Do I need a referral?
No, families can self-refer to ProMind Psychology for any assessment.
Can I receive a Medicare rebate?
To be eligible for Medicare rebates, a referral is needed from a paediatrician or Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, under the Helping Children with Autism Package (HWCA). GP referrals are not eligible. This referral entitles the child rebates for 4 assessment sessions that are shared across other professionals involved in your child’s assessment (e.g. Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist).
Your paediatrician or psychiatrist will need to have seen you at least twice before they can make a referral for an assessment under HWCA. Rebates are only available for sessions where the child is present (the assessment phases – not for report writing or feedback time).
Some private health providers may provide potential rebates for psychological assessments – please enquire with your private health fund to determine if you are eligible. Your paediatrician will need to have seen you at least twice before they can make a referral for an assessment under HWCA.
Do you accept NDIS referrals?
For those who are self-managed or plan-managed NDIS clients, please check with your support coordinator regarding utilising your NDIS funds for psychological assessment.
What can I expect from an Autism assessment?
An Autism assessment can help you further understand your child, and provide insight into how their unique mind works. An assessment will help you rule out whether your child has autism or if there is another area of their skills that may be developing slower than expected.
Diagnostic Autism assessments can help those involved in the child’s life – families, teachers, GPs, paediatricians, and carers – to understand their individual differences and allow parents to put the right long-term strategies in place to help their child thrive.
What do I tell my child about the Autism assessment?
Before the assessment, we recommend you tell your child that they are coming to see someone who is going to do some fun activities including puzzles, games and play (to observe your child’s behaviour, social skills and communication).
Avoid describing the appointment as a test or assessment as this can make some children feel anxious.
How can Autism Assessments help my child?
Parents and carers often report complex emotions and transformative experiences upon receiving an Autism diagnosis for their child. Assessing your child for Autism is a journey of growth, acceptance, and learning that leads to a deeper understanding of your child’s strengths and challenges.
Do both parents need to be at the initial session?
Where possible information from both parents is preferred (as they can have different experiences with the child), however it is appreciated that this is not always possible.
Does my child need to attend the initial and feedback sessions?
Your child is not required to attend the initial interview or feedback sessions. We tend to structure these so they can be delivered via video call after the assessment components.
It is extremely important that you are able to talk freely without interruptions. Therefore we strongly recommend you arrange appropriate care for your child to enable you to attend these sessions uninterrupted.
Why do we have multiple sessions throughout the assessment?
Assessment are tailored to be as easy as possible, with minimal disruption to your child and family. Therefore, we structure the sessions so that all the assessment activities that are undertaken face to face with your child are completed in a single day. Later on the same day, we will organise the video call appt with you.
Feedback sessions are scheduled around two weeks after the last assessment session to allow sufficient time for clinicians to score, interpret and write a comprehensive report in preparation for your feedback session.
Should my child take their medication before the assessment session?
This information needs to be discussed with the clinician during the parent intake session.
Do I need to be there during the child assessment sessions?
No, unless specified by the clinician during the intake, parents are not required during the assessment session. Depending on the assessment package and the child’s age, your child will then be required to attend a separate testing session which is undertaken without the parent in the room.
We ask that you do not leave your child unattended and either wait in the waiting room or go for a walk to a nearby cafe/shop where you can be contacted to return to collect your child should they complete the assessment in less than the allocated time.
My child wears glasses. Do they need to wear them during the assessment?
Yes
How long will the report take?
In most circumstances the report is not given at the feedback session. Reports usually take one week to complete, following the feedback session.
Why do psychology assessments cost so much?
Psychological assessments are very lengthy and in-depth processes that must be taken very seriously.
In many instances we find that the assessment takes far more time than the quoted price. At ProMind Psychology we always honour the price quoted regardless of how long it takes to deliver the final report.
The fee for an assessment does not just cover the time spent in the consultation room. There is a great deal that goes into an assessment behind the scenes that contributes to the cost. This includes: data entry and analysis, interpretation of tests, report writing, consultation with other stakeholders and costs associated with the purchasing of assessment and test material, as well as Professional Development and training.
Can my child continue to access therapy after the assessment?
From 2025, we are offering school visits and therapy for children and adolescents experiencing a range of developmental, social, emotional, or behavioural difficulties. These options range from behavioural modification and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to social skills training and emotion management.
If you are interested, we will liaise with your school leaders to arrange. (We will need at least 4 families at your school to engage in psychology services)
