Bendigo council to transfer maternal and child health services to state by year-end

The City of Greater Bendigo plans to relinquish control of its maternal and child health (MCH) service to the Victorian government, completing the transition by the end of 2026. Council chief executive Andrew Cooney said the change aims to place the program within the public health system, offering families stronger clinical coordination and nurses clearer career routes. Parents such as Jess Matthews, who relies on her MCH nurse for breastfeeding advice and infant health checks, worry the handover may weaken the community connections that make the service effective.

The move mirrors actions by Loddon, Campaspe and Hepburn shires, all citing persistent funding shortfalls despite a 2024 parliamentary inquiry highlighting councils’ heavy cost share. Critics, including Municipal Association of Maternal and Child Health Nurses president Catina Adams, argue the shift could dilute the home-visit model that reaches thousands of families. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler emphasized that the delivery model is less important than ensuring continued support for mothers and children.