Children, teenagers and their families
Understanding how your child thinks, learns and grows.
Careful, family-centred assessment from infancy through the teenage years, in Southport and by telehealth where suitable.
An assessment is not about passing or failing. It is about understanding how your child learns best, where their strengths lie, and what helps.
Our child and adolescent service offers careful, family-centred assessment from the first months of life through the teenage years. We look at how a child is developing, how they learn, what their behaviour might be telling us, and, where it is a question, whether autism or ADHD helps explain what you are seeing. We see families in Southport and by telehealth where that is suitable.
Is this right for your child?
Families and referrers come to us when
- A baby or toddler is not reaching milestones as expected, or was born early or with medical complexity
- A child is finding learning harder than expected, or seems capable but is not thriving at school
- There are questions about attention, behaviour or emotional regulation
- A family wants to understand whether autism, ADHD or a learning difficulty might explain what they are seeing
- A clear picture is needed for school planning, support funding, or an NDIS application
You do not need a referral to see us privately. If you would like Medicare rebates, or if a funder is involved, a referral helps, and we will explain the options when you make contact.
What we assess
Four areas we look at
Each area has its own page with more detail on what it looks at, what is involved, and what you receive.
Early childhood development
For infants and toddlers, a gentle, play-based look at how your child is developing, using the Bayley-4. It gives an early, clear picture so support can begin when it makes the most difference.
Read more →Learning & intellectual development
For preschool and school-aged children, understanding how your child learns through games, puzzles and conversations, using the WPPSI-IV or WISC-V alongside everyday-skills measures.
Read more →Behaviour & emotional wellbeing
When behaviour is hard to manage, it is usually telling us something. We look underneath it, drawing on parent and teacher input, to understand what is driving it and what will genuinely help.
Read more →Autism & ADHD assessment
Careful, whole-picture assessment where autism or ADHD is a question, following Australia's national best-practice guidelines and drawing on more than one setting.
Read more →What is involved
The assessment, step by step
- Getting started. A first conversation to understand your concerns and what you are hoping to learn.
- Information gathering. A developmental and family history, and, with your consent, input from school or other professionals who know your child.
- Sessions with your child. Play-based for little ones; game-like puzzles and tasks for older children, at your child's pace with breaks.
- Bringing it together. Scoring, interpretation and a written report in plain language.
- Feedback. We talk you through what we found and practical next steps, for home and for school.
What to tell your child: there is no need to make a big occasion of it. Children do their best when relaxed, so it often helps to describe the day simply, for example as time with someone who is going to do some puzzles and games to understand how they learn. A rested child who has had breakfast, with glasses or hearing aids if used, gives the most representative picture.
“When we understand how a child thinks, learns and feels, the right support becomes clear.”
How an assessment helps
The right help, at the right time
A clear understanding supports tailored strategies for home, reasonable adjustments and planning at school, eligibility evidence for support and funding including the NDIS, and, where useful, a path to therapy or further support. With your consent we share the report with your GP, paediatrician or school.
Cost and funding
What it costs
Fees for this assessment are quoted at intake, and we confirm the fee with you before we begin. Some assessments attract Medicare or NDIS support depending on the question and the funding pathway; we confirm this with you before booking. Our fees are on the Fees and Policies page.
Take the next step
You do not need a referral for a private appointment. Request an appointment or call 0452 452 262. GPs, paediatricians and other professionals can refer through our Make a referral page.
Request an appointment