Victorian parents and carers now have a valuable opportunity to help improve Victoria's Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service through a new survey launched by the Allan Labor Government.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn today announced the survey is now open, inviting everyone who has used the service in the past two years to provide their feedback.
By sharing their experiences, families can directly shape the future of the service, ensuring it supports the health and wellbeing journeys of parents, carers and families in raising happy and healthy children.
The insights gathered will guide improvements to the service and ensure it continues to support families effectively - with questions focusing on first home visits, ongoing appointments with MCH nurses, and the support and information shared as part of a child's growth and development.
The anonymous survey, open until 17 November, is available in 10 community languages, in addition to English, including Dari, Vietnamese, Arabic, Mandarin, Khmer, Punjabi, Burmese, Pashto, Hazaragi, and Chin (Hakha), making it accessible to a wide range of families across the state.
The survey encompasses all aspects of the Maternal and Child Health Service, including the Universal MCH program, the 10 key ages and stages visits, the Enhanced MCH Program, the Aboriginal MCH program, and the MCH Line.
The survey will build on the roundtables the Labor Government is currently undertaking with parents and carers about how to improve families' access to services and supports to help their children thrive.
The roundtables are being held in Melbourne and regional Victoria with families invited to discuss their experiences with maternal and child health services, early childhood education and care, early parenting centres, kindergartens and family services.
Each session is set to guide future policies, programs and initiatives that impact Victorian children from birth to 12 years old.
The MCH Service is a free service for all families with children from birth to school age, delivered locally in partnership with councils and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations. It also offers 24-hour support through the MCH Line.
The survey is open until 17 November is available at engage.vic.gov.au/have-your-say-on-maternal-and-child-health-services.
More information of Victoria's MCH services is available at betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn
"This survey gives families the power to help us improve the services that provide free, accessible maternal child health to all Victorian children from birth to school age."
"We know there are always opportunities to improve our services and that's why we want to hear directly from Victorian parents and carers about their experience using our Maternal and Child Health Service."
