Child Health

The early years of a child’s life provide the foundation for future health, development and wellbeing. A positive start in life helps children to reach their full potential, while a poor start increases the chances of adverse outcomes.

After the birth of your child, you’ll be given a Child Health Record booklet. This is a way of keeping track of your child’s progress. Wherever you are and whatever happens to your child, you’ll have a record of their health and progress which can be shared with health professionals. The book is sometimes called the “purple book” but it will be a different colour and have a different name in different states.

When you visit a clinic, your doctor or a hospital, your baby’s healthcare professional will use the book to record your child’s weight and other measurements, vaccinations and other important health information.

Most childhood immunisations are provided free of charge through the national immunisation program.