Children's Health in Australia: What New Parents Should Know

Bringing your children to Australia with the family is a big decision — and caring for their health in a new environment is part of that responsibility. The Australian health system has good support for children, but you need to know how to access it correctly to make the most of it.

Registering your child with a GP

The first step is to find a GP for the whole family, including your child. Many GPs see both adults and children — but some parents prefer to find a GP with paediatric experience, or to find a paediatrician for a child with more complex health problems.

If your child has a chronic condition that was already being treated in your home country (asthma, diabetes, a congenital heart condition), bring full medical records and book a GP appointment soon after arrival. The GP may need time to understand the condition and continue appropriate treatment.

The national immunisation program

Australia has a National Immunisation Program (NIP) that provides many vaccines free of charge for children by age.

The immunisation schedule in Australia differs from other countries — some vaccines are given at different ages, and there are some vaccines in the Australian program that are not in other programs (and vice versa). There is no need to worry too much — the GP will review your child’s immunisation records and advise on what is still needed under the Australian schedule.

Important: Bring your child’s immunisation record (in the original language or a translation) when you see the GP. If you do not have it, the doctor may arrange an antibody check (a serology test) to find out which diseases your child is already immune to.

Immunisation is not required by law in Australia — but it is linked to some policies, such as childcare subsidies. Ask the GP to understand the impact on your family.

Health and development checks for young children

In Australia, the states have health and development check programs for young children, usually through Child and Family Health nurses or a GP. These checks monitor:

• Weight and height for age
• Developmental milestones (language, movement, social)
• Hearing and vision
• General health

Ask your GP about the development check program in the state where you live — this is a free and useful service, especially for children under 5.

When a child is sick — ED or GP?

Call 000 straight away when a child has these signs:

• Severe difficulty breathing or not breathing
• Loss of consciousness, unresponsive
• A prolonged seizure or a first-time seizure
• Pale, grey or blue skin (especially around the lips)
• A severe allergic reaction

Go to a hospital ED when:

• A newborn (under 3 months) has a fever — the younger the child, the lower the threshold for going to the ED
• The child is unusually irritable and hard to comfort for a long time
• A rash with a high fever in a young child
• The child has not been able to drink fluids for several hours (risk of dehydration)
• A head, neck or spinal injury

Book a GP appointment when:

• Common colds, coughs, runny noses
• A mild fever in an older child past the newborn stage
• Earache, a mild sore throat
• Diarrhoea or vomiting where the child can still drink fluids
• Any problem that needs monitoring but is not urgent

Call 13 7425 (Healthdirect) when you’re not sure:

A nurse will assess and advise what you should do. This line is especially useful at night when GPs are closed.

Children’s mental health

Adapting to a new environment, a new school and a new language is also a strain on children. Some signs to watch for:

• The child becomes withdrawn, refuses to go to school, or has prolonged trouble sleeping
• A clear change in behaviour (more aggressive, withdrawn, frequently crying)
• An unexplained drop in school performance
• The child talks about sadness, not wanting to go to school, or not wanting to be here

The GP is the first point of contact. Australia also has Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) — a 24/7 support line for children and young people aged 5 to 25, available by text or phone.

Dental care for children

Routine dental care is not covered by Medicare. However, some states have a free school dental program for children in certain age ranges — ask the school or a local GP. If you have private insurance with Extras cover that includes dental, use it for your child when needed.

The raisingchildren.net.au website (Australian Government) has a lot of information on children’s health and development — and some content is available in community languages.