Need to talk? Call 1800 882 436.
It's a free call with a maternal child health nurse. *call charges may apply from your mobile

Is it an emergency? Dial 000
If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately.

beginning of content

Keeping kids strong and healthy

4-minute read

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families provide love and care for their children with safe and secure, culturally strong traditions. You want to keep your baby strong and help them grow into a healthy child.

Good food, water to drink and plenty of exercise are all important for children. So is getting check-ups — these can help them avoid hearing loss, troubles with eyesight, trouble with teeth, skin problems and developing common adult diseases like diabetes.

Eyes

A baby’s eyes should be clear, not cloudy. As their sight develops, they will be able to see beyond the faces closest to them and will be able to recognise people moving around them. Babies will start to try and reach for things further away. If they can’t see properly, it can slow their development.

Eye infections are common and easy to treat. Have your baby’s eyes checked regularly, especially for trachoma. Trachoma is infectious, and if it is not treated with antibiotics, can lead to damage of the eyes and eyelids.

Ears

Ear infections are common, especially before children start school. The most common of these is a middle ear infection, or 'otitis media'.

You should get your baby checked if they:

  • have liquid coming out of their ears
  • have had a cold
  • don't seem to hear sounds around them
  • are pulling at their ears
  • have pain or fever

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services can prescribe treatments and advise you how to prevent ear infections. The symptoms are not always obvious. Even a child who finds it hard to adjust to play groups and preschool should have their ears checked, in case they have an ear infection.

You can help prevent ear infections by not letting people smoke near children, by keeping children’s ears and faces clean, and by getting check-ups. Keeping an eye on their hearing can help avoid long-term infections, which can make it harder for children to learn to talk.

Teeth

Healthy teeth are important. It’s all part of preventing disease later in life.

You should give your child good food and plenty of water to drink. Avoid sugary drinks like juice and soft drinks. Clean baby teeth as soon as they appear. By the time your toddler is 18 months old, you should be using a toothbrush with toothpaste regularly.

Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services also have dental clinics.

Skin

Skin conditions can be caused by unsafe water supplies or not being able to maintain a clean environment for the baby. Health services and parenting classes can provide advice on treatment and hygiene.

Food and drink

Good nutrition depends on knowing which foods are healthy, being able to get them, and knowing how to store and prepare healthy meals.

Healthy foods include:

You can talk to doctors, nurses and health services about a healthy diet. Local support services may also be able to provide tips on how to cook healthy low-cost meals, how to shop on a tight budget and how to store food and keep meal preparation areas clean.

Help and support

Finding and accessing the right sort of help isn't always easy.

Make sure your child has regular health checks at the local health service. This will help to avoid confusion and unnecessary delays.

You can also find an Aboriginal controlled community health organisation in your state or territory:

At your local community health service, you can ask for a child and maternal health nurse or ask at the local hospital if they have an Indigenous health liaison service.

You should check with the local health service what free or subsidised services are available — for some, you can ask directly, for others, you need a referral from the local health clinic or hospital. To find out more, contact a social worker at Centrelink.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: August 2019


Back To Top

Need more information?

Indigenous families

If you are part of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family, there are programs available to you where you can get help and support for your child.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

We are strong and proud! Strengths for us and our mob

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander = strong and proud! As Indigenous people we can heal the effects of the past. We can heal some of the past trauma that we’ve experienced and get through the tough times we face now. We can use our culture to help us heal.

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

Aboriginal parents nutrition video | Raising Children Network

A video with an Indigenous dad talking about eating well and teaching his children about healthy food. He sets a good example and the kids help to shop for food and cook meals.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Parenting - WellMob

Growing up our bubs and kids under good parenting helps keep all our mob strong. Whether you are a mum, dad, grandparent or carer, parenting and family support can help us bring up our children so they develop into deadly young people.

Read more on WellMob website

Eye Health - Health Topics - Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children often have better eyesight than non-Indigenous children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are three times more likely to experience vision loss or blindness than non-Indigenous adults. Uncorrected refractive error, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy are the main causes of vision loss and blindness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Around 90% of vision loss and blindness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is preventable or treatable, and there are positive signs that eye health initiatives are closing the vision gap.

Read more on Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet website

Children & young people - Healing - Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Children & young people ‘Around the world, Indigenous peoples have experienced colonisation, cultural oppression, forced assimilation, and absorption into a global economy with little regard for their autonomy or wellbeing

Read more on Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet website

Indigenous Parents and Carers: How might trauma, loss and grief affect your bub?

This article contains the following sections: What is trauma? What is loss and grief? How might this affect your children? How can you tell? What can you do? Who can you contact?

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

Immunisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Information on vaccines you need to keep you and your family safe from diseases.

Read more on Department of Health and Aged Care website

Otitis media in children - MyDr.com.au

Otitis media (middle ear infection) is a common childhood illness causing earache and fever. It usually gets better quickly with pain relievers but sometimes antibiotics are needed.

Read more on myDr website

Enrolling in Medicare - Medicare - Services Australia

Find out how to enrol in Medicare.

Read more on Medicare website

Call us and speak to a Maternal Child Health Nurse for personal advice and guidance.

Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.

This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.

The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, this publication or any part of it may not be reproduced, altered, adapted, stored and/or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Healthdirect Australia.