My Health, Learning and Development book (green book)
My Health, Learning and Development book (green book)
The
My Health, Learning and Development
(‘green book’) is given to the parents of every newborn child in Victoria. It contains information about early childhood development and services and can be kept as a record of your child’s health, growth, development, immunisations and other milestones throughout childhood.
What is the ‘green book’?
In Victoria, following the birth of your baby, the hospital will give you a free
My Health, Learning and Development Record
, commonly known as the ‘green book’.
It’s full of information about early childhood development, and about services and support that are available to help you build a strong foundation for your child’s future.
It includes:
information on services that support families (including the
Maternal and Child Health Service
)
appointments to keep
your child’s growth and health record
your child’s immunisation record
birth details
information and a record of your child’s ten key ages and stages maternal and child health visits.
By keeping your ‘green book’ up to date, it will become an important record of your child’s development from birth to adolescence.
If you don’t have a ‘green book’, contact your local council early childhood and family services.
How to use the ‘green book’
The ‘green book’ is designed to keep your child’s health, learning and development records in one place. There is also space for photos and plastic sleeves for important documents.
Use it to:
find out about health, wellbeing, safety, learning and development
learn where you can get more information, services and support for you, your baby and your family
record growth and immunisations as well as valuable observations about your child’s health, learning and development
write down questions you want to discuss with the maternal and child health nurse or other health professionals
write down appointments, immunisations and notes about your baby’s health, wellbeing, safety, learning and development.
Take your ‘green book’ to all health appointments
Important information will be given to you by a range of medical professionals, so please remember to take the ‘green book’ with you when you go to:
the maternal and child health nurse
immunisation appointments
a local doctor, dentist or other health professional
a hospital or emergency department
a community health centre
an early childhood education and care setting (e.g. child care centre, family day care, kindergarten) or school.
Ten key ages and stages visits
Information will be added to your child’s ‘green book’ at each of these 10 key ages and stages maternal and child health service visits:
at birth
– this first visit is at your home, but the following visits are at a maternal and child health centre
two weeks
four weeks
eight weeks
four months
eight months
one year
18 months
two years
three and a half years
.
Where to get help
Your local maternal and child health
service
External Link
Your GP (doctor)
Maternal and Child Health Line
Tel:
13 22 29
– available 24 hours a day for the cost of a local call throughout Victoria
Aboriginal Health
Service (VAHS)
External Link
Tel.
03 9419 3000
Parentline
Tel.
13 22 89
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS
National)
External Link
Tel.
131 450
– available (24 hours, 7 days a week) for callers who speak other languages.
National Relay
Service
External Link
(24 hours a day, every day) – Speak and listen Tel:
1300 555 727
, TTY Tel:
133 677
, SMS relay Tel:
0423 677 767
.
Captioned, internet and video relay calls are also available through this
service
External Link
.