New statewide referral criteria for 12 children’s orthopaedic conditions come into effect from 20 April 2026 in all Victorian public hospitals.
Patients can be placed on a specialist clinic wait list when a referring GP provides information showing the referral meets the new criteria.
The criteria identify the information that should be included to assess and direct the patient to the best service available.
The children’s orthopaedics suite joins 20 suites of specialist referral criteria already in existence across Victoria.
Children’s orthopaedic conditions (from 20 April 2026):
- Assessment of atraumatic back and spine conditions in children
- Assessment of atraumatic hip conditions in children
- Assessment of atraumatic knee conditions in children
- Assessment of atraumatic shoulder conditions in children
- Assessment of non-traumatic foot and ankle conditions in children
- Back trauma in children
- Clavicle and shoulder trauma in children
- Foot and ankle trauma in children
- Hip trauma in children
- Knee trauma in children
- Suspected or confirmed bone or soft-tissue tumour in children
- Upper limb and hand trauma in children
All statewide referral criteria can be found here.
GPs and other primary care providers are encouraged to check HealthPathways Melbourne when making referrals – this will be the quickest way to understand a local public hospital’s requirements. It is also a helpful way to troubleshoot management of these conditions when a referral to specialist clinics is not indicated.
