Services · Assessment Services
Assessment & Diagnostic Services for Children & Adults
Welcome to Our Assessment & Diagnostic Service
Whether you’re seeking help for yourself, your child, or a loved one, we’re here to provide comprehensive assessments for various developmental, learning, and cognitive needs.
- Understand strengths and differences
- Clarify support needs
- Plan practical next steps
What We Offer
Autism Assessments
From 12 months
A comprehensive assessment for Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder/Asperger’s), for children, teenagers and adults. It is built around understanding your strengths and differences, not only whether criteria are met.
How we assess
- Understanding Autism: We provide comprehensive assessments for Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder/Asperger’s) to help understand your unique strengths and differences.
- Our Tools: Utilising widely recognised tools like MIGDAS, ADOS 2, SRS 2, ASRS, AQ, CAT-Q and RAADS-R for accurate diagnoses.
Attention and Hyperactivity Assessments
From age 5
An assessment that clarifies concerns about attention, activity levels and impulse control. It draws on interviews, questionnaires and school or other reports to guide practical support.
Learn about ADHD assessments →
How we assess
- Identifying ADHD/ADD: Our assessments aim to clarify concerns related to attention and hyperactivity, guiding the way to practical support.
- How We Assess: Using various assessment methods including unstructured and structured interviews, questionnaires, and psychometrics, reviewing school or other reports, interviewing family or significant others.
- Our Tools: we use a variety of tools depending on your specific needs such as the DIVA-5, CAARS, Conners 4, ASRS V1.1 and Brief A
Learning Disorder Assessments
School-aged children, adolescents and adults
An assessment of reading, writing, spelling, number concepts and mathematical reasoning, covering Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia. Every assessment is tailored to the individual rather than run to a fixed script.
Learn about learning difficulty assessments →
How we assess
- Navigating Learning Challenges: We can assess areas such as reading, writing, written expression, spelling, grammar, number concepts, mathematical reasoning. We assess conditions like Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia.
- Personalised Approach: Every assessment is tailored to individual needs, ensuring a comprehensive understanding.
- Our Tools: We utlise tools such as the WIAT 3, WCJ, as well as IQ tests, interviews and report review
Cognitive & IQ Assessments
From age 2
Cognitive testing that maps strengths and weaknesses across working memory, processing speed, visual spatial skills, fluid reasoning and verbal comprehension. Often requested where a clearer picture of cognitive functioning is needed.
Learn about cognitive and IQ assessments →
How we assess
- IQ Testing/Cognitive Assessment: Our assessment aims to understand your cognitive strengths and weaknesses in areas such as working memory, processing speed, visual spatial skills, fluid reasoning and verbal comprehension.
- Our Tools: We use tests such as the SB5, WISC V, WPPSI IV and WAIS III
Intellectual Disability Assessments
From age 5Under 5, global developmental delay may be considered instead
An assessment that answers the question of Intellectual Developmental Disorder. It combines intellectual assessment with adaptive behaviour assessment, interviews and file review.
Learn about intellectual disability assessments →
How we assess
- Answering the question of Intellectual Developmental Disorder: We combine Intellectual assessments with Adaptive Behaviour Assessments, Interviews, and file review
Adaptive Functioning Assessments
All ages to 89
An assessment of the everyday skills a person uses at home, school, work and in the community. It is used to assist with intervention planning and to monitor progress over time.
Learn about adaptive functioning assessments →
How we assess
- Understanding Your Everyday Functioning: We assess key areas of your functioning to assist with intervention planning and monitoring progress.
- Our Tools: Include clinical interview, ABAS 3 and Vinelands 3. We consider your functioning across many areas such as communication, social or leisure skills, school or home living, work, community use, practical skills and health and safety skills.
Functional Capacity Assessments
All Ages
An assessment of how a person’s disability, mental health, neurodevelopmental differences or other health conditions affect everyday life. Commonly requested for NDIS purposes.
Learn about functional capacity assessments →
How we assess
- Starts with a 90-minute appointment: Every Functional Capacity Assessment begins here, and this appointment is part of the assessment itself. The psychologist then recommends what further interviews and measures are needed and provides a quote.
- Our approach: Detailed clinical interviews, real-world examples, relevant existing information, input from other people where appropriate and consented to, and standardised measures where these add useful information.
How an assessment works
- 1
Initial enquiryTell us what you are hoping to understand. We check which clinician is the right fit and explain the likely pathway and fees.
- 2
90-minute initial appointmentEvery assessment begins here. The clinician explores concerns, history and goals, then recommends an individualised assessment pathway and provides a tailored quote.
- 3
Information gatheringInterviews, questionnaires and, with consent, information from parents, carers, teachers or previous reports.
- 4
Assessment sessionsThe testing and clinical sessions the assessment requires. The number of sessions depends on the assessment.
- 5
Feedback and reportA session to talk through the findings, followed by the written report and recommendations.
Online and in-clinic assessments
Assessments are available online across Australia and in person at North Lakes. In general terms most of an assessment can be completed either way, but it depends on the measures the clinician selects, the age of the person being assessed and clinician availability, so we confirm it with you rather than promising it in advance.
Two things are always done in person: direct observational assessment using the ADOS-2, and cognitive testing for children under six.
You can choose an assessment type when you book, but the measures used are a clinical decision. The initial appointment is where the clinician works out the right approach, so selecting the wrong option at booking is never a problem.
Timing, fees and funding
How soon can we start?
Initial appointments are typically available within one to two weeks, online or at North Lakes, subject to clinician availability and suitability. That is the wait for the initial appointment, not the time needed to complete the assessment.
When will the report arrive?
Where a written report is included in the agreed scope, it is usually completed within four to six weeks after the assessment sessions finish. Complex assessments, missing documents or delays in receiving collateral information can extend this.
Can I self-refer?
Yes. A referral is not generally required to book a privately funded assessment. A referral may be required if an organisation requesting the report requires one.
How are assessments funded?
Most assessments are privately funded. For some people under 25, particular allied-health assessment appointments may attract a Medicare rebate under the Complex Neurodevelopmental Conditions or Eligible Disabilities pathways. These pathways have different eligibility, prerequisite-service and referral requirements. A GP referral alone does not open the complex-neurodevelopmental pathway, and rebates may not cover every assessment component or the full cost. Ask us to check your referral and proposed pathway before relying on a rebate.
NDIS funding is not ordinarily available for the purpose of making a diagnosis. Existing NDIS participants may sometimes be able to use plan funding for an assessment whose purpose is to understand disability-related functioning and support needs. Whether funding can be used depends on the assessment’s purpose, the participant’s plan and how it is managed. Please ask us to check before booking.
Can private health insurance help?
Some private-health extras policies may contribute towards psychology services, but assessment coverage, waiting periods, limits, eligible services and provider requirements vary. Check directly with your insurer using the clinician and proposed service details before booking.
What will it cost?
Fees depend on the pathway recommended for you, which is why the initial appointment comes first. After it the clinician provides a tailored quote covering the sessions and documentation proposed, so you know the cost before you commit.
Ready to take the next step?
Find a clinician who offers the assessment you need, or book straight in. If you are not sure where to start, a short call is the easiest way.
Call 1300 366 614 · Email Info@thepsychologyhub.com.au
