South-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:52): (49) My constituency question is for the Minister for Health and relates to maternal and child health, or MCH. My constituent is a young mother in the City of Casey. She was shocked to be told by her MCH nurse that her eight-week-old son’s MCH appointment may be his last. Upon further digging she discovered that Casey is providing just four of the 10 key ages and stages visits ordinarily provided by Victorian MCH services. We all know just how important the first thousand days are to a child’s future wellbeing and what a critical role these visits play in that period. So my constituent asks: what assistance and support is the minister providing the City of Casey to bolster services for the many young families in the area?