Children’s Health & Immunisations
At Friendship Square Medical, we provide friendly, practical and family-focused care for babies, children and teenagers.
We understand that looking after a child’s health can sometimes feel stressful, especially when they are unwell or when you are unsure whether something is normal. Our GPs aim to provide clear advice, careful assessment and reassurance, while helping children feel as comfortable as possible during their visit.
We can assist with both everyday childhood illnesses and longer-term health concerns, as well as routine childhood immunisations.
How we can help
Our children’s health services include:
Newborn and baby checks
Childhood growth and development concerns
Feeding, sleep and settling concerns
Fever, coughs, colds and respiratory symptoms
Ear infections, sore throats and tonsillitis
Asthma, wheeze and allergy concerns
Eczema, rashes and skin conditions
Abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting and diarrhoea
Urinary symptoms and bedwetting
Headaches and fatigue
Behaviour, mood and school-related concerns
ADHD and learning concerns
Injuries, sprains and minor wounds
Preventive health advice
Routine childhood immunisations
Catch-up immunisations
Travel vaccination advice for children
Childhood immunisations
Immunisation is an important part of protecting children from serious infectious diseases. In Australia, the National Immunisation Program provides a schedule of recommended vaccines at different ages, including during infancy, early childhood and adolescence.
In Victoria, routine childhood immunisations include vaccines given from birth and at key stages such as 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 4 years, with further school-age vaccines later in childhood and adolescence.
Our team can help you understand which vaccines your child is due for, answer questions about immunisation, and assist with catch-up schedules if your child has missed vaccines or received some vaccines overseas.
Catch-up immunisations
Some children need a catch-up immunisation plan, especially if they have missed scheduled vaccines, moved from overseas, or have an incomplete immunisation history.
Your GP can review your child’s immunisation record and help plan the safest and most appropriate catch-up schedule. The Australian Immunisation Handbook notes that catch-up recommendations are available for infants, children and adolescents under 20 years of age.
When your child is unwell
It can be difficult to know whether a child needs to see a doctor, especially with fever, breathing symptoms, rashes, dehydration, ear pain or persistent vomiting.
Please book an appointment if you are concerned, if symptoms are worsening, or if your child is not improving as expected. For urgent symptoms — such as difficulty breathing, severe drowsiness, a non-blanching rash, signs of dehydration, seizures, or if your child appears very unwell — seek urgent medical care or call 000.
Supporting children and parents
We know that children may feel nervous about seeing a doctor or having immunisations. Our aim is to make appointments calm, respectful and child-friendly, while also giving parents and carers clear information and practical next steps.
For more complex concerns, such as behaviour, development, mental health, chronic symptoms or multiple issues, a longer appointment may be recommended.
Book an appointment
To discuss your child’s health or arrange immunisations, please book an appointment with one of our GPs.
Please bring your child’s Medicare card, any relevant reports or discharge summaries, and their immunisation history if available. In Victoria, the child health record, often known as the “green book”, can also be useful for recording health, growth, development and immunisation information.
