Dr Shaamini Lokuge-Hayes

Clinical Interests

Autism, ADHD, Chronic illness, Congenital Cardiac Disease

Background and Experience

Dr Shaamini Lokuge-Hayes is a general and developmental paediatrician who cares for children and young people from birth to 18 years. Her practice is inclusive and grounded in the belief that every child—and every family—deserves to feel safe, respected and truly understood.

She provides care for a broad range of developmental, behavioural and medical concerns. Her clinical interests include the long-term care of children with multiple medical, developmental or psychological concerns. She collaborates with the child’s therapists to provide comprehensive assessments and evidence-based management plans. She participates in multidisciplinary case conferences to help families navigate services and supports for their child and to make sure the treatment goals are evidence-based and cohesive.

She regularly collaborates with schools and therapy teams to manage the child’s current challenges and work towards optimal long-term functioning. She works with parents and carers to support and scaffold the child while they develop these skills independently.

She also coordinates the Developmental and Autism Assessment (DAAT) team and the Years 10–12 ADHD assessment clinic at her other private practice location—Victorian Children’s Clinic—coordinating comprehensive, strengths-based evaluations for children with complex presentations.

She completed her medical training at the University of Adelaide before moving to Melbourne to finish her specialist paediatric training at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), where she continues to work in the Department of General Medicine. Her recent improvement projects at RCH include improving the general medical care of patients with complex congenital cardiac disease, and trialling and teaching AI transcription optimisation to other paediatric colleagues. She regularly supervises paediatric specialist trainees in outpatient clinics.

She is dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate and inclusive care—supporting children to thrive, helping families feel connected and empowered, and building resilience and wellbeing at every stage of a child’s growth and development. She looks forward to getting to know each child and family and helping navigate the medical, developmental and psychological challenges of childhood.