Shared decision making
You and your child have a right to be involved in your child’s care.
Shared decision-making is when you and your child work with your doctor or healthcare professional to make decisions together, instead of decisions being made on behalf of you and your child. It means talking about your and/or your child’s goals, values, preferences and what you want to achieve, along with the benefits and risks of treatment.
Before deciding, you might want to:
1. Clarify your decision
- What decision do you face?
- Why are you making this decision?
- When do you need to make a choice?
2. Explore your options
- What are the options?
- What are the benefits and risks of each option?
- Which benefits and risks matter most to you and your child?
- Do you and/or your child have enough support and advice to make a choice?
- Do you feel sure about the best choice for you and your child?
3. Plan your next steps
If you feel you do not have enough facts, support, or are unsure of anything, you might like to:
- Make a list of your questions (consider using a Question Builder tool)
- Make a list of where to find answers (such as the library, health professionals, or counsellors)
- Find people who have made this decision before and talk with them or read their stories
- Talk about the decision with a trusted person (such as a health professional, counsellor, family, or friend)
- Think about what other things are making the decision hard for you and/or your child.
Adapted from the Ottawa Family Decision Guide.
Remember, if you feel you are not, or were not, involved in making decisions about your child’s healthcare, you have a right to give feedback.
Resources
- Yarning to make health decisions together
- ASK Consultation Summary
- Ottawa Personal Decision Guide (available in 12 languages)
- Patient decision aids for specific conditions (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute)
- Kiind's resources
Do you need an interpreter?
Interpreters are available if you have difficulties with English. Please speak to one of our staff or call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450 to facilitate your call.
You can also access translated information about the Charter, including in 19 community languages, braille and Auslan versions.
Support from Aboriginal health services
Perth Children’s Hospital
Aboriginal Liaison Officers (ALOs) provide assistance and support to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with children and young people attending PCH. You can get in touch with an Aboriginal Liaison Officer by:
- Visiting Clinic L on Level 4 at PCH (the ALOs can visit you on the ward if you would prefer)
- Phone: 6456 2222 (asking for the Aboriginal Liaison Officer)
- Asking your child’s nurse or doctor to make a referral for you.
Community Health
The Aboriginal Health Team provide culturally appropriate and secure services to the Aboriginal community across the Perth metropolitan area. Find your local Aboriginal Health team here.
CAMHS
The Statewide Specialist Aboriginal Mental Health Service (SSAMHS) team supports Aboriginal young people and families in accessing culturally safe mental health services. You can call or email your local Community Mental Health Clinic for more information about the SSAMHS team.