Building Strong Foundations (BSF) for Aboriginal Children, Families and Communities services provide culturally safe child and family health services for Aboriginal children from birth to school age and their families.

Services are provided by teams of Aboriginal health workers and child and family health nurses. In some locations the team includes allied health workers for example, social workers and speech pathologists.

Parents and carers don't need a doctor's referral to attend a BSF service. Other services such as the Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service, maternity services, childcare centres, General Practitioners and Child Wellbeing Units can make a referral to a BSF service.

BSF services include:

• regular child health checks (using the Blue Book)
• health promotion and community activities
• appropriate referrals and support to access other services

BSF services provide information on:

• child development
• breastfeeding and nutrition
• immunisation
• settling and sleeping
• childhood safety
• parenting

BSF services across the state

Services are located in:

Map of BSF services

Training Support Unit for Aboriginal Mothers, Babies and Children

The Training Support Unit (TSU) provides professional development to AMIHS, BSF and other staff working collaboratively with these programs.

TSU education and training ensures staff have the knowledge and skills to provide sustainable, culturally appropriate maternity and child health care to Aboriginal families.

BSF Program Documents

• Building Strong Foundations Service Standards have been developed to guide the operations of BSF Services
• Development of the Building Strong Foundations for Aboriginal Children, Families and Communities Program Service Standards - Literature Review