Introduction
This guideline relates to developmental concerns in paediatric patients.
Referrals for a paediatrician can only be accepted by a medical practitioner. If you are an allied health professional or maternal and child health nurse please refer children with developmental concerns to their GP, with relevant assessments and reports suggesting review with a local paediatrician.
When to refer
- If The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) is the closest
paediatric health service to the child and/ or there are no closer public
or community services available
- The child has complex
medical issues currently coordinated through the RCH
- Community management with
allied health clinicians and paediatricians has not adequately addressed
the child/ family goals.
- After the referrer has
completed/ coordinated the initial workup (see below)
Wait time for appointments
Specialist Clinics wait times
Services available closer to home
Alternative paediatric services available in Victoria: Local health network services
Pre-referral work up/management
- Early Childhood Approach of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is available to eligible children under the age of 7 years with a developmental delay or disability. A diagnosis is not required to access the Early Childhood Approach of NDIS. Parents can apply for this support by contacting their local NDIS Early Childhood Partner, contact details are available at: NDIS- Getting help through the early childhood approach . Alternatively the family can contact the NDIS by phone on 1800 800 110. Parents can access interpreters by calling the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450.
- National Disability Insurance Scheme(NDIS) is available to eligible children with a diagnosed disability. Eligibility criteria and access requests forms for NDIS can be found via:Applying to access NDIS
- Alternatively the family can contact the NDIS by phone on 1800 800 110. Parents can access interpreters by calling the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450.
- Speech pathology which may be possible through:
Chronic Disease Management Plan that provides a partial subsidy for Medicare funded access to allied health services up to five sessions per year. Local speech pathologists can be found via: Find a Speech Pathologist - Occupational therapy which may be possible through:
Chronic Disease Management Plan that provides a partial subsidy for Medicare funded access to allied health services up to five sessions per year. Local occupational therapists can be found via: Find a OT - Physiotherapy which may be possible through:
Chronic Disease Management Plan that provides a partial subsidy for Medicare funded access to allied health services up to five sessions per year. Local physiotherapists can be found via: Find a Physiotherapist - Psychology which may be possible through:
Mental Health Care Plan that provides a partial subsidy for Medicare funded access to a mental health professional for up to ten sessions per year. Local psychologists can be found via: Find a Psychologist - Audiology – hearing assessment is available locally through a referral to: Paediatric diagnostic audiology centres
School based services - We note that one of the referral concerns relates to learning progress. We recommend that school based student support services are best placed to review academic progress and cognitive profile in the first instance, as well as provide advice and guidance on teaching approaches. Please discuss with school to request the implementation of an Individual Education Plan (IEP). This may also include referral to a school speech pathologist for language assessment or school psychologist for cognitive assessment if required (ie. If @FIRSTNAME@ is not performing academically at the level expected of peers).
- History:
- Birth and development
- Medical history (is the patient known to another health service?)
- Family and social history
- School
- Reason for referral: assessment/diagnosis, treatment plan/advice on management strategies, ongoing intervention, shared care or transfer of care
- Treatments: recommended, delivered and response to treatment
- Information regarding previous medical interventions
Specialist Clinic referral and
Developmental Care referral
Please complete the above and submit via:
Information for families
Raising Children Network can help you to navigate your way through services and support for your child and for your whole family during this period or you can call the Developmental Intake team for advice or support on (03) 9345 4631.
Resources and links
The development of this guideline was coordinated by the Developmental Intake team. Guideline reviewed in July 2025.