Community Paediatrics

The South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) Community Paediatric clinic supports families raising a child with a developmental or behavioural concern. The clinic also offers specialist clinics for targeted population groups. 

What is 'developmental delay?' Developmental delay is when there is a delay in a child's development. For example, they might find it harder to do things other children their age can do. A child with developmental delay needs help to do everyday things like getting dresses, talking or walking. What is a 'behavioural concern?' Some children have difficult and challenging behaviours that are different to other children their age. They might need extra help to deal with everyday life. For example: Not following rules (defiance) Lots of anger Hurting others e.g. biting, hitting, kicking Constantly active and disruptive (hyperactivity) Acting without thinking (impulsiveness) Tantrums when the child doesn't get their own way

 

Our team includes:

• Aboriginal Health Workers
• Administration
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Doctors (Paediatrician)
• Social Workers
• Speech Pathologist's

The Community Paediatric clinic can:

• Complete assessments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Global Development Delay (GDD) or intellectual disability 
• Diagnosis these conditions using results from assessments
• Complete health checks for vulnerable children  
• Offer advice on ways to help children
• Link children and families to other services and supports

To make an appointment, a referral from a health professional is needed. If the referral is not accepted, the team can give advice on other services that could help.

Clinics are held across South Western Sydney Local Health District from a Community Health Centre or Early Childhood Centre (refer to list of locations). 

Child Developmental Assessment Service (CDAS)

The Child Developmental Assessment Service offers testing to diagnose developmental delays in children. 
Referrals can be made by a health professional only. 

Please note, this is an assessment service only. This means we only offer testing. Your regular doctor (GP or Paediatrician) will work with you to care for your child's developmental delay. This includes managing medication.

Who is eligible:

To be eligible, children must:

• Live in the South Western Sydney Local Health District (refer to map)
• Have a suspected developmental delay and/or ASD (Autism spectrum disorder)
• Be aged between 12 months and 7 years old
• Have received an assessment by their counsellor and a language assessment prior to referral (for children in school)

Children aged between 7-16 years old who have not been diagnosed, can be seen on a case-by-case basis.
Children that have had speech pathology or occupational therapy before the assessment, must send their reports to the clinic before their appointment.

Who is not eligible:

Children with suspected ADHD (without developmental delay) will have their referral redirected to a Paediatrician experienced in ADHD management.

Community Paediatrics - Vulnerable Clinics

The Community Paediatrics Vulnerable Clinics is available for vulnerable children and young people who need extra support. 
Our clinics include:

• Aboriginal clinics for Aboriginal children aged 0-16 years who:
• Need a medical or developmental check-up
• Don't have an urgent health problem
• Have not seen a private doctor for the same issue
• Are in out-of-home care with south west Sydney KARI and need a full health check-up  
• Go to Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation and need a full health check-up

• Infant clinics for babies who:

• Need a health check-up 
• Are born to parents who use drugs or have mental health conditions 
• Have families facing problems like low-income, no house, or no transport

• Refugee clinics for refugee children aged 0-16 years who:

• Don't have an urgent health problem
• Have been growth or development concerns 
  
  
• Youth health clinics for young people aged 12-14 years who:
• Are at-risk or face problems such as homelessness, low income, young parents, or identify as LGBTIQA+
• Need a health check-up
• Need help connecting to other support services 
  
  
• Developmental/behavioural clinics for children aged 0-16 years who:
• Show signs of developmental delay or intellectual disability
• Show signs of behavioural problems
• Have care needs that are challenging such as physical disability
• Can't access private health services
  
  
• Branches clinic for at-risk children who:
• Need a full health, developmental, or social check-up
• Have parents who use drugs, have a mental health condition or an intellectual disability
• Are in out-of-home care
  
  
• Benevolent Society clinics for children aged 0-18 years who:
• Need a full health check-up 
• Do not have access to health services because of disadvantage or where they live 

Referrals to the Community Paediatric Vulnerable Clinics can be made by:

• Your child's doctor (General Practitioner or Paediatrician)
• Child and Family Health Nurse
• Allied Health professional e.g. Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist
• NSW Refugee Health Service
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
• Department of Communities and Justice
• Department of Education
• Joint Child Protection Response Program (JCPRP)
• Non-government organisations e.g. Anglicare or the Benevolent Society

Who is eligible:

To be eligible, children must:

• Live in the South Western Sydney Local Health District (refer to map)
• Be aged between 0 - 16 years
• Meet the clinic criteria

Who is not eligible:

Children who do not meet the criteria on the intake form are not eligible. 

How to get in contact:

Referrals can be sent to the Community Paediatric clinic via email:

• For Child Development Assessment Service: swslhd-compaeddevassess@health.nsw.gov.au
• For vulnerable clinics: swslhd-compaedintake@health.nsw.gov.au

For Referrers To download a PDF version of the referral forms, please visit the Primary and Community Health Referrals intranet page.