Autism diagnoses are conducted by qualified health professionals with expertise in neurodevelopmental conditions. Depending on the individual’s age and circumstances, this may include:

• Paediatricians (specialist doctors for children)

• Psychologists (clinical or neuropsychologists experienced in autism assessments)

• Speech Pathologists (sometimes involved in the assessment process)

• Psychiatrists (in some cases, especially adults)

Typically, a multidisciplinary team approach is used to get a comprehensive understanding. Your GP can help guide you by providing referrals to these specialists.

A child does not need a formal autism diagnosis to access support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) approach is available to:

• Children under 6 years with developmental delays, and

• Children under 9 years with a diagnosed disability.

If you’re considering this for your child, the first step is to:

• Meet with an NDIS Early Childhood Partner to discuss your child’s needs.

• They will provide information about the supports and services available in your local community.

• If appropriate, they can assist in requesting access to the NDIS for your child.

This approach helps families get timely support, even before a formal diagnosis is completed.

The Darwin Children’s Development Team offers comprehensive support for children undergoing developmental assessments, including autism diagnosis.

Services Provided:

• Developmental assessments to identify needs

• Goal-focused interventions

• Support for educators and community members involved in the child’s care

• Assistance connecting families to the NDIS and other local services

Eligibility Requirements:

• Child must be covered by Medicare

• Child must not already be on the NDIS

• Parental or guardian consent is required

This public service aims to provide timely, accessible support for children and families in the Darwin area.

Who is involved in the process

An assessment for a diagnosis is normally completed by a team of professionals made up of a paediatrician, psychologist, and a speech pathologist. Between these professionals they will carry out a series of different assessments over several appointments. So, it can prove to be a very lengthy process. Once they have finished all the assessments, they will make the decision if your child meets the criteria for a diagnosis.

Who to contact for a referral

There are many different organisations you can contact about getting a referral to get the diagnosis process started, Parents can contact the professionals involved in the diagnosis assessments directly, but you generally will need a referral from your GP or predication. There are also private practitioners and teams who conduct assessments on a fee-paying basis. Medicare rebates are available for assessment.

What happens After

Parents Will receive a copy of the assessment report. This report is used to plan a program for the child in consultation with parents and service providers. The assessment report is also used by government agencies, schools, respite care and other services to determine eligibility for funding or other support.

Publicly funded adult assessment clinics are currently only available in WA.

The best option in this point in time is to consult a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist and/or a medical practitioner experienced in the assessment and diagnosis of autism. They will ask a lot of questions about your past. This information will be used to help make a diagnosis. A speech pathologist could also be consulted to assess the individual’s social communication skills.