Child Health Experts to Develop New Healthy Kids Check

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PDF printable version of Child Health Experts to Develop New Healthy Kids Check (PDF 23 KB)

30 September 2011

Leading Australian child health experts will help develop a new Healthy Kids Check for three-year-olds, the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, announced today.

The Government is bringing forward the Healthy Kids Check from four year olds to three year olds and for the first time, the check will cover a child’s social and emotional wellbeing.

A national expert group to be chaired by leading child health expert Professor Frank Oberklaid will advise the Government on the content of the check, how it should be carried out, and importantly what services are available.

”Nothing means more to us than the health and wellbeing of our children”, Mr Butler said.

“The existing Healthy Kids Check has been very successful in assessing physical development but we now want to see it cover social and emotional development as well.

“Australian and international research increasingly shows that you can identify young children with, or at risk of developmental challenges from as early as three years old.

“Extending the Healthy Kids Check to cover emotional and social wellbeing means we can pick up on the needs of these children earlier and provide the right support for them and their families.

“We know how important the first five years are for a child’s development and we want to see all children develop into healthy, happy and resilient adults.

“The new check will ensure we are better able to intervene early helping to support strong and resilient children and avoid behavioural or mental health issues that can persist for the rest of a child’s life.”

Professor Oberklaid is recognised as an expert in the area of child health with particular interests in early childhood development, prevention and early detection/early intervention.

He will be joined by deputy chair Dr Elisabeth Murphy and other members including:

Ms Pam Cahir; Professor Stewart Einfeld; Dr Michael Fasher; Associate Professor Sue Kruske; Professor Lyn Littlefield; Dr Elspeth McInnes; Professor Helen Milroy; Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett; Dr Jan Pratt; and a representative from state and territory governments.

Together, the group will also map the nation’s child mental health services ensuring that health professionals and families have a better understanding of what services are available.

The Gillard Labor Government has allocated $11 million over five years to introduce the universal voluntary health check for three-year olds. The new check will be implemented from 2012-13

For more information, please contact the Minister's Office on (02) 6277 7280