Assessments · Children & adults · Berwick, Melbourne

Neurodevelopmental assessments that understand the whole person.

Clear, thoughtful assessments to help make sense of learning, attention, emotions, behaviour, or other areas that feel tricky. The goal isn't a label — it's understanding strengths, context, and what kind of support actually fits.

Who I assess

Children, teenagers, and adults — across the developmental spectrum.

ADHDAutismDyslexia · Dysgraphia · DyscalculiaGiftednessCognitive / intellectual profileADHD + Learning (combined)Personality · AnxietyPre-school readiness

Each assessment is tailored to the referral question — a child being explored for ADHD has a different protocol than an adult wanting clarity on cognitive strengths or a teenager exploring autism. The point is to answer your specific question, not run a generic battery.

An abstract illustration of a human head in cross-section, showing layers within and a ladder rising out — understanding the mind from the inside, with a way through
The point of an assessment

A path through layers — toward an understanding you can use.

An assessment isn't a verdict or a label. It's a careful process of looking — at what's been hard, what's worked, what doesn't fit — and naming the pattern underneath in a way that opens up next steps.

The point is the way through: a written formulation, practical recommendations, language that helps schools and workplaces understand you (or your child), and a feedback conversation that turns the findings into something you can actually do something with.

The process

What an assessment actually looks like.

Typically 6 to 10 weeks from first appointment to final report. Two to three sessions of direct testing with you (or your child), plus rating scales and questionnaires sent home and to teachers in between. Then a comprehensive written report and a 60-minute feedback session where we walk through the findings together.

1

Intake & developmental history

· 60 min – 2 hours, depending on assessment type

A thorough conversation about what brings you in, what you've tried, what you're hoping to understand. Length depends on the referral question — a focused single-question intake can run an hour, while broader evaluations (especially where developmental history is detailed) need closer to two. For child assessments the intake is parent-led; for adolescents and adults the person being assessed is in the room.

2

Rating scales, questionnaires & records

· At home, between sessions

Parent and teacher rating scales (or self-report scales for 15+) sent via secure online links. For learning assessments I also request prior school reports and any previous psychology / paediatric reports. These build the cross-setting picture that direct testing alone can't capture.

3

Direct testing sessions

· 2–5 sessions, depending on the evaluation

Standardised assessment of cognitive functioning (WISC-V / WAIS-5), academic skills (WIAT-III) where learning is the question, and ADOS-2 observational assessment for autism referrals. Sessions are paced to the person — kids get breaks and a play-based feel; adults get a more structured cognitive workout.

4

Report writing

· 3–5 hours of write-up time

A detailed written report — typically 12 to 25 pages depending on scope — covering the referral question, what was assessed, the findings, the formulation, and practical recommendations. The recommendations are the part most people read first, so they're written for action: what to do at home, what to ask of school or workplace, what supports to pursue.

5

Feedback session

· 60 min, always included

A standalone session to walk through the report together. For child assessments this is parent-only (with optional child-friendly summary afterwards); for adolescents and adults the person being assessed is in the room. Bring questions — this is when the report becomes useful.

Types of assessment

The assessment fits the question.

The instruments and process vary depending on what you're trying to understand. Combined assessments (e.g. ADHD + learning) are common — the report covers both areas with a unified formulation rather than two separate reports.

ADHD

Clinical interview covering inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, executive function, and emotional regulation across settings. Conners-4 (kids) or ASRS-5 / Conners-4 self-report (adults). Cognitive assessment to capture attentional, working-memory, and processing-speed patterns. Functional impact across home / school / work.

Most common assessment I do — both kids and adults.

Autism

ADOS-2 (gold-standard observational assessment), SRS-2 + Vineland-3 rating scales, 2-hour developmental-history intake. For adults: clinical interview using DSM-5 / ICD-11 criteria plus self-report scales (AQ, RAADS-R, CAT-Q). Sensory and interoceptive profile considered throughout.

Often combined with ADHD assessment — they co-occur frequently.

Specific Learning Disorders

WIAT-III academic testing — reading (single-word, comprehension, fluency), writing (spelling, written expression), and maths. Cognitive assessment for cross-domain comparison and SLD differential diagnosis. School-records and ILP request as part of the picture.

Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia — sometimes all three in one report.

Cognitive profile / Giftedness / IDD

WISC-V (under 17) or WAIS-5 (17+) — full Wechsler battery covering verbal comprehension, visual-spatial, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. For giftedness: extended index batteries to capture top-end functioning. For intellectual developmental disorder: adaptive behaviour (Vineland-3) added.

Often for school placement, NDIS evidence, or 'I just want to understand'.

ADHD + Learning (combined)

The most common combined referral. Clinical interview + Conners-4 / ASRS-5 for ADHD; WIAT-III + cognitive battery for the learning side. Combined formulation explains the interaction — e.g. is the reading struggle SLD, or attentional, or both? Combined report is longer (the extended-report tier).

One unified report, not two — the formulation makes more sense as a whole.

Personality / Anxiety

Adult-focused assessment covering personality structure (MCMI-IV or similar), anxiety / mood symptom scales, and trauma history when clinically relevant. Used when ongoing therapy isn't progressing and a structured assessment helps clarify the diagnostic picture and treatment direction.

Less common — usually a specific referral from a treating clinician.

Investment

Fees + funding pathways.

The hourly rate is $250 (from 1 July 2025). What the assessment actually costs depends on how many sessions and how long the report needs to be — a focused single-domain assessment is shorter than an ADHD + learning combined report. For an indicative quote tailored to your referral question, use the quote calculator.

Medicare Item 82000
A specialist referral (from a paediatrician or psychiatrist — not a GP MHTP) unlocks Medicare item 82000, currently $98.95 rebate per attended session. I bill the full quote across 4 equal sessions, leaving 4 of the 8 lifetime allied-health assessment sessions free for speech / OT later. If you've reached the Medicare safety net, the rebate can be up to 80% of cost.
Private health insurance
Many extras policies include a psychology category that covers part of the fee per assessment session. Item code 80010 (clinical psychology, 50+ min) — check your cover with your insurer for limits.
NDIS (plan-managed)
Assessment can be funded under Therapeutic Supports (Improved Daily Living). NDIS reimburses at the $232.99/hr scheme rate; a small gap fee applies on the initial session, ongoing sessions have no gap. Plan manager invoiced direct after each session.
Private full-fee
No rebate path needed. Sessions billed via EFT 24 hours before each appointment, or by credit card at the session. The report fee is invoiced upon completion.
An MHTP from your GP doesn't cover assessments. Mental Health Treatment Plans are for counselling under Better Access — they don't unlock the Medicare rebate for assessments. Only item 82000 (specialist referral) does. Worth knowing before going to your GP.
Getting started

Three steps to onboard.

Once you've reached out and we've agreed on a start date, the onboarding is the same regardless of which assessment type you're booking.

1

Halaxy intake form

A short online intake via Halaxy. For child assessments I'll need the parent's contact details and the child's name + DOB; for adults the person being assessed fills it out themselves. Takes about 10 minutes.

2

Release of information

A consent form to share findings with the people who need them — your GP, paediatrician, school, NDIS coordinator, or whoever is part of the picture. You choose what gets shared with whom.

3

Rating scales (after intake)

Sent via secure links after the intake session — parent scales, teacher scales (if a child assessment), and self-report scales (for 15+). I'll chase the teacher scales for you if they don't come back; the parent / self ones just need 30 minutes when you have time.

Common questions

Assessments, specifically.

Can my GP refer for an assessment under Medicare?▾
Not for the standard Medicare assessment rebate (item 82000) — that requires a referral from a specialist doctor (paediatrician or psychiatrist), not a GP. A GP Mental Health Treatment Plan covers counselling sessions under Better Access, but it doesn't unlock assessment rebates. If you don't have a specialist referral, the assessment is private-pay or can sometimes be funded via NDIS (Therapeutic Supports) if relevant.
How long does the whole process take?▾
Usually 6 to 10 weeks from first intake to final report and feedback session. The bottleneck is usually how quickly rating scales come back from teachers — if you can let the teacher know they're coming, that helps a lot. Combined assessments (ADHD + learning) take longer because there's more to write up.
Can the assessment be done via telehealth?▾
Most of the components can. Intake, rating scales, questionnaires, and the feedback session work fine via secure telehealth. Direct cognitive testing (WISC-V / WAIS-5 / WIAT-III) needs to be in-person at the Berwick clinic — the standardisation requires a controlled testing environment. ADOS-2 for autism also has to be in-person. So most adult ADHD-only assessments can be largely remote; child autism / learning assessments are mostly in-person.
What's the difference between an assessment with you vs at a public service like a paediatric clinic?▾
Public services are free (or very low-cost) but typically have 12-24 month wait lists, condense the assessment into fewer / shorter sessions, and produce a more clinical report focused on diagnosis. Private assessments cost more upfront but can be done in 6-10 weeks, allow more depth on what the person needs (not just what they meet criteria for), and the report is written with practical recommendations parents and adults can actually use. Neither is 'better' — they answer different questions.
Will the report be useful for school / NDIS / workplace?▾
That's a primary goal — recommendations are written for action, not just diagnostic completeness. Schools get specific, implementable adjustments tied to the cognitive profile. NDIS gets the diagnostic criteria + functional impact evidence they need for plan reviews. Workplaces get reasonable-adjustment recommendations tied to specific patterns. Tell me up-front what the report needs to support and I'll write toward that.
What if my child / I am too anxious to do the testing?▾
It happens often, and it's manageable. For kids, the sessions are paced with breaks, snacks, and a play-based feel — formal testing only takes up part of any one session. For adults, the cognitive testing can feel like a school exam at first — most people settle in by the second task. If anxiety is a major concern, we can split testing into more shorter sessions, or schedule them across more weeks. The testing is calibrated for typical performance — not best-day or worst-day.
What if I just want to understand without a diagnosis?▾
Totally legitimate referral question — and not uncommon, especially for adults. A cognitive profile or attentional profile can be useful in its own right (understanding strengths, identifying what kind of work / study setup suits you) without needing a diagnostic label. The report can be written formulation-only if that's what fits.
See general practice FAQs
Let's begin

Ready to start the conversation?

Reach out via the contact form with what you're hoping to understand. I'll write back with the next steps and a tailored quote.

Start a referral Ask a question first