The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies program, which was boosted by $5.7 million in the Victoria Budget 2024/5, is a free service for women during pregnancy and up to six weeks postpartum.
The program is tailored to support women juggling factors such as poor mental health, language barriers or socioeconomic factors.
Premier Jacinta Allan spoke of the importance of the needed support.
“Every mum and bub deserves the best start to life, no matter where they live – that’s why we are making sure more women can access this really important service,” she said.
This includes an investment to support 500 pregnant women in regional Victoria to access the program, giving them the best chance to improve health outcomes for their babies.
Support offered to pregnant women through the program includes connecting them with community health services that deliver antenatal care, maternal and child health nursing services, psychological support, allied health programs, dental care, and birth education.
“We know that being a mum can be both rewarding and challenging, and for those mums who need some extra support, our Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies initiative can be life-changing,” Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said.
The program delivered across Victoria has already helped more than 6,800 women over the past five years.
For more information and to learn how to access the program, visit health.vic.gov.au/community-health/healthy-mothers-healthy-babies
• Alice O’Brien is a Media Communication and Design student at Monash University, and is currently completing an internship with The News.
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