Welcome to the Paediatric Fellow in Community Child Health E-Referral Service.
Currently, our Community Paediatric Clinics are full and cannot take any new referrals until we reopen in February 2021. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
About us
The Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service (VicFAS) is a multi-disciplinary team that conducts Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) diagnostic assessments.
Children aged 3-10 years with developmental and behavioural concerns and a confirmed history of prenatal alcohol exposure can be referred by their paediatrician.
FASD is a diagnostic term for severe neurodevelopmental impairments that result from brain based differences caused by alcohol exposure before birth. These may present as difficulties with thinking, language, memory, learning, motor skills, emotional regulation and behaviour.
Team
- Developmental Paediatrician
- Clinic coordinator
- Neuropsychologist
- Occupational therapist
- Speech pathologist
- Social worker
- Educator
- Administration Officer
Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor Katrina Harris is a Paediatrician, Head of Developmental and Community Paediatrics at Monash Children’s Hospital and Head of Service for the Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service (VicFAS) at Monash Children’s Hospital.
She is a member of the National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Advisory group, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Monash University in Paediatrics, and National examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. She has worked and trained in Melbourne, Darwin, Townsville and North Queensland Aboriginal communities for over 20 years.
A/Prof Harris has expertise in neurodevelopmental differences; children with challenges in thinking, learning, behaviour, social and communication skills. She has a subspecialty interest in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
In 2019 A/Prof Harris received an Australian Government grant to establish a Victoria wide FASD diagnostic assessment service for children 3-10 years. This ongoing work integrates teaching and training medical and allied health practitioners in order to facilitate a workforce familiar with supporting families and their children with FASD.
Reflecting her significant contribution, A/Prof Harris was invited to, and provided, a submission to the 2021 National Senate Enquiry on FASD. She has also integrated FASD teaching into the Australian Paediatric training program for the Royal Australian College of Physicians.
VicFAS Clinics
- Runs monthly at Monash Children’s Hospital
- Regional assessment clinics are run twice a year in each of the following locations: Sale, Bendigo and Geelong
- A comprehensive assessment occurs over two days and then a feedback appointment is provided for the family.
- Feedback is also offered to school, childcare centre or kindergarten
- The service is provided at no cost to the families
FASD Diagnostic Consultation Service
- The FASD Diagnostic Consultation Service provides paediatricians with FASD diagnostic advice
- Assessments already performed in the community form the foundation of the consultation
- The VicFAS neuropsychologist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, teacher and paediatrician review assessments performed to date against the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD
- Advice is provided to the paediatrician as to what further information and local assessments could be obtained to progress the diagnosis
- Telehealth feedback is provided to the child’s paediatrician
- A written report with recommendations is provided to the paediatrician at the conclusion of the diagnostic consultation
Eligibility Criteria
- 3-10 years of age
- Reside in Victoria
- Evidence of prenatal alcohol exposure
- Concerns regarding development and behaviour
- Consent from carer/guardian for referral
- Referrals will only be accepted from a paediatrician
Referrals
Secure eReferral by HealthLink is now our preferred method of referral. Paediatricians can refer via HealthLink to:
Monash Health – FASD Service
Attn: VicFAS
Find up-to-date information about how to send a referral to Monash Health Specialist Consulting Clinics on the eReferrals page on the Monash Health website.
Enquiries
Email: VicFAS@monashhealth.org
Ph: (03) 8572 3773
Useful Resources
