On this page
- Who we are
- What we do
- How to get help
- Your child's growth and development
- A.B.C. Connect with me education resources
- Your child's immunisations
- Locations
- Social media
Who we are
We are Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District (LHD). We want to help parents and carers raise healthy and happy children. That’s why we have 26 Child and Family Health Centres in the community that are run by registered nurses.
We also manage Binji and Boori Aboriginal Maternal Infant Child Health for people who identify as Aboriginal. There are two locations to help you: Port Kembla Hospital in Warrawong and Nowra.
What we do
Children grow up healthy when parents and carers get the support they need. Nurses are available to support you and your family at Child and Family Health Centres. Services are free and include:
- child developmental checks as set out in the Blue Book (your child’s My Personal Health Record) for all children up to age 5
- health advice and support from a nurse
- local parent groups
Our nurses also provide you with support and information about:
- feeding your baby
- infant and child nutrition
- emotional health and wellbeing
- parenting challenges
Find more information on:
- how to join a local parent group
- breastfeeding and infant feeding
- Parenting information sessions for promoting growth and development, infant sleep and starting family foods
How to get help
Getting help at one of our centres is free.
Find your nearest Child and Family Health Centre and call them.
A healthcare worker will speak to you about you and your child's needs.
Due to COVID-19, you may receive services and support:
- over the phone
- by video conferencing (telehealth)
- or in person at a health centre
Your child's growth and development
Building young brains and bodies takes work. From birth to age five, how your child plays, learns, speaks and moves are important clues about how they are growing.
Did you know, for example, that at 18 months old, your child may be able to:
- Point to show you something interesting
- Tries to say three or more words besides "muma" or "dada"
- Tries to use a spoon
- Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car
We call being able to do all the things in the checklist, "reaching developmental milestones".
This health check is free at Child and Family Centres. It is to make sure your child’s brain and body is healthy.
To give your child the best start in life, your child should get all the important health and development checks at:
- 1 to 4 weeks old
- 6 to 8 weeks old
- 6 months old
- 12 months old
- 18 months old
- 2 years old
- 3 years old
- 4 years old
The checks can be done at a Child and Family Centre by a family health nurse. It is a free service.
A.B.C. Connect with me: help your child thrive from pregnancy to five
The time from pregnancy until your child starts school has a life-long effect. ABC Connect with me: helping your child thrive from pregnancy to five is a group of resources, including educational videos created with local Illawarra Shoalhaven local families and businesses, designed to help your child thrive from pregnancy to five years old. Click here to learn more.
Your child's immunisations
Vaccinating your child on time is the best way to protect them from serious illness and diseases, such as meningococcal, diphtheria, measles and polio.
To help protect your child, we recommend your child gets immunised at:
- Birth
- 6 weeks
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 12 months
- 18 months
- 4 years
The immunisation schedule is carefully planned to help defend babies and kids from diseases as soon as it is possible. That is why the type of vaccine your child receives depends on their age.
Vaccines can be given by:
- general practitioners (GPs)
- Aboriginal Medical Services
- some local councils
- some community health centres
You can find your nearest GP on the Healthdirect website.
Related links
More information about types of vaccines on the NSW Immunisation Schedule
- Printable version of NSW Immunisation Schedule
- Key facts about immunisation
- How do I know vaccines are safe?
- Why is the schedule the way it is?
Locations
Find your nearest Child and Family Health Centre:
Albion Park
Albion Park Child and Family Centre
Address: 119 Tongarra Road, ALBION PARK NSW 2527
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: Tongarra Rd opposite Halket Lane – 1 min walk
- Car: 25 minute drive south west of Wollongong
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Berkeley
Berkeley Child and Family Centre
Address: 30 Winnima Way BERKELEY NSW 2506
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: Winnima Way Berkeley after Denniss Street – 1 min walk
- Car: 15 minute drive south of Wollongong
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Corrimal
Corrimal Child and Family Centre
Address: Corrimal Community Centre, 4 Short Street, CORRIMAL NSW 2518
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is Princes Hwy, Corrimal then a 3 minute walk
- Car: 15 minute drive north of Wollongong
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Dapto
Dapto Health One
Address: 4 Marshall Street, DAPTO NSW 2530
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is Princes Hwy, Dapto then a 1 minute walk
- Car: 17 minute drive south of Wollongong
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Figtree Park
Figtree Park Child and Family Health Centre
Address: 9 Princes Highway, FIGTREE NSW 2525
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is Princes Hwy, Figtree then a 2 min walk
- Car: 9 minute drive south of Wollongong
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Flinders
Flinders Child and Family Health Centre
Address: 12-18 Adam Murray Way, FLINDERS NSW 2529
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is Munmorah Circuit opposite Jindabyne Road then a 3 minute walk
- Car: 20 minute drive south of Wollongong
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Gerringong
Gerringong Child and Family Health Centre
Address: Gerringong Library, 8 Blackwood Street, GERRINGONG NSW 2534
Phone:
Opening hours: Clinic limited hours by appointment only
Please call to make an appointment
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop at Gerringong Town Hall then a 3 minute walk
- Car: 25 minute drive south of Wollongong
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Helensburgh
Helensburgh Child and Family Health Centre
Address: 26B Walker Street, HELENSBURGH NSW 250
Phone:
Opening hours: Tuesday - Wednesday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is Walker Street before Whitty Road then a 1 minute walk
- Car: 32 minute drive north of Wollongong (via M1)
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Kiama
Kiama Child and Family Health Centre
Address: Kiama Community Health Centre, 14B Bonaira Street, KIAMA NSW 25337
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is out front of facility
- Car: 15 minute drive south of Shellharbour
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
North Wollongong
North Wollongong Child and Family Health Centre
Address: 42A Porter Street, NORTH WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is Porter Street then a 1 minute walk
- Train station: North Wollongong then a 5 minute walk
- Car: 5 minute drive north of Wollongong
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Nowra
Nowra Community Health Centre
Address: 5-7 Lawrence Avenue, NOWRA NSW 2541
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is Nowra Bus Terminal then a 3 minute walk
- Car: 55 minute drive south of Wollongong
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
St Georges Basin
St Georges Basin Community Health Centre
Address: 21 Meriton Street, ST GEORGES BASIN NSW 2540
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is St Georges Basin shops then a 10 minute walk
- Car: 5 minute drive west of Sanctuary Point
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Sussex Inlet
Sussex Inlet Community Health Centre
Address: Sussex Inlet Community Health Centre, Corner Jacobs Drive and Neilsons Road, SUSSEX INLET NSW 2540
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is River Road at Jacobs Drive then a 3 minute walk
- Car: 20 minute drive south of St Georges Basin
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Ulladulla
Ulladulla Health One
Address: Corner South Street and Princes Highway, ULLADULLA NSW 2539
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is Princes Highway after Wasson Street then a 2 minute walk
- Car: 50 minutes south of Nowra
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Warilla - Kids Cottage
Kids Cottage Warilla
Address: 1/10 Belfast Avenue, WARILLA 2528
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 4.30pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: Bus stop close to Kids Cottage. Please refer to local bus timetables for available routes
- Car: 5 minute drive east of Shellharbour
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Woonona
Woonona Child and Family Centre
Address: 7 Ball Street, WOONONA NSW 2517
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
- Public transit: closest bus stop is Princes Highway before Hillcrest Ave then 1 minute walk through park
- Car: 17 minute drive north of Wollongong
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Wreck Bay
Wreck Bay Centre
Address: 7 Top Street, WRECK BAY NSW 2540
Phone:
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
How to get there:
Car: 6 minute drive south of Jervis Bay Village
Car parking: Yes
Disabled and pram access: Yes
Social media
Find information, events and updates on our social media: