From 1 November 2026, Medicare-eligible 3-year-olds can have a Medicare Healthy Kids Check with a GP. Each child can have it once. As part of the check, the GP offers you a written report with their recommendations.
You do not need to wait for this check. If you are worried about your child, or they have stopped doing something they used to do, see your GP or child health nurse soon.
What happens at the check
The GP asks about and checks: your child's health history (illnesses, hospital stays, medicines, immunisations, allergies); behaviour and wellbeing; development; family, care arrangements and childcare or kindy; eating, activity, screen use and sleep; toileting; eyesight, hearing, teeth and gums; height and weight on a growth chart. The GP can check other things too.
Tell your GP if your child often coughs, chokes or gags when eating or drinking, has wet or gurgly breathing, keeps getting chest infections, or is losing weight. If food is stuck and your child cannot swallow, go to the nearest emergency department. If it is hard for them to breathe, call 000 and ask for an ambulance. If your child is choking and cannot cough or make a sound, start first aid and call 000.
What the check is for
It is a health check. Its purpose is to find children who may need more support, and to connect them with it. If the GP thinks your child needs more, they may check again later, refer you, suggest Thriving Kids supports, or arrange a fuller assessment.
If the GP suggests checking again later, ask when, and what should make you come back sooner.
Other child health checks
State and territory health services also run child health and development checks. The ages differ between states. In NSW, your child's Blue Book lists 8 of them, including one at 3 years.
Ask your GP or child health nurse how your state's child health checks and the Medicare Healthy Kids Check fit together.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can still have their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health check as well.
What to bring
Bring: your child's health record book (the Blue Book in NSW, or your state's book); a list of any medicines and allergies; hearing and eyesight test results; notes or reports from childcare, kindy or other professionals; your list of what you have noticed and your questions.
You can use our GP visit prep sheet to write down what you have noticed and your questions.
How much it costs
Ask the practice about the cost when you book.
Thriving Kids and the check
The Medicare Healthy Kids Check is part of Thriving Kids. Thriving Kids is for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs. Your child does not need a diagnosis. Thriving Kids will roll out in stages. All supports will be rolled out by 1 January 2028. There are no changes to how people access the NDIS until 1 January 2028.
Visit the Thriving Kids Information Resources Hub (opens in a new tab) for reliable information, practical resources and guidance to help families understand and support their child's development.
To talk to a maternal and child health nurse about your child's development, call 1800 882 436. The line is open 7am to midnight (AEST), 7 days a week (including public holidays).
Common questions
Is this the old Healthy Kids Check?
No. Medicare had a check with the same name from 2008. It ended on 1 November 2015. This is a new check.
Sources: Medicare Healthy Kids Check fact sheet (MBS Online) (opens in a new tab); NSW Health: Learn the Signs. Act Early. (opens in a new tab); Children's Health Queensland: swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) (opens in a new tab); Western NSW Local Health District: paediatric feeding (opens in a new tab); Gold Coast Health: Child Development Service checklist (opens in a new tab); Health: Thriving Kids (opens in a new tab); Health: implementation of Thriving Kids supports (opens in a new tab); Health: family support for Thriving Kids (opens in a new tab); Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: About Thriving Kids (opens in a new tab); About the changes to the NDIS (opens in a new tab); MBS Online news, 1 November 2015 (opens in a new tab); Medical Journal of Australia: Scrapping the Healthy Kids Check (opens in a new tab).
General information, current as of October 2026. Always confirm details at health.gov.au/thrivingkids (opens in a new tab) and mbsonline.gov.au (opens in a new tab).
Last reviewed 10 October 2026. Government rules and amounts change. Check the original source for the latest: www.mbsonline.gov.au (opens in a new tab).