Antenatal Social Work Services

For pregnant women living in or connected to the local area experiencing difficulties in their lives such as unstable housing, transportation problems, or difficulties understanding and negotiating social and health services, the City of Port Phillip funds an antenatal social worker. During pregnancy, our Antenatal Social Worker, or ASW, meets with women in the community to provide support.

About Antenatal Social Work Services

Our ASW can provide you or someone you know with the support and information needed to stay healthy and well during the pregnancy, so the baby has the best possible start in life.

Antenatal Social Workers support you in the following ways:

  • Organise or accompany you to maternity hospitals, such as the Royal Women’s Hospital, to book in for your baby’s birth and receive necessary tests, such as blood tests, ultrasounds, and any other tests you may need
  • Assist you in your role as a parent by providing information about looking after you and your baby during pregnancy
  • Financial or housing assistance
  • Special support if you are experiencing alcohol or drug problems
  • Find information about quitting smoking, dental care and more
  • Introduce you to the maternal and child health nurse who will assist you after the birth of your child
  • Providing support and adice to you and the babies other parent when relevant

Accessing Antenatal Social Work Services

Pregnant women who are isolated and in need of some extra support, and who are living in or connected to Port Phillip, can access this service by contacting BHN (see contact details below).

Various community locations offer the service, including:

  • Port Melbourne
  • South Melbourne
  • St Kilda
  • Elwood
  • City of Stonnington

The BHN Antenatal Social Worker is available Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Cost

There is no charge for this service.


Contact

To speak with the Antenatal Social Worker, please call 132 246 (132 BHN).