Do I need a referral?
You need a written referral to see a paediatrician. This is required to claim any potential Medicare rebates for your child’s appointment. As a general rule, referrals from a GP to a specialist paediatrician are valid for 12 months. Referrals from another specialist are usually only valid for 3 months unless otherwise specified.
Your GP can send a referral directly from their practice software using the Consultmed platform. Or, they can email a referral to referrals@banksiapaediatrics.com.au.
In the weeks leading up to the appointment
After you get your appointment date, we’ll send you a link to fill out the patient registration form. This helps us gather important information about your child before the appointment, including their strengths, interests and details of those involved in their care.
If the appointment is about a neurodevelopmental, learning or behavioural concern, it can be very useful to gather supporting feedback and documentation from allied health clinicians, teachers, etc. before the appointment. Examples of these include:
Letter from the classroom teacher detailing learning progress and behaviour
School reports
Standardised assessments (if completed)
WISC, WIAT-III, Conners, ABAS, Vineland, etc
Behavioural questionnaire (eg Vanderbilt)- click here for link
Check out our Resources for more information on what to expect if you have an appointment regarding a neurodevelopmental, learning or behavioural concern.
If the appointment is regarding a medical concern, it can be very useful to gather past clinical letters/reports, hospital discharge summaries, blood and imaging test results.
If we need to discuss topics that may be difficult for your child to hear, we strongly encourage you to bring a support person to the appointment.
What to bring to the appointment
Your referral from a GP or other doctor if one hasn’t been uploaded or sent through to us already.
Your completed patient registration form, which you should have received online before the appointment (if not already supplied). Otherwise, please arrive 10-15 minutes early to complete it before your appointment time.
Support person (if needed)
Medicare card.
Investigations including blood tests, X-rays or imaging reports.
Previous assessments, reports and letters from other health care professionals.
Teachers’ reports.
Hospital Discharge Summaries, if relevant to the appointment.
Your child’s health care record (blue book) if relevant.
How to get to Banksia Paediatrics
By car:
We are located in the West Wing of the Platinum Building in Erina. If you input Platinum Building Erina into your Maps app you shouldn’t run into trouble! You can park in the car park of the Platinum Building or Fountain Plaza. The West Wing is the part of the building closest to the end. Parking is free.
By bus:
Banksia Paediatrics is easily accessible by bus, most bus routes travelling through Erina stop at Karalta Rd. It is then a flat 5 min walk to the Platinum Building.
Enter the building and take the lift to Level 2 – we are right next to the lifts. There are bathrooms inside the building on Level 2. Banksia Paediatrics is easily accessible for those using wheelchairs and prams.
If it is your first appointment, arrive 10-15 mins early to complete all registration forms and allow your child time to settle into the new environment.
What will happen at the appointment?
Once you arrive, our friendly admin staff will welcome you and check that we have the correct contact and Medicare details for your child.
You will then have time to explore the play area and settle in.
When it’s time for your appointment, the paediatrician will greet you and take you to a consult room. The rooms are calm, colourful and have room for the whole family.
In your first appointment, expect to spend about 40 to 60 minutes. We will discuss all aspects of your child’s life. Remember, if we need to discuss something your child shouldn’t hear, please bring a support person.
Your child will have their height, weight and blood pressure measured, as well as any further examination relevant to their concerns.
At the end of the consultation, you will collaborate with your paediatrician to develop a management plan and discuss what the next steps are. If you are here about a neurodevelopmental, learning or behavioural concern, sometimes this will involve gathering more information from other sources (school, allied health clinicians, etc) or referral for further assessments.
After the consultation, you will head back to the front desk, where our friendly Admin staff will greet you again and collect your consultation fee. They can bill Medicare for you, provided you have a current referral. You will also be able to book a follow-up appointment at this time.
How do I access my telehealth appointment?
You will be sent a link prior to the appointment.
Remember, your child needs to be in attendance to claim a Medicare rebate.
What are your fees and how do I pay?
Our paediatrician fees vary depending on the length and nature of the consultation; please contact our reception team for further information. We review our fees every 6 months.
If you have a current referral, you can often claim a Medicare rebate right before you pay. There will also be a ‘gap fee’ along with this rebate. This fee will change based on the length and type of appointment.
Banksia Paediatrics is a private clinic. We need full payment on the day of your consultation. We accept most major credit cards, EFTPOS or cash payments. If you think you might have trouble paying on the day, please chat with our helpful Admin team beforehand. We’ll do our best to support you.
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
No problem, life happens! We just ask that you let us know at least 24 hours prior if you need to change or cancel your appointment, as this allows us to offer it to other patients.
Missed appointments, or appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, may be subject to a cancellation fee.
