What to do if you have a concern

Every child is unique and will grow and develop in different ways and at different rates.

You know your child better than anyone else. If you are concerned or have questions about your child's development, trust your instinct and seek professional advice.

Developmental milestones include physical (fine and gross motor), communication, social/emotional and cognitive (thinking) skills, which indicate how your child is developing.  For example, the age a child says their first words or starts walking is a milestone in their development.

Milestones should be used as a guide only as some children will develop skills more quickly in some areas and more slowly in others.

Find out what children may typically be doing at different ages.

For children aged 0-5 years

For children aged 5-8 years

You can also talk to your child health nurse, school health nurse or your general practitioner (GP). They can provide information on developmental milestones and answer any questions.

When children are slower to reach milestones than expected, it’s called developmental delay.

To find out more about developmental delay for children aged 0-8 years visit Raising Children Network | Developmental delay in children.

It’s important to discuss your concerns with someone who is experienced in child development.

We recommend that a good first step is to contact your child health nurse, school health nurse or general practitioner (GP).

They can complete an initial child health and development assessment and answer any questions you may have. If needed, they can also support you with a referral to our Child Development Service or another service for further assessment, diagnosis and/or support.

Child health nurse or school health nurse

Your child health nurse or school health nurse can provide free health and development checks for children.

They can also offer health information and support for families.

To book an appointment with your child health nurse, phone 1300 749 869 (8:30am – 5pm weekdays).

You can contact your school health nurse through your child’s school office.

General practitioner (GP)

You can discuss your child's development and related concerns such as nutrition, appetite, growth, toileting, sleep, emotional wellbeing and mood changes with your GP.

They can talk to you about any investigations (e.g. vision, hearing, blood tests) that may be required to support referrals to other services.

If you wish to access private allied health services, your GP can discuss Medicare funded allied health options with you.

Concerns or questions about academic progress and/or learning

If your concerns or questions are more about your child’s academic progress and/or learning concerns, we recommend you discuss this with your child’s school teacher, principal or school support services.

You can talk to your school about whether your child would benefit from an Individual Education Plan or support from a school psychologist.

If your child experiences difficulties with attention, regulation and concentration, we have some tips for working with your child's school.

To see an allied health clinician (e.g. speech pathologist, physiotherapist, clinical psychologist) who specialises in child development or a developmental paediatrician for assessment, diagnosis or support, there are a few options.

Child Development Service

We offer assessment and support for children with developmental delay living in the Perth metropolitan area. We work with children with a delay in one or more areas of development, including physical (fine and gross motor), communication, social/emotional and cognitive (thinking) skills.

We accept referrals from professionals (e.g. teachers, general practitioners (GPs), child care staff) or parents/carers.

If a parent/carer referral is completed, it is recommended that you attach additional information to support your referral. This includes copies of relevant private health practitioner reports, medical reports, National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) and school reports, and school psychologist reports, if available.

To find out more about the services we offer visit our services: assessment and support.

Private services

You may choose to access a private service.

The right services for your child handout explains some of the services available.

Check with the private service if you need to complete a referral form to access their service. If a referral is needed, find out if this needs to be completed by your GP, or if they accept referrals directly from the parent/legal guardian.

If you are accessing a private service for a single concern (e.g. therapy for speech sound concerns), you may not need a referral form.

For more complex concerns across multiple developmental areas, most services will require a referral form (usually from your GP).

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The Early Childhood Approach (under 9 years)

The Early Childhood Approach (ECA) is funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for children under 6 years who have a developmental delay or concern, and children under 9 years who have a disability.

Wanslea is the early childhood partner that delivers the ECA in Perth. If your child is under 6 years and you have significant concerns about their development, you may wish to consider applying for their services. A diagnosis is not required to access the ECA if your child is under 6 years.

Visit the Wanslea website to learn more about the ECA and to access a referral form.

For further information or support with completing the referral form, discuss with your GP or other health professional.

NDIS (over 9 years)

The NDIS supports children 9 years and older with permanent disability to access necessary services and supports. For children over 9 years, the NDIS will connect you with a Local Area Coordinator (e.g. another organisation) dependent on where you live in the metropolitan area.

As your child’s caregiver, how you interact with your child plays one of the most important roles in their development.

You can use your daily routine, such as getting ready for child care/school, mealtimes, playtime and bedtime, as opportunities to help build communication, problem-solving, and fine and gross motor skills.

Visit supporting your child's development for resources and age-appropriate ways you can support your child.

The Child Development Service does NOT provide emergency health services.

If you are concerned about significant changes in your child’s health and/or development, including if they can no longer do things they used to do, contact your GP.

For immediate concerns, particularly if your child's behaviour poses a risk to themselves or to others, refer to the services below:

Last Updated: 21/10/2025