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Gordon McKay Child Development Unit
The Gordon McKay Child Development Unit at LMH provides a service to assess and support children with developmental concerns. Our team works with children who have challenges in three or more areas of development and who have not yet been formally assessed.
Who can be referred?
We accept children under 8 years old who live in our area, which is north of Grand Junction Road.
If from a rural area – please contact us and we can support you by providing the most suitable service.
What services do we offer?
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessments
- Developmental Team Assessments
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Assessments (with completed FASD Referral Appendix)
Assessments are completed by a multi-disciplinary team, which may include:
- Paediatrician
- Psychologist
- Occupational Therapist
- Speech Pathologist
Assessments and diagnosis require a detailed history, including:
- Medical and Developmental history
- Parental/Carer Questionnaire
- School / Pre-school / Child-Care Questionnaire
Who can refer a child?
We accept referrals from:
- Health Professionals:
- Doctors
- Paediatricians
- Community Medical Officers
- Specialist/Paediatric Nurses
- Allied Health Professionals (Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Physiotherapists, Developmental Social Workers), and Child and Family Health Service clinicians.
Education Leaders (schools/kindy/childcare, both public and private):
- Teachers
- Special Educators
- Childcare Leadership
- Consultants
- The Department for Education
Referral Criteria
To be referred to our unit, a child must have developmental concerns in at least three of the following areas:
- Speech and Language (excluding stuttering)
- Fine Motor Skills (e.g. handwriting, cutting, manipulating objects)
- Gross Motor Skills (e.g. walking, ball skills, coordination)
- Self-help Skills (e.g. dressing, bathing)
- Sensory Processing (e.g. sensitivity to noise, touch, or lights)
- Social Skills (e.g. difficulty interacting with others)
- Play Skills (e.g. lack of imaginative play)
- Restrictive/Repeating Behaviors (e.g. strict routines, repetitive movements)
- Complex Medical Issues
Exclusions:
We cannot accept referrals for:
- Formal assessments that were previously completed within the past 2 years
- Concerns that are isolated to: Learning difficulties, ADHD, Anxiety/Depression, Stuttering, or Toileting issues
- Less than 3 developmental concerns
Referral Form — Complete the Gordon McKay CDU referral (PDF) form and return via post, e-mail or fax.
Before you refer…
The demand for assessment by the Gordon McKay Child Development Unit is significant and impacts wait times.
Please consider other services that might be helpful as alternatives for assessment and diagnosis:
- GP or Paediatrician
- Kudos Services (for children under 6, no formal diagnosis is needed for NDIS funding)
- Private Assessment Services
Alternate pathways are detailed here: Pathways for Assessment | Office for Autism
Supports whilst awaiting an appointment
While waiting, other services may be beneficial to support the child in the interim, and can also support the formal diagnosis process. These include:
- Children's and Families Service (access to speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work)
- GP or Paediatrician
- Kudos Services (for children under 6, no formal diagnosis is needed for NDIS funding)
- Department of Education (speech and psychology support)
- Private Therapists (speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and psychologists may provide support)
Contact
Referral Form — Complete the Gordon McKay CDU referral (PDF) form and return via post, e-mail or fax.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location: GP Plus Health Care Centre, 16 Playford Boulevard, Elizabeth SA 5112
Postal Address: Post Office Box 425, Elizabeth SA 5112
Phone: (08) 7485 4109 / (08) 7485 4094
Fax: (08) 7485 4011
Email: health.gordonmckaycdu@sa.gov.au