Virtual Child Health Service helping kids thrive in country WA
All families across country WA can now access the WA Country Health Service Child Health Service from the comfort of their own homes.
This Virtual Care Awareness Week (27 – 31 October) WA Country Health Service celebrates the stories and advances in innovation that are delivering, and improving, high-quality care to country communities.
The innovative Healthy Country Kids service - delivered by the virtual child health nurse team - uses innovative telehealth technology to bring expert child health checks directly into households via phone, tablet or computer.
The service is available to all families with children aged one to three years, and offers the 12 months and two years Purple Book checks without the need to travel.
During the virtual appointment, a child health nurse will assess the key areas of healthy development such as social and personal interactions, teeth, vision, hearing, language and motor skills.
Parents are also given the opportunity to discuss their own health and wellbeing and access to resources that may support the whole family.
The service has proven especially valuable for families in remote areas, removing travel costs, avoiding appointment cancellations due to illness and allowing other family members, including Fly in Fly Out (FIFO) parents, to join from anywhere. Interpreter services can also be connected to video calls when needed.
One parent shared that the appointment she had with her child was lovely and made her child feel comfortable.
“I imagine it can be hard to engage a child at all times virtually, but I found the experience to be enjoyable and stress free.”
Another reflected saying, “I really appreciated the convenience of being able to do it from home rather than having to coordinate the appointment and travel to our local hospital.”
After two years of piloting, the service is now fully accessible to all families across country WA.
Executive Director Clinical Excellence Dr Helen Van Gessel said the expansion marks an impressive milestone for families accessing early childhood health services.
“Country WA is unique, with communities spread across vast distances. Through innovative telehealth technology, our child health teams can reach more families through virtual care options,” she said.
“A child’s early experiences play an important role in their health and wellbeing. Our virtual child health teams are here to support families to make sure every child gets the best possible start.”
The Virtual Child Health Service offers a number of online groups to provide education, information and peer support opportunities to country WA parents and carers of children from 0-4 years. Visit: TryBooking Australia
Parents can learn more about the Virtual Child Health Service by visiting: WA Country Health Service - Child health