About our Paediatric Developmental Program (PDP)

The program comprises of a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment, diagnosis, review and treatment service for children with complex developmental and behavioural issues.

This is a specialist service with expertise in supporting complex families, trauma-informed care, and family-centred practice. The Program is free to families who meet our specific eligibility criteria.

Children and their families travel to Royal Far West in Manly for a week-long stay, during which they have access to a multidisciplinary team that includes:

• Neurodevelopmental paediatrics
• Child and adolescent psychiatry
• Speech pathology
• Psychology
• Occupational therapy
• Social work
• Special educators
• Dietetics
• Orthoptic and ophthalmology

Families stay on-site at our Drummond House accommodation facility, and children attend the Royal Far West School during the school term.

After school, children are invited to participate in our Recreation Program, which involves a broad range of exciting activities designed to build confidence, reinforce health and well-being, and encourage the children to have fun.

Due to very high demand, we have an admissions process to ensure that our services go to those who are most in need.

Paediatric Developmental Program (PDP) Factsheet

Important information

Royal Far West (RFW) is committed to providing a safe environment for staff, clients, families, guests, and anyone else visiting the RFW campus in Manly and takes the health and safety of staff, clients, and visitors seriously. If you are planning on visiting Royal Far West in Manly for PDP services, please read our COVID-19 Advice for Visitors page.

 

Accessing this program

Step 1: Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, the child must:

• Be under 12 years of age.
• Reside in an area where there is no access to the appropriate health services.
• Reside within the program’s NSW geographical boundaries of north of Taree, west of the Great Dividing Range (Lithgow), or south of Nowra.
• Fulfill relevant clinical criteria.

Because of our focus on early intervention and resource allocation, we are unable to provide assessment services to:

• Children 13 years or older.
• Children accessing appropriate local services, or for whom an appropriate local service exists (although Royal Far West may act as a secondary referral for those service providers).
• Children with acute conditions for which a more urgent response is required.
• Children whose behaviour or family situation comprises a risk to themselves or others, such that a visit to the Manly site is considered unsafe (these children may become eligible at a later date if issues resolve sufficiently).
• Children for whom the primary issue relates to an acute mental health issue.

Step 2: Referral

• To access the PDP you will need a completed referral form from your local doctor or your paediatrician if you have one.
• Sending copies of previous assessments, reports or letters is of great assistance.

Medical Referral Form

Step 3: Acknowledgement

• If the referral meets eligibility criteria, you will be sent a letter acknowledging the referral, as well as a parent questionnaire, and a school questionnaire.
• Reports or assessments that have not already been sent will also be requested.

Step 4: Parent & School Questionnaires

• The parent questionnaire and consent form need to be submitted via Connect. The school questionnaire is to be completed and submitted by the school.
• Submitting completed questionnaires with the referral and reports helps the eligibility assessment process.

Step 5: Review & Acceptance

When the completed forms, and relevant reports/letters, are received by Royal Far West, the referral will be reviewed by our Intake team. If the referral is accepted, it will be prioritised by age, where you live, reasons and date of referral.

Step 6: Admission

Prior to admission, your Intake Manager or Care Coordinator will contact you to plan your upcoming visit, and discuss any further information needed to ensure you get the most out of your time here with the team

Step 7: Cancellations Policy

Cancellations Policy – PDP