Premier

Giving Mums And Babies A Healthy Start

20 November 2017

More mothers and babies across the state will receive the support they need for the best possible start in life, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Health Jill Hennessy today visited IPC Health in Altona Meadows to announce $1.7 million to expand the successful Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies program to rural and regional Victoria.

The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies program aims to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable pregnant women and their babies by helping them access services to support them through pregnancy and beyond.

The program is part of $32.3 million from the Andrews Labor Government to establish integrated support services for mothers of children at risk of child protection notifications.

Support includes assistance in accessing clinical antenatal, maternal and child health nursing, health education, goal setting, psychosocial support and referral services.

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies is currently provided in nine outer metropolitan growth areas, and will expand to Ballarat, Echuca, Gippsland, Goulburn Valley, the Grampians, Latrobe, Mildura, Warrnambool and Wodonga.

The extra funding will see an additional 260 women and their babies get the support they need in its first year, and 520 more the following year.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy

“We’re expanding this program so more vulnerable women across the state will be able to receive the support they deserve to keep themselves – and their babies – healthy during early motherhood.”

“This is about ensuring babies and young children can access the care they need to get the best possible start in life – whether they live in regional Victoria, or our rapidly growing outer suburbs.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

“We’re proud to be expanding Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies as part of a suite of support services to ensure babies and young children are receiving the best possible care from their own mothers.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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