A–Z Service Directory

The Children’s Physiotherapy team at Eastern Health Community Health work with children and their families who are experiencing physical and gross motor skill related problems. They provide assessment and management of infants and children up to 12 years old on an individual basis. Children’s physiotherapists are available to provide assessment and management for children with a wide range of paediatric conditions.

Reasons for referral may include:

• Neurodevelopmental delay (not reaching developmental ‘milestones’)
• Muscle tone variations (low tone "floppy" or high tone "stiff" in body, arms and legs)
• Gross motor development disorders (children who are not eligible or not yet receiving NDIS)
• Gait variations/abnormalities (concerns with how a child is walking, e.g. toe walking)
• Joint, neck and back pain

Below conditions are seen by children’s physiotherapists at Acute Outpatient Department. Please fax your referral to 9194 7530 (preferred) or email to BhAlliedHealth@easternhealth.org.au

• Plagiocephaly (flat or misshapen head in infants)
• Torticollis or head turn preference (usually presenting at birth)
• Talipes (foot posture issues usually presenting at birth)
• Obstetric brachial plexus palsy
• Normal postural variations (e.g. in-toeing, bow-legged, knock-knees, flat feet)

Please refer to alternate services:

• For a non-school aged child with moderate to severe developmental delay/issues and requires more than 2 allied health therapies. E.g. Speech Pathology and/or Occupational Therapy as well as Physiotherapy please refer to National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) services through Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI).
• If a child has a known diagnosis (e.g. Down’s Syndrome, Fragile X, Cerebral Palsy) where there is other government funding available. E.g. NDIS, ECEI or school based therapy.
• For a school aged child with moderate to severe issues requiring more than 2 allied health therapies. E.g. Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy as well as Physiotherapy please discuss referrals with their school.
• For children post injury/illness/surgery that require intensive multi-therapy care, please refer to Eastern Health Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service.
• Children attending another physiotherapy service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Healesville Hospital and Yarra Valley Health

For children living in the Yarra Valley area

Maroondah Hospital

For children living in the eastern suburbs