Since 2013, the Pathway to Good Health Clinic has provided health assessments for children and young people who have entered a foster, kinship or residential placement. The team includes a paediatric doctor, clinical psychologist and a speech pathologist. Together we identify health needs and create a health management plan to address those needs. Our goal is to help the children thrive. 

We know that there can be a range of health challenges for this group of children, and that the health system can be difficult to navigate. Before the appointment, we send out questionnaires so we can hear from the child’s carer and teacher about what is going well and what might be challenging to make the best use of time we have on the day.  We then schedule one long visit to see the team at the Royal Children’s Hospital which gives us plenty of time and space to talk to the child, the carer(s) and other significant adults, to hear their concerns and find out what is going well. 

We assess development and psychosocial wellbeing through a range of age-appropriate methods (including plenty of play). We also check out physical health concerns through a physical examination when it is needed and appropriate. Sometimes we visit other parts of the hospital to help our assessment, for example the audiology department for a hearing test. 

From 2024, the Pathway to Good Health program is expanding state-wide. The Royal Children’s Hospital clinics are supporting that expansion through training up the next generation of paediatricians to do this work. We continue to provide assessments for those for whom the Royal Children’s Hospital is the most appropriate assessment location due to medical or social complexity or geography.  We also provide training and support for the state-wide rollout through the Victorian Centre of Health Leadership for Children in Care.

Referrals to the clinic

Children are referred into the Pathway to Good Health clinic via the Clinical Navigators working in each Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing area.

Contact

ptgh.clinic@rch.org.au