Dr Shaamini Lokuge Hayes

Shaamini has extensive experience in the management of a wide range of medical, developmental and behavioural problems in children and young people from 0-18 years of age.

Shaamini has special interests in assessment, long-term management and coordination of care of:

• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Behaviour difficulties
• Mood difficulties including anxiety and depression
• Irritable infants
• Sleeping difficulties
• Children with complex multidisciplinary problems eg ex premature babies, babies with congenital heart disease, children with genetic syndromes.

Background and Experience

Shaamini studied medicine at the University of Adelaide and started paediatric specialty training in Adelaide. She moved to Melbourne in 2002 and completed her specialist training in Melbourne at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Shaamini is a member of the Neurobehavioural and Paediatric Society of Australasia (NBPSA) and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). She regularly attends national and international conferences.

 As well as working in private practice as part of the Victorian Children’s clinic, Shaamini also has a private practice at Melbourne Paediatric Specialists, Parkville.

As part of Melbourne Paediatric Specialists, Shaamini is a lead clinician in the Multidisciplinary Autism and Developmental Assessment team.

She also works in clinical, teaching and mentoring roles at the Department of General Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital.

Shaamini is the mother of two teenagers and enjoys walking, reading and painting.

Practice Philosophy

Shaamini is passionate about children’s health, development, mental health, family functioning and learning. She believes that the paediatrician’s role is to help parents, families and educators to create a nurturing environment focused on maximising the developmental potential, emotional well-being and resilience of the child.

Shaamini enjoys working closely with the team of therapists and educators involved with a child and family. She works in conjunction with speech therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, teachers and special education staff at schools. She regularly attends kindergarten, childcare and school observation visits and multidisciplinary case conferences.