VirtualKIDS, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network
The virtualKIDS team connects children and families with health professionals quickly and safely.
Care is provided when and where it’s needed across NSW, using phone or video consultations, and remote monitoring.
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Contact Healthdirect
About virtualKIDS
The virtualKIDS service aims to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time, by:
- helping deliver care closer to home for families
- saving on travel costs and time for families
- making it easier for families to navigate the health system.
We help families access care faster and avoid unnecessary trips to the Emergency Department by identifying the best care pathway based on their individual needs.
We use phone, video conferencing and remote monitoring to deliver clinical consultations and support for families or carers looking after a sick baby, child or young person up to 16 years.
To connect with virtualKIDS you must call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 first. They will provide initial assessment of your child's condition before referring your child to us.
Patients can also be referred to virtualKIDS from NSW Ambulance, hospital teams, local clinicians, or other health services.
Looking for virtual care instead?
This page provides information on virtualKIDS consultations.
For information on other virtual services such as telehealth and video consultations, visit the Virtual care services page.
virtualKIDS services
Virtual Emergency Service
virtualKIDS Virtual Emergency Service provides virtual emergency care for babies, children and young people up to 16 years with urgent, non-life-threatening health concerns. We aim at providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Delivered by a team of specialist paediatric nurses and doctors, the service connects families with expert care through secure video consultations.
How it works
- Call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 and speak to a Healthdirect nurse. They will listen to your concerns, assess your child’s symptoms, and help decide whether virtualKIDS is the most appropriate option to get care for your child.
- With your consent, Healthdirect will then refer you to virtualKIDS.
- You will receive an SMS with a link to join our secure video platform.
- A virtualKIDS nurse will join you and do further assessment on your child's condition.
- We will advise on the next steps, including connecting with your local GP, urgent care centres, or arrange a consultation with a virtualKIDS paediatrician.
- If face-to-face emergency care is required, our team can help organise this and can arrange an ambulance if needed.
To access the virtualKIDS Virtual Emergency Service, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
Virtual Acute Review Service
virtualKIDS Acute Review Service supports children discharged from hospital after an admission or ED presentation for an acute respiratory or viral illness.
The service provides 24/7 clinical support for up to 48 hours. Our team will help you care for your child at home after discharge from the ED or paediatric ward. We offer guidance, reassurance, and advice during your child’s illness and recovery.
We use secure video consultations, to monitor your child’s progress at home. We provide practical support, including:
- respiratory assessments
- fever management
- hydration guidance
- education to help you care for your child safely and confidently.
Your child’s emergency or ward doctor will provide a referral to Acute Review Service if appropriate
More information
Benefits of using virtualKIDS
- It's free
- Provides extra support for families in remote and regional areas.
- Paediatricians are available when needed
- 24/7 nurse support
- Helps you make informed decisions about next steps for your child's care
Your child's health information
Your child’s privacy is important to us. Any information you share with virtualKIDS is treated confidentially in line with NSW Health policies. All consultations are conducted through a secure, approved video platform.
How we use information to improve care
To help improve our services, we may collect and use information about participation, outcomes, and care delivery for research, evaluation, and quality improvement.
Any data used in this way is handled responsibly and is de-identified when shared or reported.
From time to time, you may also be invited to take part in specific research projects. If this happens a member of our team will explain the project and ask for your consent before you decide whether to participate.
Participation in research is voluntary and does not affect the care your child receives. Families can choose to opt out at any time.
If you have questions or would like to opt out, please email: schn-research@health.nsw.gov.au
Videos
It’s natural to feel concerned and uncertain about how to provide the best care when a child is unwell. As a parent, having a sick child can be a scary time, and it can be hard to know what to do. We've made the below videos to help identify and aid common conditions in children.