Aboriginal Maternal, Infant and Child Health

Aboriginal Maternal Infant and Child Health (AMICH) provides care from conception to prior to school age children and families in a culturally safe and appropriate environment.

Breastfeeding information and support

Child & Family Health Nurses (CFHN) provide breastfeeding information and support from birth to 5 years in a variety of settings. We offer one on one breastfeeding information and support to families and run regular breastfeeding information sessions across the District.

Child and Family Allied Health Services

Child and Family Allied Health services provide for children and families requiring Psychology, Audiology, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Social Work. Services are provided in three locations throughout the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.

Child and Family Centres

Child and Family Health Nursing provides home visits, clinics, groups and support for families. The service undertakes all health checks in the child’s Personal Health Record (Blue Book).   

Child Protection Counselling Service (CPCS)

The Child Protection Counselling Service (CPCS) is a tertiary counselling services. We offer a free counselling and support service for children and their families where physical and/or emotional abuse and/or neglect has been identified by the Department of Human Services (Community Services) and/or the Joint Investigation Response Team (JIRT). To assist parents/carers to realise the impact of abuse and/or neglect and support their children, to help children or young people deal with the effects of experiencing abuse, neglect and complex trauma.

Diagnostic and Assessment Service

The Illawarra Shoalhaven Diagnostic and Assessment Service (ISDAS) assesses children if they are referred prior to school entry for significant concerns about delay in two or more developmental domains or suspected Autism spectrum disorder with significant developmental delay. Children must reside within the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. Referrals for this service can be made by paediatricians.

Family Care Centres

Family Care Centres provide specialised support free to families before and after your baby is born with feeding, helping baby to sleep (settling) and understanding sleep patterns, adjustment to parenthood, anxiety and depression before and after baby is born.  For a referral please contact your Child and Family nurse or call Intake on Phone 1300 792 755.

Neonatal Services

The Neonatal Unit Wollongong Hospital is a Level 4 unit that provides specialist care to neonates born 32 weeks or greater. The Special Care Nursery Shoalhaven Hospital is a Level 2 unit that provides care for neonates born at 37 weeks or over.

Parenting Groups

Parenting Groups are provided by a nurse and offers parents the chance to meet other parents and discuss parenting, and ask questions.

Out of Home Care (OOHC)

Children and young people in Out of Home Care (OOHC) often have high and unmet health needs. ISLHD provides coordinated health assessments and intervention for children and young people entering statutory OOHC who are expected to remain in care for longer than 90 days. The program also targets young people aged 15-17 years expected to leave care within the next year.

Paediatrics - Inpatient Services

There are 2 Paediatric Inpatient Units across the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District located in Wollongong and Shoalhaven Hospitals that provide staged level of care for children 0 to 16 years of age. The PAU provides an acute review clinic for children with acute illness referred by the Wollongong Hospital Emergency Department for review, treatment and access to specialist care.

Paediatrics - Outpatient Services

Paediatric Outpatients provide EEG testing for children in Wollongong Hospital as an outpatient.

Paediatric Medical Outpatients provide referred access to Staff Specialist Paediatricians in a clinic environment by appointment.

Sustaining NSW Families

Sustaining NSW Families is an integrated, high-intensity sustained health home visiting service that strengthens relationships between children, parents, and/or carers; builds parenting capacity; and enhances child development, wellbeing, and health in vulnerable families commencing antenatal .The program has been designed for families experiencing social and economic disadvantage, who are vulnerable and who have associated impacts on their mental health and wellbeing. Please talk to your midwife about a referral.