The Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) and Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) have teamed up to launch the Maternal and Child Health Strategy 2019-2022, which aims to provide a framework for future investment and collaboration between the services in the region.

MPHN chief executive officer Melissa Neal said the strategy will improve the links between the community and the government which will help improve services.

"The intent of the strategy is for both MPHN and MLHD to have an agreed framework to guide investment, partnership and implementation over the next three years," Ms Neal said.

"We must work together to integrate and build on the existing strengths of our community, primary care and hospital-based services.

"This will enable us to sustainably grow the services and supports available to women and families, from conception and through the early years of a child's life and provides appropriate targeted interventions for priority issues and vulnerable populations within our communities."

The strategy has outlined nine priorities which look to be addressed over the next three years, with the priorities including the development or enhancement of maternal and children health hubs and the improvement of care coordination between hospital care and the community.

Figures from MPHN indicate 7.2 per cent of Griffith's population is made up of children under the age of five, with the Murrumbidgee region maintaining a fertility rate of 2.27 births per female, which is higher than the national rate of 1.88.

The region also has a higher proportion children with physical health issues, with 32.8 per cent of children in the Murrumbidgee compared to 21 per cent in the rest of the nation.

Ms Neal said consultations were held with communities across the region and one of the key things they found was those living in more isolated communities found it more difficult to access maternal and children services and there are plans to gather a steering committee next week in order to begin the process of taking positive steps towards the implementation of the strategy.

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MLHD chief executive Jill Ludford said the strategy closely aligns with the goals of a framework released by the state government which outlines the importance of providing adequate care and support in the first 2000 days of a child's life.

"The strategy identifies practical steps to respond to the needs and challenges of our region and plays an important role in ensuring our efforts to improve health outcomes for children, women and families are coordinated and work together," Ms Ludford said.

The strategy can be viewed on the MPHN website.

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