Autism Assessments
Children & Adults | Gold Coast
An assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is about building a full picture of a person, not ticking off a checklist. But when you’ve already spent a long time noticing the signs, waiting for answers can become one of the hardest parts
At Therapy Partners you can complete an autism assessment without joining a waiting list. Every assessment finishes with a written report, a feedback session to talk through what it means, and practical recommendations for home, school, work and the community
- Children & Adults
- No Waiting Lists
- Robina Clinic, Gold Coast
- Written Report & Feedback Session
- Support Available Straight After
Fund Your Assessment With
- Medicare
- Private Health Fund
- Self-Funded
Autism looks different in every person, and it looks different again in someone who has spent years learning to mask it. Our assessments are built to uncover and describe how an individual actually experiences and interacts with the world around them
About Autism (ASD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that shapes how a person experiences, processes and navigates the world around them. It affects communication, social interaction, sensory experience, and the way a person prefers to structure their day
Because autism is a spectrum, no two people experience it in quite the same way. Each person brings a distinct combination of strengths, perspectives and support needs, which is why an assessment looks at the whole person rather than a fixed list of traits
Autism is lifelong. Many people are identified in early childhood, and many others are identified as teenagers or adults, often after a family member has been diagnosed
An adult ASD assessment helps individuals gain clarity about how autism may affect their daily life, relationships, and career. For many adults, an assessment can provide answers to lifelong questions and open up access to appropriate support and strategies.
A children’s ASD assessment focuses on early identification to help parents understand their child’s behaviour, challenges, and strengths. Early diagnosis can lead to better outcomes by connecting children with the right interventions and support at a critical time in their development.
When to Seek an Autism Assessment
None of these on their own points to autism, and each has other possible explanations – which is what an assessment uncovers. If several feel familiar, and have persisted over a long period, you may want to explore an ASD assessment
In Children
- Social situations that take noticeably more effort than they seem to for other children
- A strong preference for routine, and real distress when it changes
- Sensitivity to noise, light, texture, food, crowds or smell
- Deep, sustained interests in particular topics
- Differences in how language, eye contact or conversation develop
- Meltdowns or shutdowns after school or after busy environments
In Adults
- A long-standing sense of working harder than others to manage social situations
- Exhaustion after socialising that others don't seem to experience
- Sensory environments that are genuinely difficult rather than just annoying
- Routines and systems you rely on more than most people do
- Long-term intense interests
- Recognising yourself in what you've read about autism, often after a family member is diagnosed
Many people, particularly women and adults assessed later in life, have compensated well enough that nobody looked closely. That’s common, and it doesn’t make an assessment any less worthwhile
Who Can Diagnose Autism in Australia?
GPs can’t diagnose autism, for a child or an adult, in any state or territory. The recent Queensland reforms allowing specialist GPs to diagnose adult ADHD apply to ADHD only
Your GP is still a good place to start the conversation, and a referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist matters if you want to claim a Medicare rebate
In Australia, you can seek an autism diagnosis from:
- Psychologists: Children & adults
- Psychiatrists: Children & adults
- Paediatricians: Children & young people only
- General Practitioners (GPs): Can't diagnose autism
Autism and ADHD often occur together, and each can mask the other. If both are on your mind, we can assess for both concurrently.
How an Autism Assessment Works
The exact combination of assessment tools and approaches depends on age and key behaviours of interest. For adults without a parent or long-term information available, we work with what can be gathered, including school reports, early records and your own accounts
An ASD assessment may also involve a range of diagnostic tools and frameworks, including the MIGDAS-2 sensory and language based interview, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) for cognitive profiles, Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System (ABAS-3) for understanding everyday functioning, and more.
We have no waiting list for autism diagnoses, with the entire process (from first session to the finished report) taking around 4-8 weeks
1. Enquiry
We talk through what you’re noticing and what you’re hoping to find out, and let you know whether an assessment is the right next step, what it involves and what it costs
2. Clinical Interview
A detailed conversation covering developmental history, current functioning, medical and family background, and the concerns that brought you here. For children this is with parents or carers
3. Assessment Session(s)
Direct assessment across one or more appointments, alongside questionnaires completed by you, and by parents, teachers or others who know the person well
4. Analysis & Report
The results are scored and interpreted, weighed against diagnostic criteria, and written up as a comprehensive report
5. Feedback Session
We go through the findings properly. What the results show, whether criteria are met, what we’d recommend, and where to go from here. You leave with the report and a clear plan for next steps
Our Approach to Autism Assessments
Our assessments are strengths-focused and neurodiversity-affirming, and are built to answer more than whether someone meets criteria, producing a report that explains a person, and what would help them, and in what way
That shapes the tools we use. The MIGDAS-2 is a structured interview-based approach built around sensory experience and language, which draws out how a person actually experiences the world (rather than scoring them against a list of observed behaviours). It works particularly well with people who’ve learned to mask, which is one of the main reasons autism gets missed in girls, in adults, and in anyone who has spent years adapting to fit in
Alongside that, we look at cognitive profile, adaptive functioning, developmental history, and personal history context from the people who know the individual best
Start an Autism Assessment
At Therapy Partners, every autism assessment includes:
- A comprehensive written report setting out the process, the instruments used, the findings and the reasoning
- A clear statement of whether diagnostic criteria for autism are met
- A picture of strengths and support needs, not just a diagnostic conclusion
- Practical recommendations for home, school, work and community
- A feedback session to talk through the results and ask questions
- Documentation you can take to a GP, paediatrician, psychiatrist, school, university or employer
Funding Your Assessment
Paying Privately
Most autism assessments are paid for privately. We give you the full cost upfront when you enquire, covering intake, all assessment sessions, analysis, the written report and the feedback session.
Medicare
A partial rebate is available through a specific pathway, but only if it’s set up in advance. It needs a referral from a paediatrician, or from a psychiatrist for people under 25, and the referral must be in place before the assessment begins. It can’t be backdated.
Private Health Funds
Some private health funds cover part of the cost under psychology extras. Cover varies considerably between funds and policies, so it’s worth checking directly with yours.
Meet Our Psychologists
Our psychologists bring a mix of clinical training and hands-on experience to every person they work with. Get to know some of the team below, or get started and we’ll match you with the right fit for your needs
Support Beyond Your Assessment
For a lot of providers the report is where it ends. At Therapy Partners, our team is multidisciplinary, so if an assessment points towards support, you’re not starting again with a new provider and a new waiting period. Our occupational therapists, speech pathologists, behaviour support practitioners and psychologists all work from the same team
Frequently Asked Questions
Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Call us today for more information!
Can a GP diagnose autism?
No. GPs can’t diagnose autism at any age, anywhere in Australia. That includes Queensland, where recent reforms allow specialist GPs to diagnose adult ADHD but don’t extend to autism. A GP is a good place to start the conversation, but the diagnosis itself comes from a psychologist, psychiatrist or paediatrician.
Can a psychologist diagnose autism?
Yes. Psychologists are qualified to assess and diagnose autism in both children and adults
Do you have a waiting list?
No. You can get started straight away rather than waiting months for a first appointment.
Do I need a referral?
Not to book with us. Many people self-refer, often after a suggestion from a teacher, a GP or a family member. A referral is only required if you want to claim a Medicare rebate, and it has to be arranged before the assessment starts. For adults, having previously been seen and screened by a GP or another mental health professional can simplify things, particularly where there’s nobody available to give a developmental history.
How long does the assessment take?
From the first session to the finished report is usually four to eight weeks. Where it takes longer, it’s almost always because questionnaires from parents, teachers or other informants haven’t come back yet.
Where does the assessment happen?
At our Robina clinic. Standardised assessments need consistent, distraction-free conditions to produce reliable results. In some specific cases, we can also arrange school-based assessment.
Can you assess for autism and ADHD at the same time?
Yes, though not in a single visit. The components are spread across several sessions so each is delivered properly, and you get one consistent picture and one report covering both. Let us know at enquiry if both are on your mind
Does the NDIS pay for the assessment?
No. The NDIS doesn’t fund assessments carried out to obtain a diagnosis, as diagnosis sits with the health system rather than the scheme. If a diagnosis is confirmed, it can form part of an NDIS access request.
How much does an autism assessment cost?
Fees depend on the assessment and what it needs to cover. We’ll give you the full cost upfront when you enquire, covering intake, all sessions, analysis, the report and the feedback session, so you know exactly what you’re committing to before anything is booked
Do you use the ADOS-2?
Yes. We also use other diagnostic tools like the MIGDAS-2, a structured interview approach built around a person’s sensory and language experience, which works particularly well with people who have learned to mask. We’ll talk through which approaches we’ll use at the enquiry stage, and if an organisation has asked you for a specific instrument.
Do you assess adults?
Yes. We assess children through to adults, and adult assessment is increasingly common as more people recognise themselves later in life.
What if the assessment doesn't result in a diagnosis?
That happens, and it’s still a useful result. You’ll have a detailed picture of strengths and difficulties and clear recommendations about what would genuinely help, whether or not criteria are met. We go through all of it in the feedback session.
Message Us Directly
Our team aims to respond within 48 hours