July 2004

New directions for maternal and child health services

Community Services Minister Sherryl Garbutt has launched a new strategic framework to strengthen the delivery of Victorian Maternal and Child Health Services to benefit more children and their families.

Launching Future Directions for the Victorian Maternal and Child Health Service, Ms Garbutt said it outlined the Government’s long-term plan to improve the universal service and reach more Victorian families in need.

‘Victoria’s Maternal and Child Health Service (MCHS) is a valued service that is well-used by families, accessible in local communities and staffed by a highly-qualified workforce.

‘Ninety-six per cent of Victorian infants are enrolled in the service in their first weeks of life—a participation rate that is higher than all other states in Australia.

‘The strategic framework draws on new understandings about early childhood to build on these strengths and deliver more flexible services to meet the needs of new parents and capture parents that are not using the service.’

Ms Garbutt said there was a marked drop-off in parents attending MCHS after their babies turned 12 months.

‘This framework aims to implement strategies to keep families participating in the MCHS until their child is four.

‘In particular, we will target parents who are under-utilising the service and families from ethnically-diverse communities who are experiencing parenting difficulties.

‘The Government is working with the Victorian community to give all children the best possible start in life.’

Key directions outlined in the Future Directions for the Victorian Maternal and Child Health Service include:

• Focus on universal participation for all children from birth to school age including a schedule of 10 consultations at ‘key ages and stages’ from birth to 3.5 years;

• Focus on new strategies to identify vulnerable families and to better deliver services to vulnerable families and families who are not using MCHS;

• Greater flexibility in the delivery of MCHS including development of ‘drop in’ services, in-home consultations, parent groups, extended hours services and the delivery of culturally appropriate services;

• Greater emphasis on approaches that bring families together, foster social networks and strengthen local communities;

• Local governments will have greater flexibility to deliver services that meet the needs of their local communities through the development of Early Years Plans;

• Development of a Service Quality Framework to ensure the highest possible standards of service.

‘Through the Early Years Plans, local councils will identify the specific needs of local families and children and tailor services to meet their needs,’ Ms Garbutt said.

‘The Government recognises that each community is different and is giving local government a greater say in the provision of Maternal and Child Health Services.’

Future Directions for the Victorian Maternal and Child Health Service is the Government’s response to the Maternal and Child Health Service Improvement Project, undertaken by the Department of Human Services and the Municipal Association of Victoria.

Ms Garbutt said the Government provided $17 million over four years in the 2003–04 State Budget to improve the delivery of Maternal and Child Health Services.

‘Accessible and affordable child health services are the keystones to improving the health and welfare of Victorian children.

‘The Government is delivering real investment and a real vision to strengthen Maternal and Child Health Services across Victoria.’

• The Future Directions for the Victorian Maternal and Child Health Service is available at http://www. vic.gov.au/commcare.