department's services, programs and policies. It builds on our wide-ranging efforts to improve services for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. 

Language Loop

Providing interpreting and translation services

Language services policy

The Language services policy and guidelines identify when language services should be offered to clients based on legislative requirements and best practice service delivery. Carers of clients, where appropriate, may also require the language services.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip education

All newborn infants should have the hips tested for instability or dislocation. 

Safe wrapping for hip dysplasia

Paediatric orthopaedic factsheet detailing the safe wrapping of babies for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hips (DDH)

Brace treatment for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)

Paediatric Orthopaedic factsheet on brace treatment for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)

Paediatric Orthopaedic factsheet on Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)

Practice guidelines: National Disability Insurance Scheme and mainstream services interface

Practice guidelines have been developed for frontline staff in our mainstream program areas. The guidelines will support staff in building their knowledge and practice skills in working across the NDIS and mainstream service systems.

Designing for diversity: key documents

Designing for Diversity is the department's framework for embedding responsiveness to diversity at the outset of any policy reform or service design process.

The Orange Door

The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children. 

Guidelines on the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme  

The Scheme enables the sharing of information between authorised organisations to assess and manage family violence risk.

Family violence multiagency risk assessment and management framework

The Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) has been developed to increase the safety and wellbeing of Victorians by supporting relevant services to effectively identify, assess and manage family violence risk.

Family Safety Victoria and MARAM practice guidance and tools  

Information sharing schemes and the MARAM framework            

Three inter related reforms have been introduced in Victoria that will be integral to reducing family violence and promoting child wellbeing and safety.

The WHO Growth Standards

This website presents the WHO Child Growth Standards, which were developed using data collected in the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study. The site presents documentation on how the physical growth curves and motor milestone windows of achievement were developed as well as application tools to support implementation of the standards.

CDC Growth charts

The growth charts consist of a series of percentile curves that illustrate the distribution of selected body measurements in U.S. children. 

Growth Charts - Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne 

Growth charts show the growth of a reference population and are used to assess individuals and groups of children.

Body Mass Index Calculator

Use this calculator to determine whether a child is at a healthy weight for his/her height

Overweight and obesity

Child growth in the early years  

Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy: 2019 and Beyond

The Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy: 2019 and Beyond is an enduring strategy which seeks to achieve an enabling environment for breastfeeding through policies, baby-friendly health settings, health professional education and training, and universal and targeted breastfeeding education and support services

Infant Feeding Guidelines: information for health workers

The Infant Feeding Guidelines are written to assist health workers provide consistent advice about breastfeeding and infant feeding. They provide a review of the evidence, and clear evidence-based recommendations on infant feeding for health workers.

Promoting Breastfeeding Victorian Breastfeeding Guidelines (2014)

These guidelines are a source of evidence-based breastfeeding information for health professionals to use when working with women and their families during the continuum of breastfeeding. The Victorian Breastfeeding Guidelines are designed to be used in conjunction with the National Health and Medical Research Council, Infant Feeding Guidelines – Information for Health Workers (2012).

Child information sharing ministerial guidelines 

The Child Information Sharing Scheme Ministerial Guidelines explain how prescribed information sharing entities should handle confidential information responsibly, safely and appropriately under the Child Information Sharing Scheme. 

Guidelines on the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme

The Scheme enables the sharing of information between authorised organisations to assess and manage family violence risk.

Information sharing schemes and the MARAM framework

Three inter related reforms have been introduced in Victoria that will be integral to reducing family violence and promoting child wellbeing and safety.

Health and wellbeing of people with intersex variations Information and resource paper

This information and resource paper to supports the development and implementation of evidence-based polices, programs and services, and to further understand the needs and interests of people with intersex variations in Victoria.

Rainbow eQuality guide

The Rainbow eQuality Guide was developed to assist mainstream health and community service agencies identify and adopt inclusive practices and become more responsive to the health and wellbeing needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals and communities.

Maternal & Child Health app

The Maternal & Child Health app provides trusted information matched to the age of  the child. The app can also track the child's growth, and reminders about upcoming MCH appointments or immunisations.

Download the MCH app on the App Store and Google Play.

The Early Childhood Agreement (the agreement) for children in out-of-home care (OoHC)

The Early Childhood Agreement (the agreement) for children in out-of-home care (OoHC) aims to increase the participation of young children placed in OoHC in high quality early childhood education and care (ECEC).

External research applications for external organisations

The Centre for Evaluation and Research (the Centre) coordinates and manages the department's external research application (ERA) process.

Service Agreement Information Kit

The Service agreement information kit provides guidance for organisations who hold a Service agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education and Training.

National standards of practice for maternal, child and family health nurses

A guide for practice, education and research.

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the organisation responsible for the implementation of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme across Australia.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia is responsible for registering nursing and midwifery practitioners and students, developing standards, codes and guidelines for the nursing and midwifery profession.

MCH qualification requirement equivalence flowchart (word)

Professional standards page - Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

Nurses and midwives must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), and meet the NMBA's professional standards in order to practise in Australia.

National framework for universal child and family health services

The Framework outlines the core services that all Australian children (from birth to eight years) and families should receive at no financial cost to themselves, regardless of where they live, and how and where they access their health care.

Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program - Royal Childrens Hospital

The Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program (VIHSP) screens the hearing of newborn babies in their first weeks of life. Early detection and intervention improves outcomes for babies with hearing loss.

The Orange Door

The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children. 

Roadmap for Reform:Strong families, safer children

The Roadmap for Reform, strong families, safe children' sets out our strategy for reform of children, youth and family services.

The Early Years Compact

This Compact, between Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET), the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and local government, demonstrates a shared focus on improving and sustaining outcomes for children and families across all Victorian communities.           

Partnership Agreement between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Municipal Association of Victoria 2018–2023         

The Partnership Agreement between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Municipal Association of Victoria 2018-2023 acknowledges the important working partnership between the department and local government in the areas of health and human services.

Victorian early years learning and development framework 

The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) supports all professionals who work with children aged 0-8. It includes a range of discipline-specific guidelines and practice resources.

Early childhood reform plan

The Early Childhood Reform Plan outlines the Victorian Government's vision for the early years. This plan will deliver systemic change, targeted at supporting the children who need it most.

Child and family services information, referral and support teams

Contact details for Child FIRST teams are located across Victoria, each providing children, young people and families easier access to the services they need.

Healthcare that counts framework

A quality improvement framework for health services to embed organisational governance, systems and structures focused on vulnerable children and families.