Child and family health in Murrumbidgee

All parents of children born in NSW receive a free copy of My Personal Health Record (the Blue Book). The Blue Book has important information about a child’s health and development. 

Learn The Signs - Act Early is a tool in your child’s Blue Book that parents are encouraged to use to learn about their child’s growth and physical development.

The StEPS program is an initiative of NSW Health and offers all 4 years old children free vision screening.

StEPS vision screening in preschools, childcare centres and Child and Family Health Clinics.

Brighter Beginnings is a free 4 year check in preschool and long day care services.

Health and development checks are very important. 

They help you track how your child is growing and developing by looking at how they play, learn, speak, act and move. 

Your child can also get their check at your doctor or local child and family health service.

Starting in 2024 in MLHD area

Sustaining NSW Families is a sustained health home visiting service that aims to strengthen relationships between children, parents, and/or carers; build parenting capacity; and enhance child development, wellbeing, and health.

This program is led by specially trained Child and Family Health nurses and is offered free to eligible families, ideally starting during pregnancy, and continuing until the child's second birthday.

For community services call the Community Care Intake Service on 1800 654 324. Community services include:

• child and family health
• speech pathology
• physiotherapy
• occupational therapy
• diabetes educators
• dietitian
• audiology
• community nursing
• palliative care.

We understand that taking your child to hospital can be quite stressful for yourself and the child but remaining calm will help keep them calm too.

We will take good care of your child during their time with us.

Paediatric Clinical Nurse Consultant

For children needing help with complex needs returning home from Sydney Children’s hospitals, The Canberra Hospital or Victorian hospitals contact the Paediatric Clinical Nurse Consultant during business hours on (02) 5908 4119 or 0427 462 979.

The Paediatric and Adolescent Unit (PAU) is located at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. It provides medical and surgical care for infants, children and adolescents from birth to 16 or 17 years, if still at school.

The Unit has 21 beds.

This includes:

• general medical and surgical beds
• paediatric and adolescent short stay unit (6 beds)
• single and isolation rooms (5 beds) with one being a negative pressure room
• pull-down beds and pull-out chair beds for parents to stay at their child's bedside
• playroom and outdoor area for recreational and educational needs of children during their stay staffed by a qualified play specialist
• access to Ronald McDonald Family Room for parents and caregivers. 

The PAU is locked at all times.

A video intercom is located at the front door. Please be patient as the staff may be busy and will open the door as soon as possible.

Children requiring specialist paediatric services including intensive care may be transferred to a specialist children's hospital such as Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick or Children's Hospital Westmead.

Visiting hours

• The Paediatric and Adolescent Unit has no restriction on visiting times for parents and a parent or carer is encouraged to stay with their child.
• Other visitors are permitted between 11am – 1pm and then 3pm – 8pm at the discretion of family and nursing staff.
• Visiting times for parents is open, however we cannot accommodate siblings overnight.
• Visitors under the age of 18 years must be in the company of a responsible adult.

Visiting families should be aware that other children and their families are on the Unit. We ask that you keep noise levels and visitors to a minimum.

Having an operation

Children can be uncertain and scared about coming to hospital for an operation. To help reduce their concerns and those of parents we provide pre-admission clinics. Please contact the Nursing Unit Manager for more information.

Ronald McDonald House

Parents and siblings can be accommodated at Ronald McDonald House. It is located at 300 Edward St, Wagga Wagga. Phone: (02) 6925 0122

Paediatric Outreach Service

The Paediatric Outreach Service is offered as an alternative to continued hospitalisation of your child or as an alternative to your child being admitted to the Paediatric Unit.

The role of the Paediatric Outreach Nurse is to give the option of a ‘hospital in the home’ service by offering an early discharge. Babies or children with chronic or long term illness can have regular monitoring, nursing treatment and support in their home preventing hospital admission.

When appropriate, treatment, medical review or a nursing procedure may be attended in the Paediatric and Adolescent Unit setting on an outpatient basis.

The Paediatric Unit is located at Griffith Base Hospital. It provides medical and surgical care for infants, children and adolescents from birth to 16 or 18 years, if still at school.

The Paediatric Unit has 10 beds.

This includes:

• general medical and surgical beds
• single and isolation rooms (3 beds)
• pull-out beds for a parent to stay at their child's bedside
• overnight accommodation for families from out of town
• playroom for recreational and educational needs of children during their stay.

The Children's Ward is locked between 8pm and 6am.

An intercom is located at the front door. Please be patient as the staff may be busy and will open the door as soon as possible.

Children requiring specialist paediatric services including intensive care may be transferred to a specialist children's hospital such as Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick or Children's Hospital Westmead.

Visiting hours

• Children's Ward has no restriction on visiting times for parents.
• A parent or carer is encouraged to stay with their child.
• Other visitors are permitted between 10am – 12pm (midday) and then 2pm – 8pm at the approval of family and nursing staff.
• Visiting times for parents is open, however we cannot accommodate siblings overnight in the unit.
• Visitors under the age of 16 must be in the company of a responsible adult.

Visiting families should be aware that other children and their families are on the Unit. We ask that you keep noise levels and visitors to a minimum.

The Kids’ Team is a regional allied health team that provide a coordinated rehabilitation service for children and adolescents who have sustained an acquired brain injury. Our aim is to ensure that young people with brain injury and their families have access to information and resources to facilitate recovery and return to day-to-day life.

For more information refer to our Rehabilitation services page.

Community Care Intake Service

Assistance with information regarding your nearest and most appropriate service and to make appointments: 1800 654 324

Paediatric Clinical Nurse Consultant

Phone: (02) 5908 4119

Mobile: 0427 462 979

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital

Direct emergency admissions, medical, surgical and ear nose and throat services.

260- 280 Edward Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650

Paediatric / Children's Ward.

Phone: (02) 5943 1000

24 hour Paediatric medical and nursing staff.

Griffith Base Hospital

Direct emergency admissions, medical, surgical and ear nose and throat services.

1 Noorebar Avenue, Griffith, NSW

Paediatric / Children's Ward.

Phone: (02) 6969 5555

24 hour paediatric medical and nursing staff.