Maternal and Child Health Services
Ararat Rural City Council provides a free service for families with babies and children aged from birth to 4 years. The service is funded through the State Government and Council.
The Maternal and Child Health service is a valuable resource for information on all things family. Our team promote the health and wellbeing of families, monitor the health, growth and development of babies and children, give support and advice on health and parenting issues.
We offer an initial home visit after your new baby is born as well as appointments at the maternal and child health centres across the municipality. Health & development checks are recommended at 2 Weeks; 4 Weeks; 8 Weeks; 4 Months; 8 Months; 12 Months; 18 Months; 2 Years; and 3.5 Years, additional visits outside these ages are also welcome.
The team can give advice about local services, kinder enrolments, playgroups and activities throughout the municipality. Feel free to use our waiting room as a safe area to feed, change or play when you are out and about. New Parent Groups are run on a regular basis for first-time parents to meet and share experiences.
Maternal & Child Health Centre
For advice, support and free monthly immunisations session, please phone the Maternal & Child Health Centre on (03) 5355 0224, or visit us at the East Grampians Community Heath Service, 51-59 Girdlestone Street, Ararat.
The Ararat Office is located inside the newly renovated East Grampians Community Health Centre at 51-59 Girdlestone Street, Ararat. Our phone number is 5355 0224.
Our nurses visit Lake Bolac, Willaura, Streatham, Moyston and Elmhurst regularly, rural centres are by appointment (contact the Ararat centre on 5355 0224):
- Elmhurst - by appointment only
Bush Nursing Centre, 36 Green Street, Elmhurst
- Moyston
First Wednesday of the month: 9.30 - 11.30am
Moyston Primary School Playgroup - drop-in session, 1349 Ararat-Halls Gap Road, Moyston
- Streatham
Second or fourth Tuesday of the month by appointment only
MCH building in Campbell Street
- Lake Bolac
Second or Fourth Wednesday of the month by appointment
Lake Bolac Bush Nursing Centre, 155 Montgomery Street, Lake Bolac
- Willaura
Second Wednesday of the month - 9.30am - 11.30am
Willaura Primary School Playgroup, 14 Warranooke Road, Willaura.
Immunisation Sessions
Ararat Rural City Council's Maternal Child Health Service now runs free monthly immunisation session on the third Wednesday of every month.
The session is by appointment only, please phone us on (03) 5355 0224. Appointments will be held at the Maternal Child Health Centre at the East Grampians Community Health Centre, Girdlestone Street, Ararat.
Our trained specialist immunisation nurses provide a range of vaccinations and advice. We offer free immunisations to:
- Children aged 0-4 years, vaccinations are held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Ararat Maternal & Child Health Centre (MCHC) by appointment only
- Lake Bolac by appointment only
- Secondary school students as part of the Secondary School Immunisation Program
- Free seasonal Flu Vaccine for children 6 months - 5 years old by appointment only
Please do not attend if you or your child are unwell. The service also has the flu vaccine available for 6 months to under 5 years.
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate in contacting our Maternal and Child Health Nurses on (03) 5355 0224.
Did you know you can access your child’s immunisation records over the internet? Go to the Medicare Australia website, and register for a password. This gives you secure access to your child’s records
The Kindergarten Outreach Program is a free service designed to support families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds who live, work, play, or study in Ararat Rural City.
A free telephone interpreter service is also available to ensure language is never a barrier to accessing support for CALD families.
If you or someone you know could benefit from this service, we’re here to help.
- Enrol your child into kindergarten
- Participate in three and four-year-old kindergarten
- Connect with other early childhood support services
- Support families to transition from kindergarten to primary school
Please contact Ararat Rural City Council's CALD Outreach Officer:
Phone: (03) 5355 0200 or 0447 397 658
Email: [email protected]
Below are a list of links and contacts which are all full of valuable information and assistance:
- Raising Children
- Royal Children's Hospital - Kids Health
- Search for 'Ararat Rural City Maternal and Child Health Service on Facebook
Maternal and Child Health Line - 13 22 29
The Maternal and Child Health Line is a 24-hour telephone service (phone 13 22 29 in Victoria). Qualified Maternal and Child Health Nurses offer information, advice and referral to all families with young children.