Autism Assessment and Diagnosis
Assessment and diagnosis for children and adults where autism is suspected. Reports include observations, standardised tools, and tailored recommendations.
Autism Assessment for all ages
Wondering if you or your child might be on the autism spectrum?
At Avina Therapy, we help children and adults understand how they experience the world through comprehensive autism assessments.
Assessments explore challenges with social communication, sensory sensitivities, routine changes, developmental delays, and more — providing a possible diagnosis and tailored support recommendations.
Our standardised assessments follow the National Guideline for autism diagnosis and are completed by qualified psychologists, so you receive everything in one place. Reports can support your NDIS application or be shared with schools, universities, and workplaces to access accommodations.
Why choose Avina Therapy for your Assessment?
Experienced team
Our psychologists and allied health team have specialist training in autism assessment and extensive experience working with autistic children and adults. We are committed to ongoing professional development and maintain reliability in standardised assessment tools.
Comprehensive support
As a multidisciplinary provider, Avina offers ongoing support beyond assessment. Our psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology can provide integrated support tailored to your needs.
Neurodiversity-affirming practice
We approach assessment through a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming lens. We recognise autism as a natural variation in human neurology and focus on understanding individual profiles.
Evidence-based practice
All our assessments follow the National Guidelines for the assessment and diagnosis of autism in Australia and use internationally recognised gold standard assessment tools. We are committed to providing accurate, reliable evaluations based on current best practice.
Client-centred approach
You and your goals are at the centre of everything we do. We take time to understand your unique circumstances and tailor our assessment approach to ensure you feel comfortable, respected and supported throughout the process.
Flexible and accessible
With clinics in Brisbane and Melbourne, we provide accessible assessment services across two major metropolitan areas. Our team works with you to schedule appointments that fit your needs.
Understanding autism assessment
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference that influences how a person experiences the world, processes information, and relates to others. People on the autism spectrum, have diverse strengths and individual support needs.
At Avina Therapy, we recognise the value of neurodiversity and provide client-centred assessments that honour each person’s unique profile.
An autism assessment is a comprehensive evaluation conducted by qualified professionals to determine whether someone meets the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder.
Our assessments go beyond diagnosis to provide a deep understanding of strengths, challenges and support needs, opening doors to appropriate services, accommodations and interventions.
When to consider an autism assessment
For Children
Communication and language
- Using fewer than 50 words at age two years
- Not putting two words together after age two, for example 'Mummy go'
- Challenges following simple instructions, for example 'get your shoes'
- Not responding to sounds or when shown pictures
- Not using gestures or pointing
Social and play skills
- Plays differently with adults and other children than expected for their age
- Prefers solitary play after age two and a half years
- Makes eye contact infrequently or briefly
- Shows little interest in typical toys or plays with toys in unexpected ways
- Plays in repetitive or structured ways
- Finds it difficult making and keeping friends (school-aged)
- Communicates differently in social conversations
Learning and daily routines
- Learns new skills at a different pace or in different ways
- Differences developing independence in daily routines such as dressing, feeding self and toileting
- Experiences frequent or prolonged periods of frustration, distress or meltdowns
- Differences in reactions to sensory inputs such as sounds, lights, or touch
For Adults
Many autistic adults, particularly women and gender-diverse individuals, develop sophisticated masking strategies that hide their autistic characteristics.
Masking involves consciously or unconsciously suppressing natural behaviours, copying others’ social interactions, for example forcing yourself to make eye contact or engage in small talk, despite it feeling uncomfortable or overwhelming.
While masking can help people ‘pass’ in social and work situations, it often leads to exhaustion, burnout, anxiety.
Our assessments recognise that autism can look different in people who have learnt to mask, and we take time to understand your authentic experiences beyond the strategies you may have developed to cope.
You may choose to seek a later-in-life autism assessment if:
- You have struggled with feeling socially isolated or different
- Family members have been diagnosed with autism and some characteristics sound familiar to you
- You have been diagnosed with other conditions but the diagnosis doesn't fully explain your experiences
- You want to better understand yourself and your unique strengths and challenges
- You need documentation for workplace accommodations or support services
- You've recently learnt more about autism and discovered that common experiences resonate with you
- You have been 'masking' or camouflaging autistic traits throughout your life and feel exhausted from trying to fit in or these have become overwhelming and are impacting your ability to live, work, and play.
Our Autism Assessment process
Multidisciplinary team
Our assessments are conducted by experienced psychologists with specialist training in autism assessment.
Depending on individual needs, your assessment may involve collaboration with other allied health professionals including speech and language pathologists, and occupational therapists.
Evidence-based tools
We use internationally recognised, standardised assessment tools including:
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) – the gold standard observational assessment
- Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum (MIGDAS) – for adults
- Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)
- Additional cognitive and developmental assessments as needed
- Assessments of functional capacity (required for NDIS applications)
All our assessments align with DSM-5TR diagnostic criteria and the National Guidelines for the assessment and diagnosis of autism in Australia.
Initial consultation
Duration
45-60min
Who attends
Psychologist, parent/carer (for children), individual being assessed (where appropriate)
What we cover
- Understand your concerns and goals
- Detailed developmental history gathering
- Discussion of current functioning across home, school or work environments
- Review of any previous reports or assessments
- Completion of screening questionnaires and rating scales
- Explanation of the assessment process and what to expect
- For children: gathering information from parents, carers and teachers
- For adults: exploring lifetime experiences and developmental patterns
Assessment sessions
Duration
total 4-7 hours, across 2-3 appointments
Who attends
Psychologist (and other therapists as needed eg., SLP or OT), individual being assessed, parent/carer
What we cover
- Standardised assessment tools
- Cognitive and developmental testing (where appropriate)
- Observational activities tailored to age and language level
- Evaluation of social communication, interaction patterns and behaviours
- Assessment of sensory processing and adaptive functioning
Analysis & report
Duration
3-4 weeks after completion of testing
What we do
Comprehensive analysis
Your detailed written report includes:
- Background information and reason for referral
- Assessment methods and tools used
- Detailed assessment findings and observations
- Diagnostic conclusion using DSM-5TR criteria (if appropriate)
- Individual strengths and areas of support need
- Tailored recommendations for interventions, accommodations and supports
- Information suitable for NDIS applications, school support plans or workplace adjustments
Feedback session
Duration
60min
Who attends
Parents/caregiver & psychologist
What we cover
- Explanation of findings
- Discussion of recommendations
- Practical strategies for home and school
- Full written report provided
- Next steps explained
Who can diagnose autism?
Formal autism diagnoses are made by appropriately qualified professionals including Paediatricians, Psychiatrists, Educational and Developmental Psychologists, and Clinical Psychologists.
Our assessment reports provide comprehensive evidence to support diagnostic decision-making and are prepared to meet the requirements for formal diagnosis.
The means you do not need to seek any other assessors our professionals to receive your results.
Locations and service delivery
We can provide telehealth options for some portions of the assessment process however standard tests such as the ADOS-2 assessments are conducted face-to-face at our assessment clinics, providing a consistent and supportive environment for comprehensive evaluation.
Funding and Medicare information
Medicare rebates
Avina Therapy does not accept Medicare referrals for autism assessments.
NDIS funding
The NDIS does not fund diagnostic assessments, however our comprehensive reports and diagnosis are suitable for NDIS applications.
Private health insurance
Some private health insurance policies with extras cover may provide rebates for psychology and allied health services. We recommend contacting your insurer to confirm your specific coverage.
Fee for service
Our autism assessments are fee for service meaning clients pay out of pocket for the assessment and we do not use other funding sources such as the NDIS.
Assessment fees
Comprehensive autism assessment fees range from $2000-$2700 depending on the requested assessments.
Assessment fees include:
- Initial intake consultation
- All assessment sessions
- Comprehensive written report
- Feedback session
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an autism assessment take?
The autism assessment process typically involves four to seven hours of direct assessment time, spread across multiple sessions. You can expect to receive your comprehensive report and feedback session within four weeks of your final session.
Do I need a referral for an autism assessment?
A referral is not required to book an autism assessment with Avina Therapy.
What ages do you assess autism?
We provide autism assessments for children (from age two years) through to adults across the lifespan.
Can you assess for autism and ADHD at the same time?
Yes, we can conduct comprehensive assessments that evaluate both autism and ADHD, as these conditions can co-occur. Please discuss this with our team when booking.
What happens if my child or I do not meet criteria for autism?
If the autism assessment does not result in an autism diagnosis, your report will still provide valuable information about strengths, challenges and support needs.
We can discuss alternative explanations for the concerns that prompted the assessment and recommend appropriate supports or further evaluation if needed.
Will my autism assessment report be suitable for NDIS applications?
Yes, our comprehensive assessment reports include functional impact information and recommendations that are appropriate for NDIS applications, school support plans and workplace accommodation requests.
What should I bring to the assessment?
We will provide detailed information about what to bring when you book your assessment. Generally, this includes any previous reports from other professionals, school reports, developmental records and completed questionnaires.
