Autism (ASD) assessment & therapy
For everyone who has spent years not being read correctly.
Formal autism assessments using the ADOS-2 alongside clinical interview, developmental history and careful observation — and the therapeutic support that follows for children, adolescents and adults.
A neurodivergence-affirming assessment process
Autism is a difference in how the brain processes social information, sensory input, communication and pattern. It is not a disorder of personality. It is not something that goes away. And it is far more varied in presentation than any single stereotype suggests.
The people who come in for autism assessment are rarely strangers to the idea. Most have been circling it for months or years — maybe through a child's diagnosis, through online community, through quiet recognition while reading someone else's experience. An assessment does not create what was already there. It names it, and in doing so, opens up language, supports, and — for some — access to NDIS funding that has been out of reach without formal diagnosis.
What's involved
The components of an autism assessment
Clinical interview
A structured conversation about your current experience across social relationships, communication, sensory world, interests, and patterns. For children, this includes caregiver interview. For adults, this draws on your own account and, where possible, input from someone who has known you for a long time.
ADOS-2 (Module selected for your age & profile)
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition — a structured observation tool considered a gold-standard component of autism assessment. It involves a set of activities and conversation prompts designed to elicit the behaviours most relevant to diagnosis.
Developmental history
Autism is a developmental condition, so the pattern across childhood matters. We review early language, sensory experiences, play, friendships, school, and the transitions that often bring underlying differences to the surface.
Rating scales & collateral
Validated questionnaires completed by you and, where appropriate, a parent, partner, teacher or other person who knows you well. Alongside the interview and ADOS-2, these help build the clinical picture from multiple angles.
Written report with clear recommendations
A comprehensive report summarising findings, the clinical impression, and practical recommendations — for home, school or workplace — as well as guidance for NDIS access, therapy supports and any onward referrals. The report is written to be useful to you, your family, and the services you engage next.
What sessions cost
Individual sessions are $230 for 50 minutes. With a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, Medicare rebates $98.95 per session for up to 10 sessions per calendar year, leaving a gap of $131.05.
NDIS, TAC and WorkCover funding are also accepted. See full fee information →
Assessment with a child versus with an adult
The core components are the same. What changes is the weight placed on each.
For children
Parent or carer interview carries significant weight, as does input from school or early learning settings where appropriate. Observation is live — of play, of response to social invitation, of sensory preferences. For younger children, the assessment is spread across sessions so the child does not have to sustain attention across too much in one sitting.
For adults
Your own account of your experience is central. Where possible, we also gather a developmental perspective — from a parent, old school reports, or someone who has known you for many years. Many adult clients have become skilled at masking, which we account for rather than treat as evidence against diagnosis. Sensory and communication preferences are discussed at the start so the assessment process itself is not unnecessarily difficult.
Therapy support for autistic clients
Therapy is not about making you less autistic. It is about working with the pieces of life that are genuinely difficult — anxiety, burnout, sensory overwhelm, social exhaustion, identity questions after a late diagnosis — from a place that respects how your brain actually works.
Depending on what you bring in, sessions may draw on ACT for working with self-criticism and values, CBT for specific anxiety patterns, EMDR for processing trauma (including the accumulated trauma of being misunderstood), and mindfulness-based approaches for nervous system regulation. The pace is yours to set.
Funding your autism assessment and support
NDIS
Autism is a listed condition under the NDIS. A formal diagnosis is generally required to access autism-specific supports. Assessment and therapy can be funded through your NDIS plan.
Privately
Private autism assessment does not attract a general Medicare rebate, though follow-up therapy sessions are rebatable under a Mental Health Care Plan. For children under 13, paediatrician-led pathways may include rebatable assessment sessions.
Start with a call
Funding is almost always the first question people ask. A free 15-minute call is a good place to start if you want the options walked through before booking.
Request a call →Questions we hear about autism assessment
What is the ADOS-2 and why does it matter?
The ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition) is a structured, observation-based assessment considered a gold-standard component of autism diagnosis. It involves a series of activities and conversation prompts designed to elicit behaviours relevant to autism. We use it alongside a detailed developmental history and clinical interview, rather than as a standalone test.
Do I need an autism assessment as an adult?
Many adults arrive at assessment after years of sensing that they experience the world differently, often following a child's diagnosis, burnout, or significant life change. A formal assessment is not necessary for self-understanding, but it can be valuable for workplace accommodations, NDIS access, and accessing targeted supports.
How is autism assessment different for children versus adults?
The core components — clinical interview, developmental history and structured observation — are the same, but the way they are delivered differs significantly. Children's assessments typically include a parent or carer interview and school input where possible. Adult assessments draw on the person's own memory, school reports if available, and observations from someone who has known them for a long time.
Will an autism diagnosis affect my ability to access NDIS?
Autism is a listed condition under the NDIS, and a formal diagnosis is generally required to access autism-specific supports. If you are seeking access to the NDIS, we can discuss what the assessment report should include to support that pathway.
Does Medicare cover autism assessment?
Medicare does not generally rebate private autism assessments. For children under 13, a Helping Children with Autism package or a paediatrician-led pathway may offer Medicare-rebated sessions. For NDIS participants, assessments may be funded through your plan. We are happy to talk through the funding options before you commit.
I'm worried the assessment will feel overwhelming.
That is a completely reasonable concern, and one we take seriously. We pace assessments across sessions rather than compressing them into a single long appointment. Sensory needs, breaks and communication preferences are discussed and accommodated. Nothing about the process is designed to catch you out.
Often adjacent to autism
ADHD assessment
ADHD and autism frequently co-occur. Where both are present, an integrated assessment captures the whole picture.
Read more →Anxiety therapy
Anxiety is common for autistic people — sometimes as a direct response to a world not built around autistic wiring.
Read more →NDIS psychology
For clients accessing autism assessment, therapy or ongoing support under the NDIS.
Read more →A careful assessment, written to be genuinely useful.
Book an initial consultation, or start with a free 15-minute call to ask any questions about the process and funding.