Key publications and information

This book is given to all new parents to keep. It helps parents support the growth, development and immunisation of their baby/pēpi. The My Health Book includes health education and emergency first aid advice.

Parents and families/whānau often add photos or write about their pēpi and the Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) team records observations and assessments to show progress and other health information that is especially relevant to their pēpi.

Well Child Tamariki Ora visits - Health Information and Services (external link)

Order copies of the Well Child Tamariki Ora My Health Book - HE7012 - HealthEd (external link)

This resource clarifies the roles and expectations of providers, referral pathways, and national protocols for delivering Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) services. It also provides information to support families/whānau with high or complex needs.

Well Child Tamariki Ora Practitioner Handbook [PDF, 2.8 MB]

This resource describes Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) services. The Schedule outlines the core visits delivered as part of the WCTO programme to protect and improve health outcomes for New Zealand children/tamariki, from birth to 5 years.

Well Child Tamariki Ora National Schedule

These reports are published every six months and are based on data collected from the Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) sector, including Whānau Āwhina Plunket.

Well Child Tamariki Ora Quality Improvement Framework reports

The Government commissioned a review of the Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) programme in late 2018 in response to concerns about equity of access, outcomes for children/tamariki and families/whānau, and the financial sustainability of the programme.

The Review was carried out during 2019/20 and was informed by sector engagement hui, provider interviews, online surveys, consumer insight reviews, rapid evidence reviews, analysis of success and outcomes data, reviews of local and international research, and reviews of key policy settings. A report on the Review was considered by the Government in April 2021.

Well Child Tamariki Ora Review Report - Ministry of Health (external link)

Guidelines from the Ministry on family violence assessment and intervention.

Family violence guidelines

The Code of Practice for Health Workers aims to contribute to health settings which protect, promote and support breastfeeding whilst encouraging health workers to provide adequate and unbiased information about the proper use of breast-milk substitutes (infant and/or follow-on formula).

Code of Practice for Health Workers - Ministry of Health (external link)

Intuto is an online learning platform developed by Whānau Āwhina Plunket to support WCTO nurses in their mahi prior to, and while they are undertaking the Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care. Each course is called a ‘collection’ and is made up of three parts. As you complete each ‘collection’, in the correct order (introduction, presentation and feedback), you will gain a printable certificate. Courses can be repeated to reinforce learning.

Intuto includes 49 courses based on a range of topics from breastfeeding to family violence, smoke free facilitation, infant and child development and more.

Accessing Intuto:

• Please contact your WCTO Team leader/Manager to access the registration link and information to access Intuto.

Standards and guidelines for nurses include:

• Code of conduct standards and guidelines
• Scope of practice competencies and guidelines
• Guidelines for practice (including Guideline - Delegation of care by a registered nurse to a health care assistant)
• Guidelines for Cultural Safety, Te Tiriti O Waitangi, and Māori Health
• NZ Nursing Council - position statements

Practicing as a nurse - Nursing Council of New Zealand (external link)

This statement outlines the New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s (NZNO) position on the use of unregulated health care workers in Aotearoa New Zealand.

NZNO’s position on the use of unregulated health care workers in Aotearoa New Zealand - New Zealand Nurses Organisation (external link)

Guidance for paediatric health professionals including clinical guidelines, research and videos via the Starship Hospital website.

Guidance for paediatric health professionals - Starship (external link)

Child health publications - Ministry of Health (external link)