Child and Adolescent Health Service
Services A – Z
Child and Adolescent Community Health
Information for Parents - SCDC
The Centre
The State Child Development Centre (SCDC) offers quality professional care for children with developmental concerns and their families.
The majority of children are referred during the pre-school years, since early intervention is considered the key to preventing or minimising difficulties. However, each child is different, and so are the needs of your child and your family.
Therefore the SCDC staff work in a multidisciplinary team. The most important partner in this team is you, the parent or care giver, because you know your child best.
Our Team
The team will work together to co-ordinate an appropriate management plan. Following discussion with you the team may liaise with and provide programmes to your child care centre and/or school.
While attending the centre you may be working with one or more of the following:
- The Paediatrician assesses your child for developmental delay or difficulties and will discuss any concerns you may have. The Paediatrician may refer your child on to other team members or other relevant services.
- The Nurse co-ordinates your appointments for initial assessments and provides a telephone service for child health inquiries. The Nurse also runs an enuresis program to assist with child bed wetting problems.
- The Physiotherapist develops programs to help children improve their physical abilities, gross motor skills, and co-ordination, such as rolling, crawling, walking and ball skills. The Physiotherapist will also explain how you can promote these abilities at home.
- The Social Worker can offer counselling and support to families. The Social Worker can also provide individual and family therapy, run groups for parents and children, link families to other resources, and discuss parenting concerns with you.
- The Occupational Therapist works with you to help improve your child's play, fine motor skills and co-ordination (e.g. drawing, writing) and self help skills (e.g. feeding, dressing). Home and school strategies will also be discussed with you.
- The Speech Pathologist assesses your child and works with you to develop your child's communication skills. This includes improving your child's abilities to understand and use speech and language appropriately.
- The Audiologist administers hearing tests and helps to determine if your child's difficulties could be related to a hearing problem.
- The Clinical Psychologist specialises in the assessment and treatment of children's behavioural, developmental, learning and emotional problems.
- The Play and Learning Program (PAL) helps to encourage your child’s play skills while giving you ideas to best promote your child’s development. This service is provided in your home by a team of child health professionals.
- The Podiatrist provides assessment and treatment for concerns relating to your child's feet and gait (walking pattern).
Assessment and Treatment
Children are assessed and treated for a wide range of developmental or behavioural concerns and associated difficulties, including:- developmental delay
- speech and language delay
- behavioural problems
- physical delay and/or disability
- hearing concerns
- social and emotional difficulties
Referrals
The Centre's intake committee meets weekly to consider all referrals and the family is notified of the decision. Referrals to State Child Development Centre are accepted from other professionals (e.g. GP, Community Nurse, teachers, school psychologists).
Your child can only be referred to the State Child Development Centre with your permission. Once accepted by the centre, your child will only be referred to other services if you agree.
The State Child Development Centre staff are aware that you may want to keep some information about your child private and will respond to your wishes. Staff will share with other team members information which is relevant for providing an appropriate child related service.
It can be helpful to include previous professional reports with the referral, which should be addressed to the Intake Coordinator.
Costs
- All services provided by the State Child Development Centre are free to the client. A minimum charge may be made for some equipment.
- We have waiting lists for our services so please notify us if you cannot keep an appointment.
- Please note that you must produce your Medicare Card at the first appointment or you will be charged a fee for the service.
