Healthy Start for School Initiative

The Healthy Start for School Initiative, an Australian Government initiative, commenced as of 1 July 2011. If a parent receives income support during the financial year in which their child turns four, the child will be required to undergo a relevant health check to ensure they are healthy, fit and ready for school. This is a requirement to receiving the Family Tax Benefit A Supplement, for the financial year in which a child turns four.

As a result of this initiative doctors may receive an increase in requests from parents and carers for their child to have a health assessment. The patients who will be effected by this new initiative will include those who:

• Are receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A,
• Have a child turning four; and
• Have received an income support payment from Centrelink (e.g. Parenting Payment, Newstart Allowance, etc.) or the Department of Veterans' Affairs, at any time during the financial year in which their child turns four.

Parents or carers may choose to have the health assessment completed at a medical practice or through the state and territory health and maternal clinics. Should parents or carers choose to have the assessment completed by their doctor at their usual medical practice, for a child who is receiving or has received their four year old immunisation, the Medical Benefit Schedule (MBS) includes time based health assessment items 701, 703, 705 and 707, and item 715 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Health Assessment. These items can be claimed for a Health Kids Check.

Alternatively, a health assessment provided by a practice nurse or registered Aboriginal health worker on behalf of a medical practitioner for a child who is receiving or has received their four year old immunisation can be claimed under Medicare item 10986.

For the purpose of this initiative, the conditions may also be met if the health assessment criteria are preformed using the MBS general practice attendance items.

The health assessment must include the following examinations and assessments:

• Height and weight
• Eyesight
• Hearing
• Oral health (teeth and gums)
• Toileting
• Allergies

The health Assessment must also include:

• Information collection including taking a patient history
• making an overall assessment of the child
• Recommending appropriate interventions
• Providing advice and information to the child's parent(s) or carer
• Keeping a record of the health assessment and offering the child's parent(s) or carer a written report about the health assessment
• Updating any relevant records such as a parent-held child health report.

Further information

Link to the Healthy Kids Check Template

Link to Healthy Kids Check Resources

Useful Website Links

http://www.familyassist.gov.au/payments/healthy-start-school.php

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/publications/fpr080.htm

Useful Resource

Patient Resource -  outlines who this initiative will affect and what they have to do.

 If you have any further questions about this new initiative please contact the Practice support Team on 4220 7600 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it