Paediatric rehabilitation medicine physicians are involved in the provision of comprehensive rehabilitation care to children (tamariki) and young people with disability due to injury or disease. The aim is to enable the child to achieve the highest level of function, activity, and participation, with an emphasis on maximising functional independence.

Paediatric rehabilitation medicine physicians provide multidisciplinary care and assessment of children (tamariki) with acquired and congenital disabilities, including:

  • acquired brain injury
  • cerebral palsy and other movement disorders
  • limb difference
  • neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and other complex conditions requiring or benefitting from rehabilitation
  • spinal cord injury or disease.

The nature of care includes:

Ambulatory, community, and inpatient settings. Services are provided as inpatients, non-inpatients (outpatient / ambulatory) and in the community.

Rehabilitation assessment and management of congenital and acquired conditions. Patients treated are children (tamariki) with conditions resulting in functional impairments for which rehabilitation is assessed to be beneficial in reducing the effects of disability and improving function

Assessment and management of disability across the domains of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework. Paediatric rehabilitation medicine physicians assess and manage impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions, and evaluate the potential for rehabilitation.

Early identification, prevention, and management. Paediatric rehabilitation medicine physicians work in early identification, prevention, and management of conditions that may result in worsening / progressive disability.

Paediatric rehabilitation medicine physicians provide leadership and patient-centred care with a focus on communication, respect, and advocacy. They use these personal and professional attributes to:

  • Advocate for patients

    Paediatric rehabilitation medicine physicians recognise their own abilities and limits in the context of the rehabilitation team, and provide advocacy for their patients and their families.

  • Lead and manage teams

    Paediatric rehabilitation medicine physicians coordinate and manage multidisciplinary teams in the context of patient- and family-centred care and goal-directed rehabilitation programs.

  • Communicate effectively

    Communication with other professionals, including health practitioners in the formulation and execution of multidisciplinary rehabilitation plans, is a core competency of paediatric rehabilitation medicine physicians.

Last modified: Thursday, 27 November 2025, 12:21 PM