Adult ASD Assessment in Melbourne
Comprehensive ASD assessment for adults, conducted by experienced psychologists. A considered, neurodivergent-affirming process for adults seeking clarity about whether they are autistic, particularly those whose traits were missed or masked earlier in life.
Currently accepting new clients in July for in-person and telehealth appointments.
When Autism Goes Unrecognised Until Adulthood
Many of the adults we assess have spent their lives sensing they are different, without quite knowing why. Some have built capable, outwardly successful lives by reading social cues carefully, rehearsing conversations in advance, and pouring energy into appearing fine. Others have struggled in ways that previous diagnoses, anxiety, depression, social anxiety, never fully explained.
You might be considering an autism (ASD) assessment if you recognise yourself in some of these:
You feel a persistent sense of being different from others, even among people you care about
Social interaction takes more conscious effort than it seems to for others, and leaves you exhausted afterwards
You have strong sensory preferences or sensitivities (sound, light, texture, smell) that you've learned to work around
You have deep, sustained interests that have shaped how you spend your time
You've recognised autism in someone close to you and started questioning your own experiences
You suspect you've been masking for years, and the cost is showing up as burnout, shutdown, or chronic exhaustion
Late-recognised autism in adults often looks quite different to childhood stereotypes. Many adults have spent a lifetime adapting, and a thorough assessment can help name what's been there all along.
A Considered, Therapeutic Assessment
We don't run autism assessments as a fast tick-box exercise. The process is structured, evidence-based, and clinically rigorous, and at the same time, designed to be useful and reflective in itself.
That means we:
Take time to understand your developmental, educational, and psychosocial history
Use standardised, validated measures alongside in-depth clinical interview
Pay close attention to masked, internalised, and adult presentations that are often missed
Consider co-occurring conditions and differential diagnoses, including ADHD, anxiety, trauma, and social anxiety
Discuss what your traits mean for your life, not just whether they meet diagnostic criteria
Our approach is neurodivergent-affirming. We treat autism as a different way of being wired, not a deficit to be corrected. The goal is clarity, not pathology.
How Assessment Works
The full process typically takes four to five sessions across several weeks. We structure it with predictability in mind, you'll know what's happening at each step.
Intake session
Your first session, in-person or via telehealth, focuses on understanding your goals, your current concerns, and what's brought you to consider assessment now. We discuss your background and explain the rest of the process. Afterwards, we send through tailored questionnaires for you to complete in your own time.
Diagnostic assessment sessions
Over a minimum of two sessions, your psychologist conducts an in-depth clinical interview using a therapeutic assessment approach. This includes developmental history, communication patterns, sensory processing, social experience, executive functioning, and coping strategies, alongside structured and standardised measures. Where helpful, we may seek collateral information, for example from a partner, family member, or someone who knew you in childhood.
Clinical formulation and feedback
We integrate everything into a comprehensive formulation. In the feedback session, we discuss findings in accessible language, walk you through how autistic traits (or other relevant patterns) show up in your life, and provide tailored, practical recommendations. You'll have time to ask questions, reflect, and take notes you can return to later.
Who Conducts Your Assessment
All assessments at East Brunswick Psychology are conducted by registered cpsychologists. Our psychologists complete a minimum of five years of university training, including postgraduate qualifications in psychological assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of more complex presentations. We are registered with AHPRA and maintain ongoing professional development in neurodivergence.
Why this matters for autism assessment
Autism in adults is commonly misidentified as anxiety, social anxiety, depression, or personality concerns, particularly when masking has been long-standing. Psychologists are specifically trained in differential diagnosis, which means we're equipped to consider what's autism, what's something else, and what may be both.
What You Walk Away With
At the end of the process, you receive:
A formal diagnostic outcome, including consideration of any co-occurring or differential conditions
A detailed written report explaining results in plain language
Personalised, evidence-based recommendations for communication, sensory and executive functioning supports, workplace and study accommodations, and identity adjustment
Documentation suitable for your GP, workplaces, educational institutions, and NDIS applications where relevant
A note on next steps
Receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult can prompt a period of identity adjustment, where you make sense of past experiences through a new lens. We offer optional post-assessment processing sessions if you'd like therapeutic support as you integrate the outcome.
Investment
ASD-only assessment: $2,340
This fee covers your intake session, the diagnostic interview sessions, questionnaire setup and interpretation, report writing, and your feedback session.
If the process suggests ADHD may also be relevant, we can discuss expanding into a combined Autism and ADHD assessment ($3,100), so you receive a complete picture in one process.
Medicare and private health
A valid Mental Health Care Plan from your GP may entitle you to Medicare rebates for part of the assessment. Many private health funds also offer rebates for psychology under extras cover. We're happy to discuss what you can expect to claim.
Common Questions
I've masked my whole life. Can you still diagnose me?
1
Yes. Adult autism assessment is specifically designed to look beneath learned coping and masking. Our process explores developmental history, internal experience, and patterns that may not be obvious from the outside. Many of the adults we assess have masked extensively.
5
Will the report be accepted for NDIS applications?
2
Reports from AHPRA-registered psychologists are widely accepted as part of NDIS applications. We can discuss what the NDIS typically requires during your feedback session.
What if I might have both autism and ADHD?
3
Autism and ADHD frequently co-occur, and our process always considers both. If we identify likely ADHD during the assessment, we can discuss expanding the scope into a combined Autism and ADHD assessment so you receive a complete picture.
Do I need a GP referral?
4
No referral is needed to book. However, a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP allows you to access Medicare rebates, so organise this beforehand if you'd like to use them.
How is this different from seeing a psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication; their assessments are often shorter. A psychology assessment is typically more comprehensive, with deeper attention to developmental history, masked presentations, sensory and communication patterns, and tailored recommendations. Either profession can diagnose autism in Australia
Book Your Assessment
In-person at our Brunswick East rooms, or via secure telehealth anywhere in Victoria or Australia.
EB Consulting Suites (Wellness Centre)
Level 1, 6 Bluestone Way, Brunswick East VIC 3057
Parking onsite. Trams 1 and 6 nearby, short walk from Jewell Station.
Phone: 0405 742 474
Email: ebpsychology@fastmail.com
We typically respond to enquiries within 1-2 business days. If you're not sure whether our practice is the right fit, you're welcome to call and discuss.