Ensuring your child's health and development is a top priority. In Australia, both General Practitioners (GPs) and paediatricians play crucial roles in children's healthcare. Understanding their distinct functions can help you make informed decisions about your child's routine health checks.

Understanding the Roles

General Practitioners (GPs)

General Practitioners (GPs) are typically the first point of contact for families seeking medical care. They provide comprehensive care, including routine health checks, managing common illnesses, and offering health education including:

Routine Health Checks: Monitoring growth, development, and administering vaccinations.
Managing Common Illnesses: Treating conditions like colds, flu, and minor injuries.
Health Education: Offering guidance on nutrition, sleep, and behavioural concerns.

Building a long-term relationship with a trusted GP helps ensure consistent care and a clear understanding of your child's health history over time. GPs can also identify when a specialist's input is necessary and facilitate referrals accordingly.

Paediatricians

Paediatricians are medical specialists focusing on children's health, particularly complex or chronic conditions. They typically require a referral from a GP. Paediatricians manage:

Chronic Illnesses: Such as asthma, diabetes, or epilepsy.
Developmental Disorders: Including autism spectrum disorders and ADHD.
Growth and Hormonal Issues: Addressing concerns like delayed growth or puberty.

Their specialised training equips them to handle intricate health issues that may be beyond the scope of general practice. Accessing a paediatrician typically involves a referral from your GP.

When to Consult a GP

For most routine health matters, a GP is well-equipped to provide care. Situations include regular check-ups to monitor development, administering immunisations as per the National Immunisation Program, and treating sudden illnesses or minor injuries.

GPs also play a crucial role in early development and health promotion, parent and carer education, and the provision of evidence-based preventive health activities.

At North Brighton Medical, our dedicated kids’ GP doctors offer family-centred care tailored to each child’s stage of development. We support early growth and wellbeing through routine health checks, developmental screening, and immunisations — all delivered in a warm, supportive environment.

When to Consult a Paediatrician

Paediatricians are trained to manage the unique and more complex health needs of babies, children, and teenagers—especially when a condition requires care beyond what a GP typically provides. Their expertise is valuable in managing complex or ongoing medical conditions, developmental delays, behavioural issues, or when a more detailed assessment or second opinion is required.

While you can book an appointment with a private paediatrician directly, a referral from a GP is generally recommended. Not only does it help ensure coordinated care, but it's also necessary if you want to access Medicare rebates for the consultation. Most families begin with a GP, who can assess the situation and determine whether specialist input is appropriate.

Routine Health Check Schedule

Regular health checks are essential for monitoring your child's growth and development. In Australia, it's recommended that children have health checks at the following ages:

Babies (up to 12 months): At birth, 1–4 weeks, 6–8 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 months.
Children (1 to 5 years): At 18 months, 2 years, 3 years, and 4 years.

These checks can be conducted by a GP or a child health nurse and are crucial for early detection of any health or developmental issues.

Conclusion

For routine health checks and general concerns, your GP is the appropriate starting point. GPs provide comprehensive, ongoing care and can refer your child to a paediatrician when more specialised support is required.

Paediatricians are valuable for managing complex, chronic, or developmental health concerns. Working together, GPs and paediatricians ensure children receive the right care at the right time.

At North Brighton Medical, our experienced GPs are here to support your child’s health from birth through to adolescence. We offer a warm, family-centred approach and can coordinate with paediatric specialists when needed, ensuring your child receives personalised care at every stage.