What is Brighter Beginnings?
The Northern NSW Local Health District Brighter Beginnings program includes free health and development checks for 4-year-old children in early childhood education and care services.
The Brighter Beginnings Health and Development Checks program will include:
Developmental screening (Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) 5 domains))
- physical health and wellbeing
- social competence
- emotional maturity
- language and cognitive skills (school-based)
- communication skills and general knowledge
Health screening, including:
- Oral Health - Lift the Lip
- Height and Weight – Healthy weight calculator for children and teenagers – Healthy Kids for Professionals (nsw.gov.au)
- Hearing screening - Hearing services – First five years (nsw.gov.au)
Who are we?
The Brighter Beginnings team of health care professionals help children and their families to access the supports they may need. The team consists of child and family nurses and allied health staff (speech pathologist, occupational therapists, social workers).
We offer free health and development checks to four-year-old children in their preschool or long day care centre. These checks are recommended by NSW Health and are set out in your child’s Blue Book.
What to expect from the checks?
The Brighter Beginnings team will check your child’s health and development, including:
- How their bodies are growing: heigh and weight, teeth and hearing
- Their listening and talking skills
- Their social skills and behaviour
- Their gross and fine motor skills
- Their learning, thinking and problem-solving skills.
No vaccinations are given.
Parents and carer’s are invited to attend either in person or via a telehealth link if you would prefer.
What do we need from you?
Your child’s preschool or long day care centre will:
- Let you know when the Brighter Beginnings team are coming
- Give you some information about the program
- Request you complete a consent form for your child to participate
- Request you complete a survey providing information about your child’s health and development and listing any concerns you may have?
What happens next?
After the Brighter Beginnings health and development check, a report detailing your child’s results will be completed and communicated with you and your early childhood education and care service.
If you would like further information?
Further information is available here:
NSW Health Website - Health and development checks in early childhood services - Programs (nsw.gov.au)
NSW Department of Education Website – The Brighter Beginnings Parent and Carer Information Hub