South-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (14:04): (728) My question is to the Minister for Children, and I ask the minister to act and advise when the maternal and child health services that other Victorian children receive will be fully restored for families in the City of Casey. The City of Casey, under this government, said the council recommended its full maternal and child health services would be operational from December 2023, but consistent complaints from my constituents show that many new parents are not able to get appointments through Casey council’s maternal and child health, and some are having to go to other councils for early support. Constituent Michelle Crowther, a local women’s health professional, said:
I know my friend’s daughter has just had a baby and couldn’t get the visits in Casey … she’s going to Frankston Council to get the visits …
Councils provide free maternal and child health services, which are critical for detecting early development disorders in little ones from birth to age six, but our local service is not available to many new mothers in Casey.