The Medicare Healthy Kids Check is a new GP appointment for three-year-olds, and families across Australia can now book it. It aims to pick up any health or developmental concerns early, so children can get extra support well before they start school.
What changed with the Medicare Healthy Kids Check
Your child can have the Medicare Healthy Kids Check any time after they turn three, up until their fourth birthday, which gives families a full year to fit it in. A GP or prescribed medical practitioner carries it out, and each child can have it once.
The appointment covers the things parents tend to wonder about at this age: development and behaviour, sleep, eating, physical activity, screen time and toilet training. It also includes basic checks of eyesight, hearing, teeth, height and weight. Afterwards, parents and carers are offered a written report, and the GP can arrange referrals if anything needs a closer look. The check is part of the Australian Government’s Thriving Kids initiative.
Who is affected
Any family with a child aged three (but not yet four) can book the check. It’s particularly relevant for families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A, because it meets the Healthy Start for School requirement.
When it starts
The Medicare Healthy Kids Check started on 1 November 2026. Eligible families can book it now through their GP.
What the Medicare Healthy Kids Check means in practice
The new check meets the Healthy Start for School requirement linked to Family Tax Benefit Part A, but it doesn’t replace the existing options. Healthy Start for School isn’t changing, and other approved health checks, such as state and territory child health checks, still count. If you receive Family Tax Benefit Part A, you’ll still need to tell Services Australia that your child has had a health check before they turn five, whichever approved check you choose.
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General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
Source: Services Australia. Licence: CC BY 4.0.
