Psychology assessments
Understand ADHD, autism and learning differences
We help you decide if you need an assessment, with an easy first appointment to get started and clear guidance on what to do next.
Prefer to chat first? Call the clinic on 03 9035 5180
Get started with psychology assessment
Ready to see new families, fast access to care
WHEN TO GET HELP
We can help you understand learning, behaviour and development
If you’re wondering about ADHD, autism, learning differences or giftedness, a psychology assessment can help you make sense of what’s going on and what support might help. Reach out if:
- school, study, work or daily life feels harder than it should
- you need clearer answers to understand the right ongoing support.
Things you may have noticed
Learning, attention or behaviour is different from peers
Reading, writing, spelling or maths has always felt hard
Changes, noises, textures or busy places feel overwhelming
Focus, organisation or starting tasks is a daily struggle
School, work or daily life are more challenging than expected
Something hasn't felt right for a while, for your child or yourself
HOW IT WORKS
What is a psychology assessment?
A psychology assessment helps you understand what’s happening with thinking, learning, attention and everyday behaviour.
It involves talking with a psychologist, completing some tasks or questions, and receiving a clear written summary.
The aim is to explain what’s going on and guide the supports, adjustments or next steps that will help at school, work or in daily life.
SUPPORT ACROSS DAILY LIFE
How psychology assessments help
Assessment doesn’t always lead to a diagnosis. When it doesn’t, the assessment is still valuable for narrowing the picture, highlighting strengths and challenges and giving clear next steps you can act on.
Explain what’s happening
For children, young people and adults.
A psychology assessment shows patterns in thinking, learning, attention and everyday behaviour so you understand the cause and next steps.
Plan practical supports
Helps with school, study, work and home.
An assessment recommends clear, practical supports and adjustments you can use at school, work or home to make everyday life easier.
Provide useful documentation
Reports that are practical and easy to use.
We write clear reports you can use for exam adjustments, school plans, NDIS or other funding and support applications.
How we work
Our approach
Supportive and neurodiversity-affirming
Thorough and evidence-based
Clear guidance to the right support
TAKING THE FIRST STEP
Getting started with assessment
We know committing to a full assessment can feel like a big decision. That’s why with us, you start with a 50‑minute consultation with a registered psychologist and then decide on next steps.
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Step 1: Initial consultation
The first step is a 50-minute consultation with a registered psychologist, which can be held online. For clients under 18, this session is parent-only.
Your psychologist gets to know what's been happening and gives you a clear plan on what to do next. They’ll:
- ask what you've noticed
- gather background and developmental history
- review any reports or school feedback
- recommend the right assessment pathway for you.
This session costs $215, and you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate with a valid GP Mental Health Treatment Plan. Speak with your GP and have this in place before your appointment.
If a full assessment isn't the right next step after this session, we'll talk through what might fit better. If you decide to go ahead, the $215 goes towards the cost of the full assessment.
See our fees page for more detail on the fees for full assessment costs for registered educational and developmental psychology.
Step 2: Assessment sessions
You’ll have one or two in-person sessions where the psychologist works directly with your child or with you.
These sessions involve a carefully selected set of structured activities, questionnaires and standardised tests.
The number of sessions and how long they go for depends on what's being assessed, what suits the person and what comes up along the way.
Step 3: Feedback and report
Once the assessment is complete, your psychologist will meet with you to go through the results and recommendations. You can ask questions to make sure you’re very clear on what to do next.
After that, you'll receive a written report you can share with your school, GP, a psychiatrist, allied health professionals or anyone else involved in their care.
The full assessment process typically takes several weeks. Your psychologist will give you a clear picture of likely costs and timeframes before you commit.
TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS
What psychological assessment might you need?
You don’t need to know which assessment you need before you contact us. That’s part of what we help you work out. We often combine assessments when the picture is complex or unclear.
ADHD assessments
- Useful when focus, attention, organisation, restlessness or impulsivity affect more than one area of life.
- For children, this includes input from parents, carers and teachers.
- For adults, it involves exploring current patterns and earlier experiences.
Autism assessments
- Useful when there are ongoing differences in communication, relationships, sensory needs, routines or daily life.
- Helps build a clear picture of strengths, support needs and next steps.
Learning and literacy assessments
- Useful when reading, writing, spelling or maths are harder than expected, or when schoolwork doesn’t match the effort being put in, even after extra support has been provided.
- Helps identify specific learning disorders or learning differences and guides school adjustments or further support.
Cognitive and giftedness assessments
- Useful when there are questions about overall learning ability, giftedness or a mismatch between ability and performance.
- Helps explain how a person thinks and learns, even when reading or writing aren’t concerns.
How to refer
Information for professionals
MTHC Psychology provides assessment across childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
We work with GPs, paediatricians, school teams and allied health services within MTHC’s connected system of care.
Online: Complete our referral enquiry form
Call: 03 9035 5180
Email: clinic-psych@unimelb.edu.au
We don’t need a formal referral letter, but a brief summary of the concerns and any previous assessments is helpful. It’s useful to include:
- Concern: one short sentence describing the main reason for seeking assessment.
- Timeline: how long concerns have been present.
- Key observations: 2–3 concrete examples from home, school or work.
- Previous supports: what interventions or adjustments were tried and the response.
- Relevant reports: attach paediatrician letters, school reports, allied health summaries.
- Medical/mental health history: current diagnoses, medications, significant events.
- Risk or safety issues: any legal, safety or urgent concerns to flag before the first appointment.
This information helps the psychologist plan the first session, ask the right questions and make sure assessment is the right next step.
Refer to us when the person you’re seeing reports:
- ongoing learning, behaviour or development concerns
- challenges that persist despite intervention and supports
- an unclear or complex presentation
- a need for better understanding to guide next steps
- concerns about ADHD, autism, learning disorders, giftedness or cognitive functioning
- a need to school adjustments, funding or exam accommodations
- uncertainty about committing to a full assessment.
We can support families, adults and care teams to work out whether full psychological assessment is needed, which assessment may fit and what documentation or support may be useful next.
Children, young people and adults with persistent concerns who would benefit from clearer diagnostic information and practical recommendations.
- We’ll contact the person or family and explain the next steps.
- We’ll book an initial appointment with a registered psychologist.
- The psychologist confirms whether assessment is the right path and which one suits.
- If assessment proceeds, sessions, feedback and a written report follow.
- With consent, we can share key information with referrers, school, support coordinator or care team.
One connected system of care
MTHC is where healthcare, education and research come together
SUPPORT FOR CHANGING NEEDS
A connected system of care
We offer a range of services to support people across different health needs and stages of life. You can move easily between services as your needs change, without starting from scratch each time.
PURPOSE‑LED HEALTHCARE
Affiliated with the University of Melbourne
We’re a not‑for‑profit healthcare organisation affiliated with the University of Melbourne. This means high‑quality, evidence‑informed care for you and your family.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral?
No. Families and adults can contact us directly. GPs, paediatricians, educators and other professionals can also suggest or support a referral.
Can I use a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
You may be eligible for a rebate for the initial consultation and the feedback session. Speak with your GP and have the plan in place prior to your appointment. Medicare rebates don't apply to the assessment sessions themselves.
What’s the difference between your private clinic and the student teaching clinic?
We have two assessment streams at MTHC: Psychology. The private clinic is staffed by fully registered psychologists who can conduct and sign off assessments independently. We currently have immediate availability.
The student teaching clinic is staffed by provisional psychologists completing their supervised training. Fees are lower, and waitlists are longer. Because provisional psychologists work under supervision, their assessment findings typically require additional sign-off before a formal diagnosis can be confirmed.
If you're looking for fast access and a clear pathway from assessment to diagnosis (if applicable) and recommendations, the private clinic is the right starting point.
Do I need to know which assessment I need?
No. You can contact us with what you’ve noticed. We’ll help you work out whether a learning, ADHD, autism or cognitive assessment is the right next step, or whether another pathway may fit better.
What ages do you see?
We see children, young people and adults for assessment. We’ll help match you with the right psychologist for your situation.
Can appointments be done by telehealth?
Some parts of the process may be suitable for telehealth, especially initial conversations and some feedback discussions. Assessment sessions usually need to happen in person.
What does a full psychological assessment involve?
A full assessment usually includes an initial session, questionnaires, one or more in-person assessment sessions, a feedback session and a written report. We'll explain the steps before you get started.
How much does psychology assessment cost?
Costs depend on the type and length of assessment. With us, you can get started with an initial consultation for $215. At the end of that appointment, you’ll understand what assessment suits your situation, what you’ll get from it, full fees, rebate options and timeframes so you can make an informed decision.
What if psychology isn't the right starting point?
We'll help you think through the next step. Sometimes another MTHC service like speech pathology or occupational therapy may be a better fit.
Contact Us
MTHC: Psychology
Level 2, 138-146 Cardigan Street,
Carlton, VIC 3053
Phone: 03 9035 5180
Fax: 03 8344 2743
Email: clinic-psych@unimelb.edu.au
Opening hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed public holidays
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