Paediatric Physiotherapy

We provide physiotherapy for babies, children and adolescents via booked outpatient appointments and clinics.

About this service

You can make an appointment to see us if your child has one of the following conditions:

• Congenital Talipes Equinovarus (also known as clubfeet or structural talipes)
• Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
• Obstetric or Congenital Brachial Plexus Palsy
• Chronic Respiratory Conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis or Bronchiectasis
• Juvenile Arthritis and other rheumatology conditions
• Childhood orthopaedic conditions that have resulted in surgery.
• Other conditions whereby your child’s walking or movement would deteriorate if not seen by a physiotherapist and their needs cannot be met by a more appropriate service.

We also help children who visit some hospital clinics, such as the NICU Growth and Development Follow-up Clinic and the Paediatric Fracture Clinic. Your child’s treating team will let us know if your child needs our services. If you are unsure if your child needs to see a physiotherapist, please ask the health professional you are seeing.

If your baby has been discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or Special Care Unit at Canberra Hospital, we offer a follow up virtual clinic to review a video of your baby’s movements (Prectl’s Qualitative Assessment of General Movements). This is done on a video you take at home and send to us. If this is required, your Physiotherapist will let you know about this before you go home.

Who we care for

Our services are available for babies, children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

We offer these services for free if you have a Medicare Card. People who are ineligible for Medicare will be charged for our service.

How to access this service

You need a referral to see us for a booked appointment. The referral you require depends on your child’s reason for needing physiotherapy. Please call on (02) 5124 7383 with your child’s details and we’ll let you know whether you need to get a referral from:

• another physiotherapist
• GP
• paediatrician or
• orthopaedic specialist.

We only accept referrals for this service if your child has one of the conditions listed above, or if they are attending certain clinics and their treating health professional has referred them to us. All other referrals will be forwarded onto a more appropriate service.

These may include:

• The Child Development Service, run by Community Services Directorate
• Mums and Bubs Physiotherapy Service
• Community Care physiotherapy
• A private provider.

If you were seen by a physiotherapist at The Canberra Hospital whilst in hospital or at a clinic, we may book a follow-up appointment before leaving or ask you to call with any concerns. You are unlikely to need a referral in this case.

What to expect

We triage all new referrals and will call you within two weeks of receiving your referral.

Once an appointment is available, we will call you with the details. We are unable to provide appointment confirmation letters or reminder phone calls.

The length of the appointment varies depending on your child’s need for physiotherapy.

Please encourage your child to wear comfortable clothing and footwear.

We see patients between 8am and 4:30pm Monday to Friday (Excluding Public Holidays).

Please check-in at reception when you arrive. If no one is available at the desk, please wait in the waiting room until your allocated appointment time. If waiting more than 10 minutes beyond your booked appointment time, please call us on (02) 5124 7383. You can use the same number to call us if you are lost or running late.

What to bring to your appointment

• Medicare card
• Any letters or correspondence from your GP
• Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
• Private health insurance card (if applicable/if you want to use it)
• Medicines you need to take while you are here
• List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
• Previous x-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
• Your child’s personal health record (Blue Book)
• Any equipment your child uses for their physiotherapy (such as splints, orthotics, walking aids or airway clearance devices)

Where we’re located

If you are attending a booked appointment with a physiotherapist from the paediatric team, your appointment will be in the Paediatric Outpatients area, Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, Building 11, Level 1, Canberra Hospital.

We have directions to the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children and Canberra Hospital.