ORIGINAL ARTICLE Families referred to a Child Assessment Team: The Campbelltown experience Norma Kayrouz, Susan Milne, Carolyn Cottier and Jenny McDonald Department of Community Paediatrics, Campbelltown Hospital, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia Aim: To study the socio-demographic and psychosocial risk factors of families presenting with their children for a diagnostic developmental assessment. Methods: Socio-demographic details of children who had a multidisciplinary developmental assessment with the Child Assessment Team at Campbelltown Hospital between January 2009 and December 2010 were collated and compared with census data. Results: In 2009 and 2010, 277 families were seen by the Child Assessment Team. A detailed socio-demographic profile was available for 251 (91%) families. Parents seen in the clinic were more likely to be younger, single, born overseas, have less post-school education, identify as Aboriginal and/or live in public housing compared with the district rates. Conclusions: Families presenting to the developmental clinic have more socio-economic disadvantage compared with the referring district. This has implications for service delivery and clinical presentation, and highlights the importance of the social worker’s role in a developmental diagnostic team. Key words: accessibility of services; child development; diagnostic assessment; socio-demographic risk. What is already known on this topic 1 There is a strong association between socio-economic disad- vantage and developmental delay and disability. 2 Disadvantaged families are less likely than the general popula- tion to access and use health services. 3 Psychosocial assessment and support is recognised as best practice during disability assessment and diagnosis. What this paper adds 1 Disadvantaged families are highly represented in public devel- opmental assessment services and present with complex psy- chosocial needs. 2 Publicly funded diagnostic services are needed in disadvan- taged areas to ensure equitable access for all families of children with developmental disabilities. 3 A social worker is an essential member of a multidisciplinary developmental diagnostic team to ensure optimal diagnosis, support and referral. The diagnosis of developmental disorders in early childhood is complex. It requires specialists skilled in the administration of developmental assessments in children with difficult behaviour, and clinicians with experience in identifying the complex psycho- social factors that may contribute to the child’s presentation. A detailed psychosocial assessment of the family at the time of assess- ment can add valuable information needed for diagnosis as well as helping to guide referrals for intervention and support. The aim of this study was to determine the socio-demographic and psychoso- cial risk factors in families presenting with their children for a diagnostic developmental assessment in the Macarthur. The Child Assessment Team at Campbelltown Hospital is a mul- tidisciplinary team that provides comprehensive assessment, diag- nosis, support and referral for young children with complex developmental and behavioural problems in accordance with Royal Australian College of Physicians guidelines. 1 The team is based at Campbelltown Hospital and accepts paediatrician referrals for children aged 0–5 years from the Macarthur district which includes Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly local govern- ment areas. The district is situated on the south western outskirts of Sydney. Like many outer metropolitan districts in Australia, 2 there has been a rapid population increase comprising young families and there are areas of high socio-economic disadvantage compared with the national average. 3 The assessment team at Campbelltown Hospital is made up of two community paediatricians, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, a physiotherapist and a social worker. The team assesses most children with disabilities in the district who will require a supported education placement. There are limited alter- natives for assessment offered by the local private sector and other Correspondence: Dr Jenny McDonald, Community Paediatrics, Campbelltown Hospital, Therry Road, PO Box 149, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia. Fax: +0246343650; email: Jenny.mcdonald@sswahs.nsw .gov.au Conflict of interest: None. Accepted for publication 27 May 2014. doi:10.1111/jpc.12678 Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 50 (2014) 1008–1012 © 2014 The Authors Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health © 2014 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians). 1008