Referral to Fellow in Community Child Health

Please read carefully for referral guidelines and key information below:

Clinic Model

Referrals can be made to access medical assessment for children with needs such as:

• Behavioural difficulties
• Learning challenges
• Developmental concerns

The clinic is designed to review children one to four times in order to:

• Determine the nature of the presenting problem
• Structure an appropriate management plan
• Refer to other paediatric services for longer‑term support when required

The Paediatric Fellow you are referring to:

• Is an Advanced Trainee in Paediatrics
• Receives off‑site supervision from a Consultant Paediatrician
• Is employed through Monash Children’s Hospital
• Works across various community sites, usually for 6–12 months
• Cannot confirm neurodevelopmental diagnoses
• Will contact referrers to communicate findings and recommendations

Additional notes:

• There is no cost to families (Medicare or citizenship not required)
• No long‑term follow‑up occurs through this clinic
• If ongoing paediatric care is anticipated, please ask families to obtain a referral for a long‑term paediatrician via their GP

Referral Criteria

Eligibility

Children referred to this clinic must:

• Live within the South Metro Local Health Service Network
• Not have a current paediatrician involved in their care.
• Be referred by an authorised referrer. Allied Health clinicians, teachers, school nurses and maternal and child health nurses are authorised referrers.

Exclusion criteria

• Urgent presentations (e.g. rapid weight loss)
  • Exception: In rare circumstances, an urgent referral may be considered only if you have already contacted the Paediatric Fellow directly and discussed the concern.
• Referrals from non‑authorised referrers
  • Referrals from GPs or directly from parents/guardians are not accepted in this clinic.
  • GPs are encouraged to make referrals directly to local outpatient services, rather than to this Paediatric Fellow Clinic

How to make a referral

Step 1 – Consent. Explain the model of the Paediatric Fellow Clinic to the child’s family and ensure they are happy to be seen by our Paediatric Fellow.

Step 2 – Check availability. You can see if the Paediatric Fellow has an appointment available by clicking https://calendly.com/monashcommunitypaeds. If no appointments are available, the Paediatric Fellow clinic is already full. No wait list is kept. Please refer your patient to another service as appropriate (eg. GP, community services, local outpatients).

Step 3 – Complete online referral. Please fill in the online referral form (accessed by clicking on the blue button, ‘I have read and understood the above’, below). Give as much information as possible. Be sure to include your contact details and the family’s contact details. You will receive an email confirmation, that contains a ‘booking number’.

Step 4 – Activate referral by making an appointment in Calendly. You will need the ‘booking number’ in the confirmation email to make an appointment time that suits the family. Ensure the family is aware of the details of the appointment. Remember, if there is no appointment available in Calendly, you will need to refer to another service, and your referral will not be accepted.

Step 5 – Book an interpreter, if needed, and quote the interpreter booking details in the referral or appointment notes.