21 April 2026
Statewide referral criteria improve access to public hospitals in Victoria by providing clear and concise guidance on when a referral for specialist opinion and management is indicated.
New statewide referral criteria for 12 children’s orthopaedics 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.
Visit Department of Health website when considering a referral for a patient: Statewide Referral Criteria | health.vic.gov.
