Home · Child Development Services · Condition
Child Development Services · Refer Your Patient
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Copied from the official Gold Coast Health condition page (27 Aug 2026). Hospital triage assigns the official category. Live source: Refer Your Patient — Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
CPC windows
Cat 1 · 30 days
appointment within 30 calendar days. - Child in out of home care, known to Child Safety Services where there is an imminent threat of breakdown of current foster placement due to the complexity of the child's developmental concerns
- Child with facial dysmorphology characterised by 3 sentinel facial features and microcephaly
- Child who presents with abnormalities on neurological examination or neuroimaging and severe functional deficits
- Child under 12 months residing in the Gold Coast catchment who presents with significant global developmental delay
Cat 2 · 90 days
appointment within 90 calendar days. - Child at imminent risk of losing existing resources / or not able to access appropriate external resources (i.e., ECEI / NDIS) without diagnostic assessment
- Child demonstrating evidence of moderate-severe developmental delay, behaviour or cognitive problems across three or more domains suggestive of FASD (i.e., motor, communication, learning, memory, attention, executive function, and social, emotional or adaptive functioning) that are impacting on their day to day functioning or participation
- Specialist FASD diagnostic assessment requested for a child (presenting with symptoms and behaviours associated with FASD) who has had difficulty engaging in assessment or responding to recognised therapies / interventions provided by an external service
- Child with neurodevelopmental concerns who is
- in out of home care
- at risk of entering the child protection system
- in the care of a biological parent or relative with some supports in place that are insufficient to support the child and family’s immediate needs
- Child who is at low-moderate risk of harm to themselves, others, property, and/or animals
- Child who is involved with the police and/or justice system
- Child who meets one or more of the Education Adjustment Program (EAP) verifiable categories or Child who is on an Individual Learning Plan / learning on an adjusted curriculum below their year level
- School-aged child with recent change in behaviour that has resulted in them entering or progressing up the Queensland Education “One School” tier system for behaviour management
- Child who is at risk of expulsion or has experienced repeated suspensions or who is presenting with reduced access or engagement at childcare / school due to behaviour or developmental concerns.
Cat 3 · 365 days
appointment within 365 calendar days. - Children with confirmed Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) requiring diagnostic clarification who are linked in with a service (ECEI / NDIS or private therapist) and are in a stable care environment
- Children with symptoms and behaviours associated with FASD that have responded to recognised therapies / interventions to such a level that their symptoms and behaviours are well managed and supported
Essential referral information
Referral will be returned without this. If a mandatory test cannot be obtained, say so in the referral.
- As specified in key criteria, evidence of prenatal alcohol exposure is required (i.e., directly reported, witnessed or documented in formal records), including details regarding frequency, duration and quantity of consumption. Where possible the AUDIT-C should be completed to characterise alcohol exposure during the target pregnancy.
- Sufficient screening of symptoms or behaviours of concern. This may include developmental status, mental health status, behaviour and/or social wellbeing
- If school-based behaviours are the primary reason for the referral, provide a letter from the school outlining behaviours of concern.
- Specify what medical investigations, if any, have been requested or completed (e.g., laboratory tests, medical imaging). Please attach copies of results where available. Please provide a reason when investigations are clinically indicated, but not yet completed.
- Medical history including:
- Information regarding adverse events during pregnancy or birth
- Details regarding relevant medical events
- Provide evidence and source of current diagnoses (e.g., Intellectual Disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Reactive Attachment Disorder etc.)
- Specify what assessments, if any, have been completed by external service providers (i.e., Allied Health Practitioners, Department of Education). Please provide a summary of findings or attach copies of reports where available.
Out of scope / wrong door
The following conditions are out of scope for this service:
- Children who require developmental monitoring/surveillance (in the absence of developmental delay) should be referred to GP or Child Health Nurse.
- Educational assessment of school age children
- Services that should be initially provided by primary care or community based allied health care for children, including well infant care and advice, parenting and behaviour management for young children, developmental services for children with mild developmental delay
- Health screening assessments including on entry to foster care
- Acute paediatric concerns
- Developmental Allied Health intervention services will not be provided for Children who are eligible for Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) / National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) For children who are non-Australian citizens but still meet clinical criteria for an underlying disability as defined by ECEI/NDIS, CDS Gold Coast is unable to provide long term allied health intervention services.
- Allied health developmental intervention services are not provided for children who are school-age (prep to year 12)
Parent service: Child Development Services
Send outpatient referrals to
- Smart Referrals preferred (Best Practice or Medical Director)
- Medical Objects GQ42150009Z (lookup qh → QHEALTH, GOLD COAST HEALTH OUTPATIENT)
- HealthLink EDI Qldgchsd
- Fax (07) 5687 4497 — Booking and Referral Centre
- Post: Booking and Referral Centre, Gold Coast University Hospital, 1 Hospital Boulevard, Southport QLD 4215
- Clinic enquiries 1300 559 083
How to refer — full order
CPC category windows