New Medicare program offers developmental screenings for three-year-olds

The Medicare Healthy Kids Check involves general practitioners (GPs) assessing a child’s medical history, behaviors, relationships, toileting habits, lifestyle, and sleep patterns, comparing them against typical developmental milestones. This check is available once per child.

Tim Jones, of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), expressed excitement about the program’s launch, noting its return after a similar Medicare check for four-year-olds was discontinued in 2015. “What this will hopefully enable is for us to pick up a lot of the kids who don’t have really obvious disability, but who do need a bit more out of the [health] system,” he said.

If concerns are identified, GPs will determine appropriate interventions or referrals, potentially to speech therapists or playgroups. The screenings aim to identify children who are “developmentally vulnerable,” potentially facing difficulties transitioning to school without support.

The RACGP emphasizes that most key developmental milestones are typically achieved within the first three years of life, and that more than one in five children exhibit some developmental vulnerability by age three. The timing is considered crucial due to potential emotional and transitional challenges.

While doctors and specialists generally support early intervention efforts, independent MP Monique Ryan raised concerns about implementation and the health system’s capacity to respond to identified concerns. She noted that experts recommended nurses and allied health professionals be able to administer the check, but the government has restricted it to GPs.

While the government will support GPs through incentives, bulk billing is not guaranteed, and Dr. Ryan advocated for parents to have certainty about costs. The availability of state and territory-run support services under the Thriving Kids banner is not expected until January 2028.

Niroshini Kennedy, president of Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) Paediatrics & Child Health Division, stressed that identifying concerns is only the first step, requiring timely intervention and support services. The rollout of Thriving Kids is considered a “critical time” for the country, with the potential to alleviate stress on families and the health and education sectors.