Last updated on 07/12/2020

Asthma Australia is inviting parents and carers to join them for free online kids health information sessions.

The session will provide parents guidance on how to care for their sick child at home, covering common childhood illnesses and where they can access health care services after-hours.

The sessions are presented by Asthma Australia, sponsored by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN).

The sessions are available to parents and carers of children under five years old living in the NWMPHN catchment area (Melton, Wyndham, Hume).

The sessions will be offered in four languages (English, Arabic, Vietnamese and Punjabi) to meet the culturally diverse population, with approximately 44 per cent of residents born in a country other than Australia.

Asthma Australia CEO Michele Goldman said the sessions support new parents in identifying common illnesses – such as fever, rash, asthma, croup and ear infections – and what action to take.

“Many parents have found themselves in stressful situations where they aren’t sure how to respond or where to seek care for their child, particularly in afterhours periods,” Ms Goldman said.

“We hope these sessions will help mitigate these problems and reduce potentially preventable emergency department presentations.”

The Kids Health sessions were initially planned to run face-to -face, with five session taking place between September 2019 and February 2020 prior to COVID-19 restrictions.

Melbourne mother, Grace Nardella, participated in one of the online sessions in October and gained some additional knowledge about managing her daughter’s asthma and hay fever.

“My seven-year-old daughter suffers from hay fever at this time of year which can trigger her asthma,” she said.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the session and took away a lot useful, interesting and practical information about managing her allergies and asthma.”

To view and register for the Kids Health recorded sessions here.