MEDICAL SPECIALISTS
Paediatricians and Psychiatrists
It is extremely difficult to get a paediatrician or psychiatrist appointment in Perth as there is a major shortage of specialists here and across Australia. Perth Kids Hub provides listings and updates for Western Australian-based developmental and behavioural paediatricians and child and adolescent psychiatrists here as a free community service to help families desperately seeking support.
Things change very quickly so check back often for updates. If you are a paediatrician or psychiatrist with an availability update you would like to include please contact me.
Paediatricians and psychiatrists play a key role in understanding your child’s needs. They can assess developmental, behavioural, or emotional challenges and help guide the process of diagnosis, if needed.
From there, they often work closely with other professionals like speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and psychologists to build a support team tailored to your child.
At Perth Kids Hub, we’ve brought together a trusted network of paediatric specialists across Perth so you can find the right people, all in one place.
Psychiatrists
FAQS
Your GP is the key person who can help you navigate the medical system and access support.
Check with your GP about your concerns and who the most appropriate professional is to diagnose and support your child.
Not all conditions require diagnosis by a paediatrician. If your child is under 6 years you do not need a formal diagnosis to apply for the NDIS early childhood approach. Autism diagnosis also does not mandate a paediatrician.
Discuss with your GP any concerns you have for your child, including any sleep, diet or mental health concerns and whether a Mental Health Treatment Plan or Chronic Diseases Management Plan would be of benefit in helping provide access to relevant allied health services, such as occupational therapy or psychology supports.
The WA government provides a free (government funded) Child Development Service (CDS) that includes developmental paediatrician services.
Families can find information about referral to this service at CAHS | Child and Adolescent Health Service – Referral information or by contacting CDS directly on 1300 551 827.
You may choose to go privately to see a paediatrician, however please be aware that there is a severe shortage in the private sector and waittimes can be longer than those currently provided by the CDS.
Private paediatricians require a GP referral to be sent through before they can add you to their waitlist. They use the information on the referral to triage (prioritise) the referral based on urgency of need.
If you are referring through the government funded Child Development Service please check their referral advice here.
If you are electing to go privately, each paediatrician has slightly different requirements so it’s best to check their website ahead of visiting your GP so that you can provide what they need. For example, some paediatricians will require that you and / or child’s teacher to complete specific questionnaires ahead of their initial appointment.
Some things that can be helpful to accompany the referral include:
1. A recent school report
2. A letter from the teacher that summarises their observations / concerns
3. NAPLAN results (if applicable)
4. Your own letter summarising what it is like at home with examples of how it impacts your child and family.
There are a small number of developmental paediatricians in Perth and a huge demand for appointments.
Most are at capacity and have closed their books. It’s dire. If you are in that situation, I am so sorry. I understand how stressful this process is – you just want your child to be happy. A diagnosis offers answers and a pathway to treatment and support.
I can’t sugar coat it – families are going to be waiting anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to see a paediatrician and get a formal diagnosis.
You do not need a referral to see an allied health practitioner such as a psychologist, play therapist, speech pathologist or occupational therapist.
If you are concerned about a speech delay, a hearing test and review by a speech pathologist are recommended.
If your child is under 6 years of age, you do not need a formal diagnosis to apply for the National Disability Insurance Agency’s Early Childhood
Approach.
If not already in place, it may be helpful for a family to liaise with their child’s teacher to develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for their child and discuss whether involvement of the school psychologist would be appropriate.
You can request a letter stating that you are on a waitlist to see a paediatrician / psychiatrist and provide this to your school to support interim accommodations or an application for an Individual
Disability Allocation (IDA).
Families seeking information about ADHD may find online resources such as the following useful:
Resources – ADHD WA Educators – ADHD WA,
Kids Health Information : ADHD – ways to help children at school and home (rch.org.au), https://adhdguideline.aadpa.com.au and
https://adhdguideline.aadpa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ADHD-Factsheet-How-is-ADHD-treated.pdf.
Yes, including by telehealth. Scripts prescribed interstate registered paediatricians, psychiatrists and neurologists can be dispensed in WA if they were prescribed after 13 December 2023. Check the Department of Health website for more updates on stimulant prescriptions.
Perth Kids Hub is an online paediatric directory that provides information only. It is not staffed by medical practitioners and cannot accept referrals. Please direct any referrals or enquiries to the practice contacts listed for the doctors. Thank you.
This list is provided for informational and personal use only for the general public. It is intended to meet the frequent direct requests received by Perth Kids Hub from members of the public who are seeking assessment and diagnostic service providers in Western Australia.
Perth Kids Hub does not state or imply that this list represents a comprehensive or exhaustive list of paediatricians and psychiatrists in Western Australia.
Perth Kids Hub endeavours to ensure that all information on this list is accurate and up-to-date. However, Perth Kids Hub does not provide any guarantee and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information contained in this list.
Inclusion in this list does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of that member by Perth Kids Hub.