Introduction
This guideline relates to inattention, overactivity or possible ADHD 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
- Significant parental concern based on Parents'
Evaluation of Developmental Status - Revised (PEDS-R)
- Consideration of medication
- Complex medical issues currently coordinated
through The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH)
- There are no public or community services
available closer to home
- Community management has not adequately
addressed the child/family goals
- Paediatricians seeking a second opinion
Wait time for appointments
Specialist clinic wait times
Services available closer to home
For alternative paediatric services available
in Victoria, please see: Local health service networks
Referral
criteria/required information
- Reason for referral: assessment/diagnosis, treatment
plan/advice on management strategies, ongoing intervention, shared care or transfer
of care
- History:
- Birth and development
- Medical history (is the patient known to another
health service?)
- Family and social history
- Copies of previous mental health, language,
cognitive and audiology assessments
- Treatments: recommended, delivered and response
to treatment
- Information regarding previous medical interventions
- Information regarding any known risk factors
e.g., SES, single parenting, young parents, CALD (culturally and linguistically
diverse), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Child Protection involvement
How to refer
Specialist Clinics referral and
Developmental Care referral
Please complete the above and submit via:
Suggested pre-referral management
Prior to
referral, the child/family may benefit from the following community support:
Early Childhood Approach of the National
Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
- 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 but children must have delay in two or more
functional domains: mobility, communication, social interaction,
self-management, learning, self-care
- Parents can apply for this support by contacting
their local NDIS Early Childhood Partner
- 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)
- Available to eligible children with a diagnosed
disability
- Eligibility criteria and access requests forms
for NDIS
Occupational therapy:
- Local occupational therapists can be found here
Physiotherapy:
- Local physiotherapists can be found here
Psychology:
- Local psychologists can be found here
Speech Pathology:
- Local Speech pathologists can be found here
Information for families
Raising Children Network can help families navigate their way
through services and support or they can call the Developmental Intake team for
advice or support. For more information on ADHD, please see:
The
development of this guideline
was coordinated by the Developmental Intake team. Guideline
reviewed in July 2025.