FAQs
Autism assessments for children in Perth
Autism assessments for children in Perth are usually conducted by developmental paediatricians, child psychiatrists, or clinical psychologists. Some assessments are completed by a single clinician, while others involve a multidisciplinary team that may include a psychologist, speech pathologist or occupational therapist.
Many families start by speaking with their GP or paediatrician, who may provide a referral. Some private psychologists also accept self-referrals for autism assessments.
Due to high demand in Perth, waitlists can be long, so families often join multiple waitlists or explore different assessment options.
Children can be assessed for autism at any age, including toddlers and preschool children.
Early signs of autism may appear in the first few years of life, particularly in areas such as communication, social interaction, play or sensory processing.
However, some children — particularly girls and high masking children — may not be identified until primary school or later, when social expectations increase.
Yes.
Children under 6 years old in Western Australia do not need a formal diagnosis to access the NDIS Early Childhood Approach.
This program supports young children with developmental delays or disabilities and can provide early intervention services while families explore further assessment.
In Western Australia, the Early Childhood Approach is delivered by Wanslea.
Families can contact Wanslea directly to discuss eligibility.
Not always.
Many autism assessments in Perth are conducted by clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists, or educational and developmental psychologists who are experienced in diagnosing autism.
However, if you want to access a Medicare rebate, your GP must refer your child to a paediatrician or psychiatrist first. The paediatrician or psychiatrist then refers you to allied health professionals for assessment.
Because waitlists for paediatricians and child psychiatrists in Perth can be very long, many families choose to proceed directly with a private psychology assessment to avoid delays.
Autism assessments typically involve several steps to understand a child’s development and behaviour.
This may include:
- Parent interviews about developmental history
- Standardised questionnaires
- Observations of communication and social interaction
- Structured diagnostic tools used by trained clinicians
- Input from teachers or daycare providers (when relevant)
The goal of an assessment is to understand a child’s strengths, differences and support needs.
Some clinicians require a GP referral, particularly developmental paediatricians and psychiatrists.
Many clinical psychologists who conduct autism assessments accept self-referrals, meaning parents can contact the clinic directly.
If you are unsure where to start, speaking with your GP, child health nurse or school psychologist can help guide you toward the right assessment pathway.
Who can diagnose autism in WA
Yes.
In Western Australia, autism can be diagnosed by:
- Clinical psychologists
- Educational and developmental psychologists
- Neuropsychologists
- Paediatricians
- Psychiatrists
- Neurologists
Psychologists commonly lead autism assessment teams in Perth.
However, psychologists cannot prescribe medication. If your child also has ADHD or other conditions requiring medication, you will still need to see a paediatrician or psychiatrist.
Not always.
Many autism assessments in Perth are conducted by clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists, or educational and developmental psychologists who are experienced in diagnosing autism.
However, if you want to access a Medicare rebate, your GP must refer your child to a paediatrician or psychiatrist first. The paediatrician or psychiatrist then refers you to allied health professionals for assessment.
Because waitlists for paediatricians and child psychiatrists in Perth can be very long, many families choose to proceed directly with a private psychology assessment to avoid delays.
Yes. Autism and ADHD frequently co-occur.
Many children who are assessed for autism are also evaluated for ADHD, learning differences, developmental coordination disorder, language disorders, or sensory processing differences.
A psychologist can diagnose ADHD, but ADHD medications can only be prescribed by a paediatrician, psychiatrist, or neurologist.
No.
The NDIS accepts autism diagnoses made by experienced psychologists.
For Level 2 or Level 3 autism, a diagnostic report from an appropriately qualified:
- clinical psychologist
- neuropsychologist
- educational and developmental psychologist
is considered sufficient evidence of a “List A” condition for NDIS access.
However, the psychologist must be fully registered and experienced in autism assessments.
If the report states that confirmation by a paediatrician or psychiatrist is recommended, the NDIS may expect that confirmation later.
Yes, in most cases.
Western Australian public schools can apply for an Individual Disability Allocation (IDA) to support students with disabilities, including autism.
To be eligible, documentation must include:
- A confirmed autism diagnosis under DSM-5 criteria
- The level of support required (support, substantial support, very substantial support)
- Whether there is intellectual impairment or language impairment
- The names of the diagnosing practitioners
The report must also show that all diagnosticians agree with the diagnosis if a team assessment was completed.
Autism assessment Perth cost
The cost of an autism assessment in Perth varies depending on the type of assessment and the professionals involved.
Typical price ranges are:
- Psychologist-led autism assessments: $1,800 – $3,500
- Multidisciplinary autism assessments: $3,000 – $6,000+
Multidisciplinary assessments often involve a team of professionals such as a psychologist, speech pathologist and occupational therapist, which increases the cost but may provide a more comprehensive developmental profile.
IMPORTANT: The Western Australian Department of Education currently requires two eligible practitioners from different professions to agree on diagnosis. Please confirm with your school prior to engaging an assessment provider to ensure it will meet requirements.
Some families may be able to claim Medicare rebates depending on their circumstances.
Because prices vary significantly between clinics, it is always worth asking for a detailed quote before booking an autism assessment.
Yes, but it comes with specific requirements.
Since March 2023, Medicare has provided rebates for the assessment and diagnosis of complex neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism) for people aged 0–25 years.
To access the rebate:
Your GP must refer you to a paediatrician or psychiatrist
The paediatrician or psychiatrist then refers you to allied health professionals for assessment
In practice, this pathway can be difficult in Perth because paediatrician waitlists are often very long. Many families choose to pay privately for an autism assessment rather than wait months (or sometimes years) for an initial specialist appointment.
Autism assessment for girls in Perth
Yes. Some clinicians in Perth have experience assessing autism in girls and high masking children, whose traits can be more subtle and may not match traditional stereotypes.
These children may appear socially capable but experience challenges with friendships, anxiety, emotional regulation or sensory overload.
Seeking an assessment with clinicians familiar with different presentations of autism can help ensure a child’s profile is understood accurately.
I asked Perth Kids Hub readers who they would recommend to parents who are searching for Perth’s best autism assessments for girls and children who mask.
You can check out their recommendations here 👉 Perth’s best autism assessments for girls and high masking children.
Best autism assessment providers for kids in Perth
Finding a paediatrician who specialises in autism diagnosis in Perth can be challenging because there are relatively few developmental paediatricians and very high demand for appointments.
Many paediatricians in Perth who diagnose autism work in developmental paediatrics, community child health, or child neurodevelopment. These specialists often assess children for conditions such as autism, ADHD, developmental delay, and learning differences.
To see a paediatrician, you will usually need a referral from your GP.
Because waitlists can be long, families often:
- Check whether a paediatrician’s books are currently open for autism assessments
- Join multiple waitlists
- Ask their GP which paediatricians are currently accepting referrals
- Start the assessment process with a psychologist experienced in autism assessments while waiting for a paediatrician appointment
On Perth Kids Hub, you can browse paediatricians and child specialists who support autism assessment and diagnosis, along with updates when clinics reopen their books or release new appointment availability.
This page is regularly updated to help families in Perth find current information about autism assessments and specialist availability.