Support for growing families

Northern Grampians Shire has welcomed an influx of babies, with the council’s maternal and child health services now supporting a record number of families.

From March 1 to May 27 – throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – the council’s MCH team has supported the parents of 31 new babies.

Service staff have administered 182 influenza vaccines through the children’s immunisation service.

Mayor Murray Emerson said to put that in perspective, in 2019 immunisation nurses provided influenza vaccines to about 30 children.

He said the shire’s maternal and child health service had robust processes and measures in place to help combat the spread of coronavirus and keep nurses, parents, carers and babies safe.

The team has adapted procedures to enable greater online and telephone communication between nurses and families, to keep new families connected.

Cr Emerson said groups, including new-parents groups, were using video link platforms to ‘retain the sense of connectedness and community spirit the maternal and child health service prides itself on’.

He said the service was an important branch of the council’s operations.

“Life during the pandemic has not been easy and for our residents who have expanded their family, it’s been even tougher,” he said.

“Our maternal and child health service team has done an incredible job keeping everyone safe, connected and healthy and council could not be happier with the work of our nurses and MCH staff.”