The Healthy Kids Check in South Morang

What is the Healthy Kids Check?

The Healthy Kids Check is a Medicare health assessment for children aged 3. Your GP looks at your child's growth, development, social and emotional wellbeing and general health, and then you agree together on whether any advice, extra help or referral is needed. The aim is to pick up concerns early, giving plenty of time before school.

Medicare began funding the check again on 1 November 2026, through the Australian Government's Thriving Kids program.

Who can have a Healthy Kids Check?

Children who are eligible for Medicare and aged 3, which runs from the third birthday to the end of the day before the fourth. Medicare funds one check for each child.

• Your child can still have it if they've had a health check at kinder, provided they haven't had the Medicare Healthy Kids Check before.
• If your child is younger than 3 or already 4, a standard appointment is still available to talk about health and development. It won't be counted as the Healthy Kids Check.
• The check doesn't stop your child having other Medicare health assessments, such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessment.

Where possible, Medicare would like the check done by your child's usual GP or practice. Unsure whether your child qualifies? Ring reception on (03) 9436 0966.

What does the Healthy Kids Check cover?

Medicare lists what the check needs to include. Your GP covers:

• Health history: earlier illnesses, time in hospital, medicines, allergies and immunisations
• Development and behaviour: progress against the milestones expected at 3, and how your child is feeling
• Family and care: the people at home, care arrangements, and kinder or child care
• Daily routines: food, activity, screen time and sleep
• Toileting: bladder control and bowel habits
• A physical examination: including vision, hearing, and teeth and gums
• Growth: height and weight, plotted on growth charts

To finish, your GP gives you advice on supporting your child's health and development, arranges any referrals and offers you a written report with their recommendations.

What happens at the appointment?

1. Book with a GP. Book online or ring reception, and tell us it's for the Healthy Kids Check so the right appointment is booked.
2. Choose your doctor. If your family already has a GP here, book with them. See our GPs below.
3. The check. Your GP talks with you, examines your child and goes through each part Medicare lists.
4. Advice and next steps. Your GP explains the findings, arranges any referrals or follow-up and offers you a written report.

The appointment focuses on your child. If you have a question about another family member, your GP may suggest booking them their own appointment.

We're open 7 days, so you can choose a weekend or a weekday that suits your family. How long to allow: [To be confirmed: Healthy Kids Check appointment length at Lakes Boulevard, and whether a practice nurse helps].

What should I bring?

• Your Medicare card with your child listed
• Your child's green book (health and development record), if you have it
• A list of any medicines your child takes
• Reports or letters from other health professionals who have seen your child
• Your questions about growth, food, sleep, toileting, speech, play or behaviour
• A book or toy to keep your child occupied

What happens after the check?

If something needs following up, your GP might suggest:

• Ways to support your child at home, with a time to review how it's going
• A referral to a dentist, an optometrist or a hearing service (an audiologist from Active Audiology works from our building: see allied health)
• A referral to a paediatrician
• A connection to Thriving Kids supports or your local maternal and child health service

As the check is a one-off, follow-up visits are standard GP appointments.

Does the Healthy Kids Check count for Healthy Start for School?

Yes. Services Australia accepts the Medicare Healthy Kids Check for the Healthy Start for School requirements of Family Tax Benefit Part A. These requirements apply when your child is turning 4 and you or your partner get both Family Tax Benefit Part A and an income support payment. Services Australia will write to you if this applies to your family.

Let Services Australia know about the check before your child's fifth birthday, usually through your Centrelink online account. In Victoria, the maternal and child health nurse's 3 and a half year check also counts.

What about my child's immunisations?

Your GP reviews your child's immunisations as part of the health history. On the National Immunisation Program schedule, the next vaccines are due at 4 years.

If any vaccines are due, mention it when you book so the appointment can be planned. The whole schedule is in our children's health guide.

Is the Healthy Kids Check bulk billed?

Bulk billed for Medicare-eligible patients. Some procedures have an out-of-pocket fee. Without a valid Medicare card, the full fee applies.

Under Medicare's rules, a separate consultation shouldn't happen at the same visit unless it's clinically necessary. Follow-up visits are standard GP appointments.

How bulk billing works here →