WELCOME! We hope that you find this site useful for information on upcoming parenting programs in your area, opportunity to request an appointment with a child health nurse online and contacts of useful community resources in your area. You will also notice in some of our districts (Naturaliste and Bunbury) you can also make an appointment to see a GP Down South Nurse. GP Down South work in partnership with WA Country Health Service in delivering child health services in the Southwest. The GP Down South nurses are Registered Nurses with the same child health qualification and sit within the wider Southwest Community nursing team.”

Scroll down for more stories!

Below is a team photo of the South West Community Nurses from all four health districts in the south west, so some of these faces will be familiar to you!

 

AUGUST 2017

Link # 1 http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/screen_time.html

Link # 2 http://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/S_T/Screen-time

Link # 3 http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/internet_safety.html

 

 

JULY 2017

LINKS:

http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/dental_care_babies.html

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/oralhealth/Publications/lift-lip-poster.pdf

https://www.ada.org.au/Your-Dental-Health/Children-0-11/Babies

MARCH 2017

Promotional Day - Centrepoint Shopping Centre

On the 23rd of March the Child Health team held a promotional day at Bunbury Centrepoint Shopping Centre to showcase the good work we do and the services we offer.  There were questions from the public about immunisation, growth, development, school health and many more.  We had on hand many resources and brochures to give out and was a very successful day.  The next session will be at the Forum Shopping Centre on the 4th of May.

Dads Survey

WA Country Health Service South West is currently reviewing how it's Community Child Health services have been delivered to Dads in the community and how they have been accessed by Dads.  Our goal is to gather information from Dads themselves and use this information to change our services to better engage Dads.

Take the survey here! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5Y79X6D

OCTOBER 2016

Bunbury Community Health has been collating customer satisfaction and feedback via a survey on an IPad located in the reception area.

APRIL 2016

 

NOVEMBER 2015

Everyone's experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting is different. If you are feeling excessively worried, overwhelmed, sad, isolated, out of control, panicky or like you are in a black hole, you're not alone.

We're encouraging parents to speak up as part of Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness (PNDA) Week. Talking about these experiences is an important step toward seeking support and feeling better.

To find out more about PNDA Awareness Week go to:

https://justspeakup.beyondblue.org.au/

 

BIG PRAM WALK 2015

 

OCTOBER 2015

Early Years Parenting in Spring in Manjimup

Early Parenting Group – a new group will commence on the Friday 9^th October for six consecutive weeks from 1.30 – 3.30pm. Great opportunity to meet other new parents and explore your early parenting experience.  Includes sessions on Physiotherapy, Baby Massage, Play and Safety

Bubs n Tots Group meets every Thursday Afternoon at the Manjimup Family Centre at 12.30 – 2.30 pm. This group offers an opportunity to have some time out, afternoon tea and a crèche is available. Guest speakers and child health nurses join the group to answer questions and offer support.

Ph: 97711653 or call into the Manjimup Community Centre on Mount St

Pram walks Tuesday and Thursday at 9am meeting at the Family Centre – These walks are very popular and a great way to get some gentle exercise whilst catching up with other Parents. Please come and join us

Post Natal Depression Week is coming up November 16^th and once again we are having a picnic in the Manjimup Timber Park Playground on November 18^th commencing at 11.30 am.  Please join us and bring along a picnic and blanket. Information and treats available on the day.

  

 

EARLIER IN 2015...

Bunbury Child Health Nurses were at the Bunbury Forum Shopping Centre on the 16^th June and Centrepoint Shopping Centre in Bunbury to promote the importance of child health development screening at particular ages in the first 5 years. They were also on hand to answer any questions about immunisation, parenting, behaviour or nutrition. The day was very successful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health and Education Partnering for New Health Service

Term 2 has seen the opening of a new child health service at West Busselton Primary School. WACHS - South West in partnership with West Busselton Primary will provide increased access to child health services for local families with a clinic available every Wednesday.

The clinic is open for families to ‘drop in’ and ask questions with the child health nurse at school drop off time (8:30 – 9:30 am) and then appointment based until 12 noon. The clinic is currently open for a half day on the Wednesday but as demand increases will extend to a full day. Parents are starting to use the clinic and it is hoped that as awareness of the new clinic increases so will utilisation and that in the future parenting groups will be run on site and there will be opportunity for Speech and Occupational Therapy programs to be conducted.

Child Health Manager Sharlene Abbott from Naturaliste Community Health says “having a child health clinic attached to the school will make the service more accessible to parents and we hope it will lift the profile of child health and the importance of child development in the early years before school starts. The clinic allows us to develop relationships with parents, working together to promote healthy lifestyles and ensure their children are school ready when the time comes.”

Elizabeth Jones, Deputy Principal of West Busselton Primary agrees with Ms Abbott and says “the clinic is a fantastic opportunity to foster the partnership between health and education. Good health outcomes in the early years benefits educational outcomes in the future.”

The new clinic resulted from the State Government’s Investment into Child Health.  With significant growth in the Busselton area, strategies to cater for larger numbers of families were identified as a priority. West Busselton Primary provided an opportunity for a suitable space and the added benefit of co-locating at the school site gives families of the school easy access to child health. The Child Health service at West Busselton Primary adds to those already available in Busselton at the Kent St Family Centre and at the Busselton Health Campus on Mill Rd.

Child Health Nurses work in partnership with parents and guardians of babies and young children. They provide important child health and development checks at 0-10 days, 6-8 weeks, 3 months, 8 months 18 months and 3-4 years and can also provide support and health information on growth and nutrition, sleep, safety, play, development, immunisation and parenting.

To make an appointment at a Child Health Clinic call 1800 457949