Child development services
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Every child grows and learns in their own way. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s development, Child Development Services are here to help.
We support children with developmental delay or concerns to develop the skills and confidence they need to participate fully in their everyday lives.
We offer free services for families of children with developmental concerns, working in partnership with parents and carers across country WA.
Parents, carers and families play the most important role in supporting their child’s development. Our teams will:
- Talk with you about your priorities for your child’s development.
- Support you to strengthen your child’s skills in everyday activities.
- Work with other key people in your child’s life who can help you achieve your goals (for example, schools and childcare).
Our services are flexible and can be delivered in person, by phone, or through secure telehealth video calls. We offer one‑to‑one appointments, group programs, and parent workshops – in person or virtually.
Our virtual health services are easy to access and provide support to children and families from home.
We aim to make our services accessible to everyone. If needed, interpreter services can be arranged for Aboriginal people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Our team includes a range of health professionals including speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, paediatricians, clinical nurse specialists, audiologists, psychologists, social workers, dietitians, allied health assistants and Aboriginal health workers or liaison officers.
Depending on your child’s needs, you may see one or more of our team members.
Developmental milestones are a helpful guide to understanding how children may grow and learn over time. Every child develops in their own way, and it is normal for skills to develop faster in some areas and more gradually in others.
To find out what children may typically be doing at different ages, visit the Raising Children’s Network:
For information about developmental delays, visit Developmental delay in children by Raising Children Network.
If you are concerned about your child’s development, you can talk to your GP, child health nurse, school health nurse, teacher or early childhood educator. With your consent they can refer your child to our service.
You can also talk to us. Contact your local Child Development Service to discuss your concerns and ask questions.
Families can refer their own child to the Child Development Service without a referral from a GP or health professional.
We accept referrals for children with developmental delay or concern who meet the following eligibility criteria. The child must:
- Be under the age of 16 years.
- Have an eligible Medicare card/number (clients with yellow Medicare cards are ineligible).
- Live at an address outside the Perth metropolitan area.
*No diagnosis is needed to access our service.
If you are unsure if our Child Development Services are right for your child, contact your local service or email us.
Teachers, nurses, GPs and other referrers
- You can refer a child with the family’s consent.
- Read the Information for Referrers before making a referral to our service.
Families and carers
- You can contact your local Child Development Service directly to talk about your child and next steps, or submit a referral.
Referral
- Complete the form online
- Or download the PDF and send it to the child’s local service.
What happens after a referral:
- When an online referral form is successfully submitted, a confirmation email is sent to the referrer.
- All referrals are reviewed by our intake team. Parents/legal guardians will be notified if the referral is not suitable for our service.
Private services
Some families may be interested in exploring private child development services for their child. Private services are provided on a fee for service basis from a health professional working in private practice. If you have private health insurance, rebates may be available for allied health services. Please contact your private health insurer for further information.
The list below provides links to various professional organisations where parents can search for a private clinician who may be able to provide relevant services for your child.
- Audiology: Audiology Australia
- Occupational Therapy: Developmental Occupational Therapy WA; Occupational Therapy Australia; WA Occupational Therapy Association
- Paediatrician: please discuss a referral to a private Paediatrician with your GP
- Physiotherapy: Australian Physiotherapy Association
- Psychology: Australian Clinical Psychology Association; Australian Psychological Society
- Speech Pathology: Speech Pathology Australia.
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) programs
Some children may also be eligible to receive a Medicare rebate for a limited number of private service appointments. Please discuss eligibility with your GP, who will provide a referral if your child is eligible. Medicare Benefit Scheme Programs
National Disability Insurance Scheme
If your child has a disability, you may be able to access supports and services through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Visit the NDIS website to find out more about the scheme and if it is available in your location.