Labor is making life easier for parents and helping children thrive by:
- offering a digital alternative to the green book
- investing in early intervention support for developmental delays and autism
New digital green book
After the birth of a baby, parents receive a free My Health, Learning and Development Record, commonly known as the 'green book'.
The other thing commonly known about the green book is that it's cumbersome, heavy and messy.
People have to lug it around with them everywhere.
We're providing a more practical option for families.
From today, families can access a new digital version of the green book through the Parent Portal on the Service Victoria app and website.
No more worrying about losing the book or remembering to bring it to appointments.
The information will be stored safely and securely on your phone.
The Parent Portal will be accessed by parents and carers of up to 80,000 new babies in Victoria each year.
Parents or carers can create a profile for their children, including key health and development information such as a growth tracker, digital birth certificate and birth registration.
The physical green book will still be available if you want it, and used alongside the digital version.
Additional features will be added to the online portal over time.
To access the Parent Portal, go to service.vic.gov.au or the Service Victoria app.
State-led support to thrive
Children aged eight and under - with low to moderate developmental delay or autism - deserve support to thrive.
That's why Thriving Kids launches in Victoria from October this year.
Thriving Kids will bring together Victoria's Maternal Child Health system and early childhood education system with new state-led support for children from birth to eight.
Two new development assessments will be available for every child: one before kinder, and one before school.
Trained clinicians and allied health professionals will identify development delays and connect families with support.
