Women with individual needs

The Women with Individual Needs (WIN) Clinic provides midwifery and social work care for pregnant women who have a learning difficulty, acquired brain injury, or intellectual, physical or sensory disability.

The WIN Clinic team also provides individualized, one-to-one childbirth and parenting information and, if you live within 40km of Parkville, up to four outreach parenting information sessions within the six week period after your baby is born. The team will also help arrange community-based support. The support provided can be as intensive as you identify you require.

Health issues treated

Pregnancy care, support and information for pregnant women who identify with, or whose service provider has identified, having a learning difficulty, acquired brain injury, or intellectual, physical or sensory disability

What we do

Provide pregnancy care, and pregnancy and parenting information individually tailored for women who are pregnant and have a disability. If you live within 40km of Parkville, you will also get outreach support, provided by the WIN Clinic midwife at your home, for six weeks after your baby is born (you will also get support from your local Maternal & Child Health Centre).

Information for patients

The WIN Clinic team has a midwife and social worker with experience in disability, and pregnancy and parenting with a disability.

Women seen in the WIN Clinic have longer appointments (one hour) to address all individual needs. Your WIN Clinic midwife will be available via mobile and email contact to answer questions during your pregnancy and your social worker will be available via email and landline phone.

Our aim is to help you to independently care for your baby.

After discussions with you and identifying which services, supports and/or assistance you require, the clinic can help link in the appropriate services (where available) that can provide practical help with obtaining equipment and community supports. AUSLAN interpreters are available for hearing impaired women where necessary.

Note that the Outreach service can only be provided for women living within 40kms of Parkville.

Referrals

Your doctor/GP or community worker will need to fax a referral to us before you can come to this clinic.

Women can refer themselves by calling the WIN Clinic Co-ordinator.

What to bring

  • Any blood test results
  • A dating scan report (ultrasound report)
  • Your Health Care card (if you have one)
  • Your Medicare card
  • Any medical information you may have that is relevant to your disability