This symposium embodies our department's key values: best care, compassion, commitment, advocacy and leadership  and is suitable for paediatricians, medical and nursing staff, allied health and education professionals.

The symposium will commence with a Grand Round presentation followed by short oral presentations.

1230-1330: Grand Round

Optimising health in children with cerebral palsy across the lifespan

Prof Mark Peterson Charles E. Lytle, Jr Research Professor; Assoc Professor, University of Michigan – Medicine, USA

1340-1530: Short sessions

1335-1400: The RCH Multidisciplinary Complex Weight Management Service Dr Zoe McCallum, Paediatrician, Neurodevelopment & Disability and Gastroenterology & Clinical Nutrition, Royal Children’s Hospital;

Ms Daniella Tassoni, Senior Dietitian, Coordinator, RCH Weight Management Service, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne

1400-1420: Optimising health for all children with neurodisability

Dr Gordon Baikie, Paediatrician, Head, Neurodevelopment & Disability, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne

Dr Catherine Marraffa, Paediatrician, Neurodevelopment & Disability, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne

1420-1440: An approach to perioperative care of children with neurodisability - Ethical considerations and optimisation of health.

Dr Giuliana Antolovich, Paediatrician, Clinical Stream Leader, Physical Disability, Neurodevelopment & Disability, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne

1440- 1510: Orthopaedic surgical care to optimise future participation and wellbeing for children with neurodisability

Dr Wade Shrader, Paediatric orthopaedic surgeon, Division Chief Nemours Cerebral Palsy Center, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, USA

1515- 1545: Panel discussion

Chair: Prof Christine Imms, Apex Australia Chair of Neurodevelopment & Disability, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne; Director, Healthy Trajectories Child & Youth Disability Research Hub

1550-1600: Conclusion