Meet Maddie, a Child and Family Health Nurse at MLHD

As a CFHN, Maddie completes health and development checks for children 0-5 years of age and administers their vaccines in accordance with the NSW Childhood Immunisation Schedule.

 

This role also involves working in partnership with families to provide support and information on a range of topics including feeding, sleep and settling, safety, emotional wellbeing and referral pathways.

 

Maddie has been working as a CFHN for 4 years and prior to this, worked as a Paediatric Nurse for 6 years.

 

“I have been fortunate to participate in the roll out of two new programs to the MLHD Child, Youth and Family Steam. In 2023 the 4-Year-old Health and Development check program in Early Childhood Education Centres commenced and this year the Sustaining NSW Families Program,” she said.

 

“I am lucky to be able to work across a diverse range of settings including the family’s home, early childhood education centres, NSW Health facilities and community outreach centres."

 

“Working across these settings delivering the various programs offered by the Child, Youth & Family Stream allows me to develop strong professional relationships with multidisciplinary team members and key community organisations.”

 

Among her professional goals, Maddie hopes to increase the proportion of children having their routine health and development checks completed, with almost half of all 4-year-olds currently not receiving their health and development checks.

 

“The driver for this is knowing that the earlier children receive support for developmental delay, the better the outcomes with 90% of brain growth occurring in the first 2000 days of life,” she said.

“Long term, I hope this improves the current statistic of two in five children starting school with a developmental delay.”

 

Maddie said that being a part of the Child and Family Health Service means she is surrounded by passionate and supportive team members.

 

“The Child, Youth and Family Stream provides ongoing professional development opportunities with career progression encouraged,” she said.

 

“The most rewarding part of my job is the relationships built with families whilst working together through the highs and lows of their parenting journey. I love the energy and fun that working with children every day brings to the role with no two days ever the same.”

 

Do you share this passion and want to join the MLHD team? 

 

We currently have job opportunities in our Child and Family Health Service. Explore what’s on offer.