Supporting children’s early development and learning helps build their brains and bodies, creating health and wellbeing now and into the future. Unfortunately, not all children and families receive the support they need for positive child health and development. The effects of adversity on children are evident by the time they start school, and are enduring.
‘right@home’ is a randomised controlled trial of the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Nurse Home Visiting (MECSH) program, which was designed to promote equity in family wellbeing and children’s learning and development. MECSH offers 25 home visits with the same specially trained Child and Family Health Nurse from pregnancy until the child turns two years old, and at least one visit with a social care practitioner to ensure comprehensive support. By offering high quality support in families’ home and on a regular basis, the program supports parents to develop their parenting confidence and skills. Nurses are specially trained and supported to work with parents and carers experiencing a broad range of factors that are commonly related to adversity. This evidence-informed training and support sets the right@home initiative apart from most other nurse home visiting programs delivered in Australia.
