Changes to the controversial health check for four-year-olds are a “victory for commonsense”, according to the RACGP.

As outlined in this week’s federal budget, the health check for four-year-olds will be brought forward to children of three years of age and expanded to include consideration of emotional wellbeing and development. The checks will now be funded through the government’s national mental health reform package.

To date, the checks have been dogged by poor uptake - only 16% of four-year-olds received the health check in the program’s first year — and also criticised by GPs for not being evidence based.

Dr Michael Fasher, RACGP child health check spokesman and outspoken critic of the four-year-old checks, said the changes would make the check more clinically relevant.

“One of our principle objections previously was that four years of age was far too late. Three years old is a much more appropriate age for a universal check,” Dr Fasher said.

“It’s also particularly pleasing the government will now include emotional development and family functioning issues.”

Dr Fasher said the college will now work with the government and other GP groups to ensure the uptake of the checks increases.

He added: “The lack of evidence remains an issue, but every leader in the world of child development says monitoring of child’s wellbeing and development is important. So looking forward, the college would like to see further research conducted on the benefits of the check.”

The changes to the health checks will come into effect in July.