We provide ASD assessments for children from 2 years through to adults.

ASD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact with others, behave, processes thoughts and emotions and how they experience the world. Each person on the spectrum is different, with some needing a lot of support, while others require minimal support.

ASD assessments provide a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether an individual meets criteria for ASD by looking at how someone communicates, interacts socially, behaves and processes sensory information.

Who may need an ASD assessment?

• Children who have had delays in speech, language or social development
• Those who have repetitive behaviours, or have an intense focus on specific interests or routines
• Those who experience difficulties with non-verbal communication or eye contact
• Those who experience sensory sensitivities (e.g. sounds, textures, lights)
• Those who struggle with changes in routine
• Those who have difficulty understanding social rules or forming relationships

 

We have provided a link below to assist parents in screening for ASD characteristics in children aged between 4-11 years. If you have any concerns after completing this screen, please contact us to make an appointment with one of our psychologists.

Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) – Psychology Tools

 

Our ASD assessment process is aligned with the evidence-based framework outlined in the National Guidelines – For the assessment and diagnosis of autism in Australia (2023).

The ASD assessment process is personalised, collaborative and follows a structured approach. It generally involves:

 

Step 1: Intake Interview

This will occur with the client and parent/s or caregivers, if the client is a child.  This interview will gather information on yours or the child’s family background, developmental history, educational history and current concerns.

The psychologist will also discuss goals and expectations of the assessment. It is important that you bring along any relevant documents including school reports and past assessments, that may assist with the assessment.

The primary aim of the intake interview is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the client, so the most appropriate assessment tools can be selected and recommendations can be tailored to the client’s unique needs.

Session duration: 90 Minutes

Fee: $300

 

Step 2: Questionnaires

Following on from Step 1, the intake interview, the psychologist will determine what questionnaires need to be completed by the client, parent/caregiver and/or teacher. These questionnaires will be provided via an electronic link or paper tests.

These questionnaires generally take 15-20 minutes each to complete.

Fee: $80

 

Step 3: Diagnostic Assessment

The psychologist will recommend and administer a series of assessment tools.

The psychologist will use the MIGDAS-2, to gather information from parents/caregivers and teachers, and for conducting a sensory based interview with the client being assessed (child, adolescent or adult).

The MIGDAS-2 is a qualitative, strengths-focused, neurodiversity-affirming assessment tool designed to support the identification of autism across all ages, including those who mask traits or do not fit the stereotypical diagnostic criteria often used in traditional autism assessment. Unlike traditional standardised assessments that rely primarily on structured tasks and scoring systems, the MIGDAS uses naturalistic observation, clinical interviews, and narrative-based responses to provide deeper insight into an individual’s inner experiences, strengths and areas of need.

A cognitive assessment plays a key role in the autism assessment process, as it offers valuable insight a person’s intellectual functioning, learning profile and problem-solving abilities. This information helps to distinguish autism from other developmental conditions and guides the development of targeted support and intervention strategies. The cognitive test used will depend of the clients age, the WPPSI-IV (for pre-school children), the WISC-V (for children) or the WAIS (for adults).

The assessments will be scheduled at a time to help ensure optimal focus and to minimise the impact of fatigue on performance. Each assessment typically takes two hours. Please be mindful the length of the session is the average, however this time may vary depending on individual factors such as attention, motivation and energy levels. Step 3 will be scheduled over three to five sessions dependant on the client’s focus and energy levels.

Duration: MIGDAS: 2 hours; Cognitive assessment: 2 hours; parent/caregiver interview: 1 hour

Fee: $1000

 

Step 4: Comprehensive Assessment Report

This step involves the scoring, review and interpretation of all information gathered including assessment tools. A detailed report outlining the assessment findings, including any diagnoses (if applicable) and individualised recommendations is completed.

This report can support access to educational services, school-based supports, workplace accommodations and where relevant, NDIS funding.

Duration: 4 hours

Fee: $800

 

Step 5: Feedback Session

The assessing psychologist will meet in this session with the client and client’s parent/s or caregivers (if applicable) to discuss the assessment results and what they mean. This includes a review of any further questionnaires completed by the client, parents, caregivers, teachers or other observers.

This session provides an opportunity to ask questions, clarify findings and better understand the outcomes. The psychologist will provide personalised recommendations for support, treatment, or accommodations based on the assessment results.

Session duration: 1 hour

Fee: $200

Total fee: $2380 (11.5 hours)

 

Fees outlined for our psychological assessments are for a registered psychologist.

Fees are higher If the assessment is conducted by the principal psychologist.

School observations will incur an extra fee of $100 for 30 minutes plus travel time.