Who we are Plunket is the largest provider of free support services for the development, health and wellbeing of children under five in New Zealand. We see more than 90% of new borns in New Zealand each year. Plunket offers parenting information and support as well as developmental assessments of your child. Our nurses provide support through home and clinic visits, mobile clinics and PlunketLine, a free telephone advice service for parents. Plunket also organises parent groups, parenting education and toy libraries, drop in centres, playgroups and education in schools – most of which are available nationwide and free of charge. Plunket care delivery staff Plunket care delivery staff include Plunket nurses, Plunket kaiāwhina (Māori health workers), and Plunket community karitane. Plunket nurses are registered nurses with a speciality qualification in Well Child/Tamariki Ora nursing. Plunket kaiāwhina and community karitane (including Māori and Pacific health workers) are educated in a wide range of parenting and health issues to give extra support to family and whānau. Home visits Families receive their first Plunket nurse visit within weeks of their child being born. Plunket nurses are thereafter available for regular visits to listen and respond to your thoughts and concerns. They can provide information about a number of welfare issues including feeding, sleep position, safety, immunisation and parenting. Your midwife can contact Plunket for you, or you can sign up online. During the first home visit, the Plunket nurse will give your baby a full physical assessment and discuss their growth and development, feeding behaviour and early parenting. This is a great opportunity for you and your Plunket nurse to get to know each other. Further visits can then be arranged so you have ongoing support. In your local community Plunket provides local community services and activities and can help put you in touch with other families in your area. The regular coffee groups are a great way to make some friends and connections with other new mums in your neighbourhood. Your Plunket nurse can tell you what’s happening, or have a look at what's listed nearby in your region. Plunket also run parenting education programmes where you can learn about your role as a parent and your child’s development.