FAQs

To receive a Medicare rebate for a consultation with a paediatrician, a valid Medicare referral is required.

This is referral is typically obtained from your General Practitioner (GP) but can also be provided by a specialist.

Please note that GP Referrals are valid for 12 months, whilst referrals from specialists are valid for 3 months.

• What if I don’t have a valid referral or Medicare care, can my child still be seen?

Yes, your child can still be seen without a valid Medicare referral or Medicare card; however, the full fee will apply, and you will not be eligible for a Medicare rebate for the appointment.

We strongly encourage both parents (or usual carers) along with the child, to attend new assessment sessions.

To ensure effective communication we kindly request that no more than two adults accompany a child to the appointment.

For children under the care of the Department of Communities, (DoC), we encourage the caseworker to attend all appointments alongside the primary carer to support decision-making and streamline communication.

We kindly recommend that other children do not attend the appointment unless they have a scheduled appointment immediately following. Please note that reception staff are unable to supervise children. You may find it more convenient to schedule sibling appointments on separate days.

Please bring your child, Medicare card and your preferred method of payment. If school/therapy reports have not been provided electronically, please bring these along as well. For your initial appointment please also bring your neonatal newborn (purple)
book.

At Wild Child Paediatrics, we prefer appointments to be conducted in person to provide the most comprehensive care. However, we understand that there may be circumstances such as health concerns or remote location, where a video consultation would be more practical. Please note that video consultations may not be as thorough as in-person assessments and are not available for both the first and second sessions of a new assessment. Kindly be aware that you must physically be in Australia to claim the Medicare rebate.
We deserve the right to decline video appointments if we believe it could compromise the quality of clinical care.

At Wild Child Paediatrics, our waitlists are very long, and we ask that all appointments be kept as scheduled to help improve access to care for all WA families. Rescheduling can be difficult, and the next available appointment can be months away. A cancellation fee will  apply if less than 48 hours’ notice is provided (excluding weekends and public holidays,  Monday or Tuesday if after a public holiday).

For more information about appointment cancellation, please check our Cancellation Policy

We understand that unexpected circumstances such as illness or bereavement, can occur. If this happens, please notify us as soon as possible. In certain cases we may request supporting documentation such as a medical certificate to confirm the situation.

If you are uncomfortable discussing specific matters in your child’s presence, we recommend bringing a responsible adult to supervise them in the waiting room during your consultation. Alternatively, if advanced notice is provided these concerns can be addressed via a telehealth consultation privately. Please indicate your preference for this at the time of booking.

Summary reports are always provided after an assessment or review with copies provided for families and their general practitioner. Detailed reports are available at additional charge and will often require the completion of multiple appointments prior to finalisation

Developmental and behavioural concerns can be complex, requiring time and careful assessment to ensure an accurate diagnosis and effective management plan. In order to provide comprehensive care, we allocate one hour for new assessments, which can require up to 2-3 sessions, and 30 minutes for follow-up consultations.

Before your Telehealth appointment, you’ll receive a link via SMS to access the Telehealth waiting room. To ensure the session runs smoothly, please follow the preparation steps outlined on our Telehealth guideline page.

At Wild Child Paediatrics, our paediatrician is experienced in conducting autism assessments in line with Western Australian guidelines. For this assessment to be completed to standard, additional input will be required from a psychologist and/or speech pathologist. This can be discussed further at the time of your consultation.

At Wild Child Paediatrics, we understand that there may be occasions when you wish to record a consultation to share information with another parent or caregiver who is unable to attend. However, we ask that you respect the privacy of the paediatrician and refrain from recording any part of the consultation without explicit consent.

At Wild Child Paediatrics, we aim to provide clear, collaborative care for children with separated parents. Our policy outlines expectations around appointments, communication and payment responsibilities ensuring the focus remains on your child’s needs. For more details, including guidelines on custody arrangements and reports, please see our separated parent policy.

If you need to book an appointment for urgent concerns that require in-depth attention, please note that these sessions may not be immediate. In the meantime, we encourage you to refer to our Urgent Support and Crisis Policyfor support and guidance during this period. Your well-being is our priority, and we’re here to assist you as quickly and effectively as possible.

As your child’s developmental paediatrician, my priority is to ensure the safe and effective management of their condition. This includes a phased approach to introducing and stabilizing stimulant medication, with careful collaboration between myself and your GP.

Stabilization Period

I do not recommend GP co-prescribing stimulant medications until your child has been fully stabilized on their treatment. This stabilization period typically takes 6 to 12 months and involves:

    •    Identifying the most effective medication and dosage for your child.

    •    Monitoring for any side effects or unexpected reactions.

    •    Adjusting the treatment plan to ensure optimal outcomes.

Shared Care After Stabilization

Once your child has been stabilized on their medication and is responding well to treatment, we can transition to a shared care arrangement with your GP. This arrangement includes:

    •    GP Reviews: Your GP will conduct regular reviews every 4 months, including monitoring your child’s biometrics (e.g., height, weight, blood pressure, and heart rate). These metrics are critical to ensuring your child’s treatment remains safe and effective.

    •    Paediatrician Reviews: I will continue to oversee your child’s care through an annual comprehensive review to assess long-term outcomes and make any necessary adjustments.

    •    Information Sharing: Your GP is required to document all reviews and share this information with me, including any concerns or issues that may arise during the shared care arrangement. This collaborative approach ensures that your child’s treatment remains consistent and effective.

Why Stabilization First?

The initial stabilization period is essential for understanding how the medication affects your child and ensuring the treatment is safe. Co-prescribing before stabilization can pose risks due to the complexities of medication adjustments during this period.

What to Expect

    •    During the first 6 to 12 months, all prescriptions and medication reviews will be managed directly by me as your paediatrician.

    •    After stabilization, we will transition to a shared care model where your GP handles routine reviews and prescriptions, with regular communication and annual oversight from me.