Autism Assessments
Autism assessments
In Western Australia, autism assessments can be completed by a single clinician or a multi-disciplinary consensus team.
The requirements are currently different for applying for support at school, through the NDIS or to receive rebates from Medicare and are really confusing.
It is always a good idea to confirm what is required before engaging in an assessment as requirements can change.
Under 6 years
If your child is under 6 years of age, you do not need a formal diagnosis to apply for the National Disability Insurance Agency’s Early Childhood
Approach.
The Early Childhood Approach (ECA) program supports children under seven who have a developmental delay or disability.
Wanslea is the provider of the ECA program in Western Australia and it is a phenomenal program with incredible staff. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact Wanslea on 1300 969 645 or email ndis@wanslea.org.au
Medicare
In March 2023 a Medicare rebate was introduced for people aged 0-25 years seeking diagnosis of complex neurodevelopmental disorders and disabilities, including autism.
To receive the rebate you need a GP to refer you to a paediatrician or psychiatrist. The paediatrician or psychiatrist then refers you onto allied health practitioners for assessment.
Which is great in theory, but just means more people are trying to get in to see a paediatrician and psychiatrist for an initial referral. And we all know that’s near on impossible.
Given that both NDIS and Department of Education now do not require a paediatrician or psychiatrist to sign off on an autism diagnosis, many families are going without the Medicare rebate so that they can speed up the process.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The NDIS access team has confirmed that a Level 2 or Level 3 autism diagnosis by a clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist or educational and developmental psychologist experienced in autism assessments is sufficient evidence of a “List A” condition.
This does not currently apply to psychologists who are registered or provisional.
List A conditions are conditions that are likely to meet the disability requirements for access to the NDIS.
The NDIS only requires consensus of the diagnosis by a paediatrician or psychiatrist IF the report by the psychologist states that an opinion or conferral of the diagnosis is required. Then, the NDIS will expect that report at some point in the future to confim diagnosis.
This is a different requirement from access to the Individual Disability Allocation through the Department of Education.
Department of Education (WA)
The information provided below was provided by the Department of Education in their submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into autism in schools (2023) and is supplemented by updated advice from the Disability and Inclusion team.
A few clarifications in [square brackets] have been added to make the information clearer.
Schools may apply for an Individual Disability Allocation for students with a disability.
Eligibility for this funding is based on 8 disability categories (ASD, deaf and hard of hearing, global developmental delay, intellectual disability, physical disability, severe medical health condition, severe mental disorder and vision impairment).
Explicit criteria are applied and evidence of eligibility against each criterion is required from relevant medical practitioners or professionals.
Eligibility requirements for supplementary funding
Eligibility for an IDA in the ASD category is in accordance with:
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th edition (DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association, 2014
• National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Australia.
Eligibility documentation requirements
To be eligible, students need a signed letter, or a statement that is embedded within the text of a full report from eligible practitioner/s.
The letter or statement needs to:
• state the diagnosis
• state the current levels of severity (support, substantial support, or very substantial support)
• specify whether the diagnosis is:
− with or without intellectual impairment
− with or without accompanying language impairment
• list the names of the diagnosing practitioners
• state that all practitioners confer and agree with the diagnosis if the assessment was completed by a consensus team.
If the assessment is undertaken by a single practitioner, a statement from a second practitioner is also required to confirm that:
• the practitioners have conferred following the completion of all assessments
• each practitioner agrees with the diagnosis and levels of severity.
Eligible practitioners
Students can be assessed for ASD using a single practitioner pathway or a consensus team pathway.
The choice of practitioner and the number of practitioners involved in the assessment of functioning is determined by the assessment team.
This is applied to students of all ages.
Consensus Team Pathway
If a consensus team pathway is taken, the ASD assessment is conducted by either a:
• medical practitioner with specialist registration in community child health, general paediatrics, psychiatry or neurology, or who has a general registration with at least six years of relevant experience in assessing neurodevelopmental disorders
[OR]
• a psychologist with practice endorsement in clinical psychology, educational or developmental psychology, or neuropsychology.
[AND]
At least one additional diagnostician is selected to join the diagnostic team.
The decision is based on their skills and expertise and can be:
• a psychologist with general registration
• a speech pathologist
• an occupational therapist who has experience assessing ASD.
Single Clinician Pathway
If a single practitioner pathway is taken, the ASD assessment is conducted by either a:
• medical practitioner with specialist registration in community child health, general paediatrics, psychiatry or neurology, or who has a general registration with at least six years of relevant experience in assessing neurodevelopmental disorders
[OR]
• psychologist with practice endorsement in clinical psychology, educational or developmental psychology, or neuropsychology.
[AND]
The diagnosis must be verified by an eligible second practitioner with skills and expertise in the assessment and diagnosis of autism.
Co-occurring ADHD
Autism frequently co-occurs with ADHD. Psychologists can diagnose ADHD, however they cannot prescribe medications. If you wish to explore pharmacological treatments such as stimulant medications, these can only be initiated by a paediatrician, psychiatrist or neurologist.
