If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

Behavioural concerns

• Suicidal or immediate danger of self-harm
• Aggressive behaviour with immediate threatening risk to vulnerable family members.

• Refer to local care pathway
• The following children should be directed to Child and Youth Mental Health Services
  • children who may be at risk of self-harm
  • aggressive behaviour with high risk of significant injury to vulnerable family members
  • primary school child with significant school refusal due to anxiety
• Raising children network www.raisingchildren.net.au
• If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, you need to contact Child Safety Services: https://www.communities.qld.gov.au/
• In the majority of cases it is thought inappropriate for children to wait more than 6 months for an outpatient initial appointment

On-Line Resources for children with developmental or behavioural problems

• Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital 
• Sydney Children’s Hospital 
• American Academy of Paediatrics 
• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health(UK)
• Diagnostic Criteria for the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Journal article
• Attachment Disorders

Click here for further resources and useful tools developed by Dr Ian Shellshear, available from the Ipswich Hospital Foundation.

Have the family sought help from a parenting program? It would be advised that involvement of one of the below services be considered before a referral is made to the paediatricians. Provided is a list of community providers related to behavioural management and strategies. This is not an exhaustive list. Please view Table of local parenting programs West Moreton PDF. 

If referring for oppositional or hyperactive behaviours please consider having family and teachers complete SNAP IV form.

If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria

• Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis
• If you still need to refer your patient:
  • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Patient's Demographic Details

• Full name (including aliases)
• Date and country of birth
• Residential and postal address including whether patient resides at an aged care facility
• Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
• Medicare number (where eligible)
• Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
• Name of delegate and contact details (Department of Corrective Services)
• Preferred language and interpreter requirements
• Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Any special needs, access requirements and/or disability relevant to the referral

Referring Practitioner Details

• Full name
• Full address
• Contact details – telephone, fax, email
• Provider number
• Date of referral
• Signature
• Nominated general practitioner’s details (if known), if the nominated general practitioner is different from the referring practitioner

Relevant clinical information about the condition

• Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
• Physical findings
• Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
• All conservative options that have been pursued unsuccessfully prior to referral
• Body mass index (BMI)
• Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes, BMI), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
• Any special care requirements where relevant (e.g. tracheostomy in place, oxygen required)
• Current medications and dosages
• Drug allergies
• Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

Reason for request

• To establish a diagnosis
• For treatment or intervention
• For advice and management
• For specialist to take over management
• Reassurance for GP/second opinion
• For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
• Reassurance for the patient/family
• For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
• Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

Clinical modifiers

• Impact on employment
• Impact on education
• Impact on home
• Impact on activities of daily living functioning – low/medium/high
• Impact on ability to care for others
• Impact on personal frailty or safety
• Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

Other relevant information

• Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
• Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
• Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc