Child and family health

Objective: To focus on high priority groups to improve early identification and enhance access to services relating to childhood development and well-being to meet the needs of our local communities. This will be achieved through collaborations, pathways and partnerships with key stakeholders, commissioned initiatives and workforce education and training.

CESPHN recognises that child health is a key priority issue, with rates of developmentally vulnerable children higher in this region compared to the national average. The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) measures development vulnerability through the following domains: physical health and wellbeing; social competency; emotional maturity; communication skills and general knowledge; and language and cognitive skills. The percentage of children within CESPHN who were considered developmentally vulnerable has risen with the most vulnerability observed in the geographical locations of Kogarah- Rockdale, Hurstville, Canterbury and Botany.

For relevant clinical information, please view Sydney Healthpathways and South East Sydney Healthpathways

Resources for health professionals (including guidelines, template links)

Child development

Learn the Signs. Act Early provide specific checklists at various ages to assess a child’s developmental milestones.
The Royal Children’s Hospital – Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status(PEDS)
SLHD The Well Child Health Program – supporting GPs keeping families healthy. Includes Category 1 (40 pts) e- learning module regarding child development screening.

Social and emotional well-being

Parenting and mental health – Beyond Blue
Emerging Minds – National Workforce Centre for Child Mental health

Lifestyle and nutrition

NHMRC Eat For health – Infant Feeding Guidelines – Information for health workers regarding recommended guidelines for infant and children feeding
Eat For Health – Australian Dietary Guidelines

Asthma

Information for health professionals to give to consumers

My Personal Health Record (Blue Book) – This resource provides valuable information regarding child health and helps parents track their child’s developmental milestones.
Milestones matter – track your child’s development – NSW Health consumer brochure
Raising Children Network – Australian parenting website funded by Australian Government
BeYou – Information and resources promoting mental health strategies and recommendations for addressing common mental health problems in children
Go4Fun – Healthy lifestyle program for kids – FREE family healthy lifestyle program for primary school-aged children

Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families

- Let’s Read – Reading Tips for Indigenous Families for children from 4 months to 3.5 years old
- Raising Children Network – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander parents
- The Stay Strong App | Medicare Mental Health is a motivational care planning tool that assists health professionals to promote the wellbeing of Aboriginal clients by considering their social supports, strengths, worries and the goals or changes they would like to make.
- Healthy smiles for under five
- Resources for Aboriginal parents and carers | Communities and Justice
- Wellmob – Social, emotional and cultural wellbeing online resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
- Vaccination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children | Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation | SKAI
- Yarn Safe | Mental Health for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders | headspace

Key contacts and support services ( including peak bodies)

SESLHD Child and Family Health Nursing – available to all families and carers with children 0-5 years of age who live in the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
SLHD Child and Family Health – free service staffed by Child and Family Health Nurses who offer health, development and wellbeing checks for children as well as support, education and information on all aspects of parenting.
SLHD Child information Link (CHL) ph 9562 5400 ( Mon- Fr 8.30-4.00pm) – this service connects parents, carers and health professionals with child and family health services, information and resources on child health and development. Contact CHL to find out how to access the right service for your patient.
Karitane – Charity organisation providing education and support to new parents around sleep and settling, establishing routines, feeding and nutrition, toddler behaviour and pre- and post-natal anxiety and depression.
Tresillian – Early parenting service offering families guidance in the early years of their child’s life
Family Referral Service (FRS) – Links vulnerable children in need of assistance, and their families, with the most appropriate available support services in their local areas

Quality Improvement activities

QIA – Asthma

1.QIA – Ensuring children with asthma have completed an asthma cycle of care or GP management plan – (445.11 KB)

Commissioned Services

Early Intervention Community Speech Pathology Program

Services offered: The program aim to address service gaps by improving access to speech pathology assessment for socio-economically vulnerable families and other vulnerable groups such as CALD and Aboriginal families and children from families. The program involves outreach screening and assessment services to targeted playgroups and childcare centres. Children will be screened and assessed by a qualified Speech Pathologist for communication difficulties and developmental delays.

Eligibility: Vulnerable children aged 0-8 years (depending on the program) and their families attending playgroups, childcare centres and other community settings within LHD boundaries.

Providers: Early Intervention Speech Pathology for priority groups is provided by SLHD. The First Nations Speech Pathology program is provided by SESLHD.

Medicare Mental Health provides free mental health support

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