Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh welcomes the NSW Government’s expansion of nurse home visits to our region to reach more families in need.
Mr Singh said he was pleased the Mid North Coast Local Health District, which includes Coffs Harbour, is among eight new locations where the Sustaining NSW Families Program will now be available.
“The expansion of this program means more vulnerable families with young children across the State will be able to receive free support at home, a welcome move indeed,” said Mr Singh, the Shadow Minister for Tourism, Emergency Services and the North Coast.
“All children should have the best start in life. The first 2000 days of life are considered a critical time for physical, cognitive, social and emotional health.
“It is anticipated the expansion of the nurse home visiting program will improve pregnancy and early childhood health and development outcomes in those critical first 2000 days for more families in need in NSW.”
Mr Singh said each Sustaining NSW Families team has a nurse coordinator and child and family health nurses, supported by a social worker and allied health professionals.
Clinicians work with other service providers, including general practitioners and maternity care providers.
Under the program, specially trained child and family health nurses work with families to provide regular assessments, tailored programs and referrals to other support services they may need during the early years of childhood.
Families who need extra help in the first two years of their child’s life will have greater access to home visits from these nurses.