Frequently Asked Questions

We know a first visit can feel overwhelming — we are here to make it as smooth as possible. Whether you are seeing one of our paediatricians, psychologists, or play therapist, here is what to bring along:

• Your referral from a GP or other specialist doctor
• Your child’s and the account holder’s Medicare card (a photo is fine)

The following may also be helpful, if relevant:

• Investigations including blood tests, X-ray or imaging reports.
• Previous assessments, reports and letters from other health care professionals.
• School and teacher reports or feedback.

Please arrive 5 minutes prior to your appointment to fill out your new patient forms at reception.

Yes, a referral is required for paediatric and psychology appointments. Play therapy does not require a referral, though having one can be helpful background context for your therapist. For more information, please visit our Appointments&Fees page.

Yes. We arrange all interpreting through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) at no cost to you. To protect your child’s privacy and ensure the best possible care, we are unable to accept personal interpreters at appointments.

Please contact us in advance to organise this for you.

For administrative enquiries between appointments, you can send us an email or complete our enquiry form. Please allow a few business days for a response and note that our email is not monitored for urgent or clinical matters. If you have a clinical concern, your GP is your best first point of contact. You are also welcome to contact us to bring your appointment forward.

Horizon Paediatrics is not an emergency or crisis service. If your child requires immediate assistance, please present to your nearest hospital emergency department or call 000.

A general paediatrician sees children from birth to 18 years across a broad range of physical, developmental, and behavioural conditions. They are often the first specialist a family sees and can manage a wide variety of childhood concerns. A neonatal paediatrician has specialised training in newborn and infant care. While a general paediatrician sees children across all ages, a neonatal paediatrician focuses specifically on babies and young children — up to the age of 2 — monitoring their growth, development, and health from birth through to their early years. They are particularly well suited to supporting families after a NICU stay, or those seeking specialised care for their newborn or young child.

Getting a diagnosis for your child is a journey that looks different for every family. In most cases it starts with a GP referral to one of our paediatricians, who will conduct their own assessments over multiple appointments. They may also refer your child for further tests or specialist services along the way. Please note these will have their own fees. Already have a psychological assessment? Read our blog post.

For ADHD, a formal diagnosis can only be made by a paediatrician, psychiatrist, or an accredited GP.

For ASD, a formal diagnosis can only be made by a paediatrician or psychiatrist.

Psychological assessments are conducted over multiple sessions and the total time varies depending on the type and complexity of the assessment. Combined assessments, such as ADHD and ASD together, typically take longer than a single assessment. Your psychologist will be able to give you a clearer indication of the expected timeframe as the assessment progresses.

Play therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses play as a natural language for children to express and work through emotional, behavioural, and social challenges. It is particularly beneficial for younger children who may find it difficult to communicate their feelings through words alone. For more information about our play therapy service, please visit our Our Services page.

Horizon Paediatrics is a private billing practice offering paediatric, psychology, and play therapy services. Our fees reflect the time, expertise, and individualised care our practitioners dedicate to each child and family. Fees may vary depending on the services provided and the clinician you are seeing. For more information, please contact us prior to your appointment.

Medicare rebates are available for paediatric and psychology appointments with a valid referral. We can process your Medicare claims online after your appointment. For full details on rebates and funding, please visit our Appointments&Fees page.

We accept NDIS funding for play therapy appointments. NDIS funding is not available for paediatric or psychology appointments.

We do not process third-party payments directly. However, we are happy to provide you with an invoice so you can submit a claim through your provider.

If you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment, please call us at least 48 hours prior. A cancellation fee of $100 applies to missed appointments or cancellations made with less than 48 hours notice. This applies to all services.

Future appointments may not be confirmed until any outstanding cancellation fees have been settled.

Depending on the type of medication, you may need a review appointment with your paediatrician or GP. Most medications prescribed by our paediatricians are Schedule 8 medicines, which means a face to face review appointment with your child present is required for all repeat prescriptions. Most prescriptions are valid for 6 months only and will expire after this period. If your paediatrician has prescribed a new medication or altered the regular dosage, they may request an earlier review to monitor your child’s progress. It is important to arrange this appointment within the recommended timeframe.

Due to high demand for paediatric appointments, we strongly recommend booking your child’s next review at least 3 weeks before their medication runs out.

Yes. We understand that navigating your child’s healthcare as a separated family can feel complicated. Both parents generally retain equal rights to consent to treatment and access medical records, unless a court order states otherwise. Either parent may bring their child to an appointment independently, and the parent who attends is responsible for communicating with the other parent about the child’s care. For full details, please visit our Clinic Policies page.

If a parenting order is in place, please let our reception team know and provide a copy at or prior to the first appointment.