Maternal and Child Health Service resources

Maternal Child Health (MCH) resources contain contemporary and evidence informed documents to strengthen MCH clinical practice and MCH service provision.

Resources

Child protection contacts(opens in a new window) on the Services website
Locations and contact details of child protection intake services
Making a report to Child Protection(opens in a new window) 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(opens in a new window) 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(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
Providing interpreting and translation services
Language services policy(opens in a new window)
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.
The Orange Door(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
Information sharing schemes and the MARAM framework(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
The growth charts consist of a series of percentile curves that illustrate the distribution of selected body measurements in U.S. children.
Growth Charts(opens in a new window) - 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(opens in a new window)
Use this calculator to determine whether a child is at a healthy weight for his/her height
Overweight and obesity(opens in a new window)
Child growth in the early years(opens in a new window)
- Downloadable immunisation resources
- 'Strive for Five' National Vaccine Storage guidelines, posters and resources from the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy: 2019 and Beyond(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
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)(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
The Scheme enables the sharing of information between authorised organisations to assess and manage family violence risk.
Information sharing schemes and the MARAM framework(opens in a new window)
Three inter related reforms have been introduced in Victoria that will be integral to reducing family violence and promoting child wellbeing and safety.
The Information Sharing Entity List
The Information Sharing Entity List can be used to identify organisations prescribed under the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) and the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS)
- MCH nurse resources for kindergartens - Department of Education
  - This includes the MCH nurse resource microsite/portal which enables you to order resources, including factsheets, brochures and translated materials, available to help MCH nurses in communicating to parents about kindergarten.
National standards of practice for maternal, child and family health nurses(opens in a new window)
A guide for practice, education and research.
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
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)(opens in a new window)
Professional standards page(opens in a new window) - 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(opens in a new window)
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.
The Orange Door(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
The Roadmap for Reform, strong families, safe children' sets out our strategy for reform of children, youth and family services.
The Early Years Compact(opens in a new window)
This Compact, between Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET), our department, 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(opens in a new window)
The Partnership Agreement between the Department of Health 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 (opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
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(opens in a new window)
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.

Updated 31 December 2025