General Paediatrics

Picture of a doctor with a child

A general paediatrician is a medical doctor who specialises in the health of children from birth to early adulthood. Their role in neurodevelopment is crucial as they are often the first point of contact for families with concerns about a child's development, learning, or behaviour.
Picture of a doctor with a child

Initial Assessment and Diagnosis:

A general paediatrician conducts a comprehensive assessment that includes a detailed medical history, physical examination, and developmental screening. This helps to identify or rule out any underlying medical conditions that might be affecting development. They are trained to recognise signs of neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, and learning difficulties.

Providing Referrals and Coordinating Care:

Once a concern is identified, the paediatrician acts as a central coordinator for the child's care. They refer to and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of allied health professionals, which may include psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and educators. This collaborative approach ensures the child receives a comprehensive and tailored care plan. Our paediatricians also provide dedicated assessment and care for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and for tics and Tourette's.
Where a child has speech, language or communication concerns, our paediatricians work closely with our speech pathology service.

Ongoing Management:

For many neurodevelopmental conditions, the paediatrician provides ongoing management. This can involve monitoring the child's progress, adjusting treatment plans as they grow, and providing parental guidance and support. They may also manage medication for certain conditions, such as ADHD, and help families navigate funding and support services like the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia.

Advocacy and Education:

Paediatricians advocate for the child's needs in various settings, including schools. They help families and educators better understand the child's unique needs and strengths, promoting an environment that supports their development and well-being. They also provide vital education to parents on developmental milestones and the importance of early intervention.
To learn more, you can read our article What Does a Developmental Paediatrician Do? on our blog.

Our general paediatrics team

General and developmental paediatrics at Hunter Children's Clinics is provided by our paediatricians: Dr Robert Parry, Dr Neil Anderson, Dr Kristin Mansour, Dr Sally Quill, Dr Sabah Brown, Dr Nidhi Panicker and Dr Rakel Hansen.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a general paediatrician and a developmental paediatrician?

All paediatricians are medical doctors who specialise in the health of children. "Developmental paediatrics" describes a focus within that on how children grow, learn, communicate and behave, including attention, learning, social interaction and emotional wellbeing. At Hunter Children's Clinics our paediatricians work across both general and developmental paediatrics, so a single referral can cover physical health and developmental concerns together. You can read more in our article on what a developmental paediatrician does.

What ages do your paediatricians see?

We care for children from birth to early adulthood. Dr Robert Parry continues to care for young people into their early twenties as they move from school into further study, work and adult life.

My baby is under 12 months old. Which clinic should we come to?

Babies under 12 months are generally seen through our Neonatology Baby Clinic with Dr Anil Lakkundi rather than in general paediatric clinic. You do not need to work this out yourself: every referral is triaged before an appointment is offered, so your child is matched to the right clinician and pathway.

Who decides which paediatrician we see?

Standard referrals are waitlisted under Dr Robert Parry and triaged before an appointment is booked with any paediatrician or nurse practitioner. Triage looks at what your referral describes and matches your child to the most appropriate clinician and pathway.

Can we see a paediatrician by telehealth?

Yes. Dr Robert Parry consults primarily by telehealth for both initial appointments and follow-ups, and also sees families in person at Merewether and Carrington where that is clinically appropriate. A valid GP referral is still needed before a first paediatric appointment can be booked, and a referral is required for a Medicare rebate.

Will my child be referred on to other services?

Often, yes. A paediatrician frequently coordinates care with psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy, dietetics and social work, either within our team or elsewhere. Where those services are provided at Hunter Children's Clinics, allied health appointments do not require a GP referral, so a family can usually be booked in directly. Our fees and referrals page sets out what is needed for each service.

Content reviewed July 2026