More than 3500 families across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens have benefitted from an innovative text message program providing tailored health information and support to parents on their child’s development milestones.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the Healthy Beginnings for HNEKids program, which began in 2021, delivers important health advice and support to parents if they need extra assistance to improve their child’s physical, social, and emotional health outcomes.

Mr Park said parents can receive regular text messages with parenting advice during their child’s first 2000 days (birth to five years), in addition to the usual care provided by child and family health nurses.

“The Healthy Beginnings for HNEKids program is one of a number of initiatives the NSW Government is investing in to empower young families by providing them the right information, at the right time, to help them give their child the best start to life,” Mr Park said.

“The Healthy Beginnings program compliments the existing Munch and Move program, a state-wide initiative since 2010 that promotes physical activity, healthy eating behaviours and reduced small screen time in children attending NSW early childhood centres.

“Receiving consistent advice from various sources gives parents with the tools and information they need to improve health outcomes for their children based on advice from trained health professionals.

“The information is based on the best evidence to help parents make important decisions for their child.”

Hunter New England Local Health District’s Executive Director for Children, Young People and Families, Dr Paul Craven said the text messages offer health and wellbeing information linked to the specific age and stage of a child.

This includes information about feeding, sleeping, child development, carer wellbeing, health checks and immunisation; along with links to further materials such as support services, fact sheets, websites and videos.

“The service has reached thousands of families, with more than 90 per cent of them still receiving text messages,” Dr Craven said.

“More than 70 per cent of families reply to messages, enabling the content to be individually tailored and more than 150 families are receiving the service for the second time with their next baby.”

Parent Lindsey Mulville accessed the program 16 months ago following the birth of her first baby Winter, and said the information is worded in a kind and supportive way, giving her options from which to base her own decisions.

“Being a new mum is stressful at the best of times, however the information always comes across as informative and objective,” Ms Mulville said.

“It includes advice you often didn’t know you needed until you received it, and advice that you can trust because it’s backed by doctors and midwives – and I’d recommend it to anyone.”

Healthy Beginnings for HNEKids is supported by Glencore Coal as part of its Community Investment Program.

Craig Strudwick, Glencore’s Social Performance Manger said Glencore is proud to have invested $450,000 in this initiative to date.

“We value the opportunity to contribute to programs that encourage healthy lifestyles and better health care,’ Mr Strudwick said.

The Healthy Beginnings program will be expanded to families across the entire Hunter New England Local Health District in 2024.