Free child health and development checks in South Australia: What families should know
When it comes to your child’s health and development, it’s natural to wonder whether they are meeting milestones, learning new skills at the right pace, and getting the best possible start in life.
If your child seems happy, active, and is generally doing well, it can be easy to assume everything is tracking as expected and that there is no need for a health and development check. But these appointments are not only for times when concerns arise.
Child health and development checks provide an opportunity to celebrate your child’s progress, ask questions, gain reassurance, and identify any areas where additional support may be helpful. They are an important part of supporting children to thrive during their early years.
Sonder is proud to partner with the Office for Early Childhood Development to offer free child health and development checks for families living in the Gawler / Adelaide Plains (Two Wells and Mallala), Barossa, and Yorke Peninsula regions.
In this article, we explain why child health and development checks are important, when they are recommended, what to expect at an appointment, and how families can access support.
Why are child health and development checks important?
The early years of life are a period of rapid growth and development. During this time, children develop important skills that support their learning, wellbeing, communication, relationships and overall health.
Regular health and development checks help families understand how their child is progressing and provide an opportunity to identify any concerns early, when support can have the greatest impact.
Importantly, these checks aren’t about finding problems. They are about understanding your child’s development and making sure they have access to any support they may need to thrive.
The latest Australian Early Development Census found that almost one in four South Australian children (24.5%) were developmentally vulnerable in one or more developmental areas known as domains when they started school, while 13.2% were developmentally vulnerable in two or more developmental domains.
These domains include:
- Physical health and wellbeing
- Social skills
- Emotional maturity
- Language and thinking skills
- Communication skills and general knowledge
Developmental vulnerability does not necessarily mean that something is wrong. However, it can highlight opportunities to provide support earlier to help children reach their full potential.
Early identification and access to support can make a meaningful difference to a child’s long-term health, learning and wellbeing.
When should children have child health and development checks?
Because children grow and change so quickly during the first 5 years of life, child health and development checks are recommended at several key stages of development.
Sonder recommends child health and development checks at the following stages:
- 6 – 9 months.
- 12 months.
- 18 – 24 months.
- 3 years.
- 4 – 5 years.
If your child has missed one of these recommended checks, there’s no need to worry. Children can be seen at any age if you have questions or concerns. It’s never too late to book a check.
For children younger than 6 months, families can contact the Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS) or their preferred healthcare provider.
What happens during a child health and development check?
One of the most common questions families ask is, “what happens during an appointment?”
At Sonder, checks are delivered by child health nurses with specialist skills in child health and development. Appointments take around one hour and provide a relaxed opportunity to discuss your child’s growth, development and wellbeing.
During the appointment, the nurse may discuss things like:
- Physical health and growth.
- Communication and language development.
- Learning, behaviour, and social-emotional development.
- Feeding and nutrition.
- Sleep and daily routines.
- Hearing and vision.
- Developmental milestones.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to ask questions and share any observations or concerns they may have.
Importantly, these appointments are not a test. Every child develops at their own pace, and the purpose of the check is to build a picture of your child’s overall development and identify any areas where additional support may be beneficial.
If further support is recommended, our nurses can help connect families with appropriate services and supports.
Where can families access free child health and development checks in South Australia?
Child health and development checks are available through a range of providers across South Australia. Visit earlychildhood.sa.gov.au/healthchecks to find a partner provider near you.
About Sonder’s child health and development checks
Sonder delivers free child health and development checks for families living in, or able to travel to the following regions:
- Barossa
- Gawler
- Adelaide Plains (including Two Wells and Mallala)
- Yorke Peninsula
Appointments are available at a range of community locations, as well as:
- Sonder Nuriootpa
- Gawler East Specialist Centre (formerly Springwood Family Medical Centre)
Families do not need to live within these regions to access the service and are welcome to attend appointments if they are able to travel to one of our clinic locations.
Home visits may also be available within selected service regions.
Why early developmental support matters
Many families delay arranging a child health and development check because their child appears to be developing well and they do not have any specific concerns.
However, these appointments can provide valuable reassurance and help families better understand what development may look like at different stages of early childhood.
Sometimes a check simply confirms that everything is progressing well. Other times, it can identify opportunities for additional support before small concerns become bigger challenges.
Either way, regular check-ins help ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time.
Book a free child health and development check
To book a free child health and development check with Sonder:
- Call (08) 8209 0700
- Email childhealthchecks@sonder.net.au
- Complete our online request form
This initiative is funded by the Office for Early Childhood Development as part of the Flying Start reforms.