Autism Diagnostic Assessments in Adelaide
Understanding your child — and what they need to thrive
You know your child better than anyone. You may have noticed differences in the way they communicate, play, learn, manage emotions or experience the world. Perhaps you've wondered whether these differences could be related to autism. Some parents come for an assessment feeling quite certain their child is autistic, while others are less sure. For some children, their presentation may not fit neatly with what is commonly expected.
A thoughtful assessment can provide more than an answer to the question, “Is my child autistic?”. It can help you make sense of your child's strengths, differences and support needs, so you can parent with greater confidence and attunement, support their development, and create opportunities for them to participate and belong.
A thorough assessment that looks beyond the obvious
As a Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years’ experience, I provide comprehensive autism assessments for children of all ages in Adelaide. I have experience in recognising presentations that can be less immediately apparent, including children who mask or compensate for their difficulties, girls whose presentation may be subtle, and young children whose development is still unfolding.
Every assessment is tailored to the individual child and brings together insights from parents, input from teachers and detailed observations of your child to build a full picture of their development, strengths, differences and support needs. Using the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria, I consider the information gathered across the assessment to determine whether your child’s individual pattern of development and behaviour is consistent with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
I have completed diagnostic training with Autism SA, and my practice is grounded in evidence-based, neuro-affirming and culturally responsive approaches. I have experience working with children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds and take care to understand each child within the context of their family, culture and everyday environments.
More than a diagnosis
For some families, an assessment provides the validation and clarity they've been looking for after months or years of wondering.
For others, a diagnosis provides a shared language that helps parents, educators and other professionals understand a child's needs and work together more effectively. A clear, detailed report can help turn that understanding into practical support — providing useful information to share with your child's school, paediatrician and other professionals, and, where relevant, supporting applications for services such as through the NDIS or education systems.
Your report is designed to be something you can use. It brings together the information gathered throughout the assessment to provide a clear picture of your child's strengths, differences and support needs, with practical, individualised recommendations for supporting them at home, at school and in other settings.
And sometimes, the greatest value is in understanding your child differently. Having a clearer picture of how they experience the world can help you respond with greater confidence and attunement and support your child to develop a positive relationship with their own strengths, differences and needs — including, over time, the confidence to advocate for themselves.
What is involved?
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Referring a child for assessment is simple.
You can get in touch with me via the website contact form, email, or phone call to our office—just let me know that you’re interested in a diagnostic assessment for your child.
If you’re a health professional or support person referring on behalf of a family, you’re also welcome to reach out. I’m happy to work with you to begin the process and ensure families feel supported from the very first step.
There is no requirement for a GP referral.
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Before your assessment appointment, I’ll ask you to provide any relevant reports from professionals currently involved in your child’s care—this might include existing reports from teachers, doctors, or allied health providers such as speech pathologists or occupational therapists.
You’ll also be asked to complete a developmental history form, and your child’s educator or teacher will be asked to complete a separate questionnaire.
Collecting information from both home and school settings helps ensure the assessment is thorough and tailored to your child’s needs.
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The assessment also involves a detailed discussion with caregivers focusing on your child’s development as well as their current social skills, communication and behaviours. The interview is guided by the DSM-5-TR criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder. We allow 2 hours for this interview and it can be completed in person, or via Telehealth, if preferred.
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On the day of the in-person assessment appointment, I will meet with your child for an interactive, play-based session for the purpose of direct observation and assessment of your child’s social skills, communication and behaviours. This appointment takes place at 145 Tynte St, North Adelaide SA and lasts 1 hour.
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Once the assessment is complete, I’ll talk you through the outcome and explain what it means for your child. We’ll discuss recommendations and explore the next steps to best support your child moving forward.
If needed, I can provide an easy-to-read interim report straight away to help you begin arranging supports. A comprehensive final report will follow shortly after.
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You will receive a comprehensive written report that summarises the assessment findings and includes tailored recommendations to support your child’s needs. Where a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder is made, this report can be used as supporting evidence for accessing school-based supports or applying to the NDIS.
The report is written with the NDIS access criteria in mind. I aim to clearly describe how autism affects your child’s participation in everyday activities, and provide recommendations for supports that are likely to be effective in helping your child build independence, confidence, and community participation. These considerations align with the NDIS principles of ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports.
While the report is designed to assist with NDIS applications, it’s important to note that eligibility is determined solely by the NDIA. Their decision is based not only on diagnosis, but also on your child’s functional capacity—their ability to participate in daily life compared to other children of a similar age.
You can expect to receive the final report within approximately two - four weeks of the assessment’s completion.
Additional Services
Tailored to your child and family
At the time of referral, we’ll take the opportunity to discuss your child’s individual needs and tailor the assessment process to best support your family. In some cases, additional assessment information may be helpful for accurate diagnosis, support planning, or contributing to an NDIS application.
Alongside the Autism Diagnostic Assessment, I can also provide:
ADHD assessment
I understand that questions about ADHD often arise alongside concerns about autism. In fact, The Australian ADHD Guidelines recognise that ADHD and autism frequently occur together, and recommend that both be considered when assessing a child or adolescent. When completing an Autism Diagnostic Assessment, I offer the option to include an assessment of ADHD as well. This involves additional interview time, standardised questionnaires for parents and teachers, and a careful consideration of the ADHD criteria. With these diagnostic questions clarified, your child’s treatment planning can be more accurate and better tailored to their individual needs.
Cognitive assessment (IQ test)
Provides insight into your child’s intellectual strengths and challenges. It’s common for autistic children to think and learn differently, and understanding their cognitive profile can be a valuable part of planning support.
Adaptive functioning assessment
Assesses your child’s daily living skills and identifies areas where support may be needed. This helps clarify how Autism impacts your child’s everyday life and participation.
Post diagnosis consultation
You don’t have to navigate things alone after a diagnosis. I offer consultations where you can ask questions, discuss next steps, or seek support—whether that’s right after the assessment or later on as your child grows and their needs evolve.
Fees
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The total fee is $1950. This includes a caregiver interview, an observational assessment with your child, a review of relevant medical, health, and educational reports, outcome feedback, and a comprehensive written report with personalised recommendations.
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The total fee is $2600. This assessment is designed for situations where ADHD is suspected in addition to an Autism diagnosis.
It includes all the components of a comprehensive Autism assessment, with the addition of further interviewing and standardised tools specifically focused on the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD. The process aims to understand your child’s attention and behaviour in relation to the ADHD diagnostic criteria, and to explore how any symptoms may be impacting their daily life across different settings. I take a thoughtful approach that considers issues such as gender and masking that can affect timely and accurate detection.
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[Optional] When added to an Autism Assessment, the service is only an additional $1000
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[Optional] Administration of the Vineland-3 is $350 and includes input from both parents and teachers. The Vineland-3 is a standardised assessment that measures your child’s adaptive functioning—their everyday skills in communication, socialisation, and daily living.
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A 50-minute consultation is available for $265. Medicare and Private Health rebates are accepted, and we’re happy to assist with processing these where applicable.
For NDIS participants, I offer a 60-minute consultation (with an additional 10 minutes for planning and documentation), with fees aligned to the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements.
Get in touch
If you’d like to book an assessment or have any questions, simply fill out the form below and I’ll get back to you shortly.
No question is too small—I’m here to help.
