Contacting Others

Purpose

To ensure safe, coordinated, and high-quality care, Paediatric People may need to communicate with other professionals involved in a child’s care. This policy outlines how consent for this communication is obtained and managed.

Our approach

We work collaboratively with GPs, specialists, allied health providers, schools, and other relevant professionals to support the best outcomes for children and families.

Sharing information allows us to:

  • Provide consistent and informed care

  • Avoid duplication of assessments or treatment

  • Ensure safety and continuity across services

Consent to share information

At registration, we ask for consent to contact and share information with relevant healthcare professionals and services involved in the child’s care.

By providing consent, you are authorising Paediatric People to:

  • Request and receive relevant medical or developmental information

  • Share clinical information, reports, and recommendations

  • Communicate with professionals involved in the child’s care team

This may include (but is not limited to):

  • General practitioners (GPs)

  • Paediatricians or medical specialists

  • Psychologists and allied health providers

  • Schools, kindergartens, or educational supports (where relevant to care)

Optional and limited consent

Consent can be tailored to your preferences.

You may:

  • Limit which professionals or organisations we contact

  • Request that certain information is not shared

  • Withdraw or update your consent at any time

Please note:

Limiting consent may affect our ability to coordinate care or provide comprehensive recommendations.

Separated families and decision-making authority

Where parents or guardians share parental responsibility, consent to share information should be provided in accordance with our Separated Families Policy.

Where the person completing registration does not have authority to make medical decisions, consent must be provided by the authorised decision-maker before information is shared.

Child Protection / DFFH involvement

Where a child is under the care of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) or another authorised body:

  • Information may be shared with the relevant case manager or authorised representative in line with legal requirements

  • Consent must be provided by the authorised decision-maker where required

Privacy and confidentiality

All information sharing is conducted in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

We:

  • Only share information that is relevant to the child’s care

  • Handle all information securely and confidentially

  • Comply with applicable privacy legislation

Full details are available here.

Fees and administrative considerations

Communication with other professionals (e.g. report writing, phone calls, case conferencing) may be billable in line with our Fees & Payments Policy.

AI-assisted documentation

Where AI-supported tools are used to assist with documentation (e.g. clinical note-taking), any information shared externally remains subject to your consent and our AI Scribe Policy.

Updates to consent

You can update or withdraw your consent at any time by contacting our team.

Questions

We understand that privacy and information sharing can feel important and sometimes complex. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your preferences, our team is happy to help.