Guide ยท Autism
Free autism assessment in Australia: public, Medicare and other options
Free autism assessments exist in Australia, mostly for children and mostly with a wait. This guide covers public services, what Medicare pays for under-25s, what adults can do, and what the NDIS won't pay for.
Updated 25 September 2026 · About 8 minutes to read · All guides
In short
- Public autism assessments for children are free through state and territory health services, but many have long waiting lists.
- Under 25, Medicare pays rebates for a paediatrician's or psychiatrist's assessment, plus up to 8 allied health assessment services in a lifetime, such as a psychologist's.
- Adults have few public options. After 25 there is no Medicare item for a psychologist's autism assessment, though a psychiatrist's can attract a rebate.
- The NDIS doesn't pay for diagnostic assessments. Diagnosis is the health system's job.
- Young children can get support before any diagnosis, through NDIS early childhood partners and, from October 2026, Thriving Kids.
Where free and subsidised assessment exists
Free autism assessments exist in Australia, but mostly for children, and usually with a wait. Under 25, Medicare can cut the cost. For older adults, the options are mostly about paying less rather than nothing.
| Route | Who it's for | Cost to you | Typical path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public child development service or public paediatrics | Children. Age limits and eligibility vary by state and service | Free | Referral (some services accept parents directly), then a waiting list |
| Medicare items for complex neurodevelopmental disorders | Under 25 | A set rebate per service. You pay any gap unless the provider bulk bills | GP referral to a paediatrician or psychiatrist, who can refer on to allied health |
| Psychiatrist assessment (Medicare item 291) | Any age, including adults | A set rebate. The psychiatrist sets the fee | GP referral |
| University psychology clinic | Varies. Many don't assess autism | Fee set by the clinic | Contact the clinic |
| Private health insurance extras | People with psychology cover | May pay part of the fee | Check with your fund before booking |
| NDIS | Not a route to diagnosis | Doesn't pay for diagnostic assessment | Diagnosis is a health system job |
The other route is a fully private assessment, where costs vary between providers.
Children: public child development and paediatric services
Each state and territory funds public services that assess children, often through hospitals or community health. Raising Children Network says these are free, but many have long waiting lists. The usual first step is your GP, child and family health nurse or a paediatrician. Entry rules differ, for example:
- Western Australia: the Perth metropolitan Child Development Service takes referrals from parents as well as professionals, for children under 16, and is free for eligible children.
- South Australia: the state's Office for Autism says the Women's and Children's Hospital assesses children with complex developmental concerns in three or more areas, free with a Medicare card.
- New South Wales: Amaze, the autism organisation, lists NSW Health developmental assessment services, the children's hospitals and community health centres.
How long the wait is
Waits vary by service and region, and there is no single national figure. WA's Child Development Service says some waits may be lengthy. Queensland's referral guidelines for public paediatric clinics fast-track things like a child losing skills. Other autism referrals are Category 3, with a target of an appointment within 365 days.
Amaze suggests joining several waiting lists, public and private, and following up regularly. Support for a young child doesn't have to wait for a diagnosis (see the NDIS section below).
Medicare for under-25s: what it pays for
Medicare has a set of items for what it calls complex neurodevelopmental disorders, which include autism, for people under 25. The government's fact sheet explains them. Medicare's rules describe a complex disorder as needing support, with impairment in two or more areas of development such as language or adaptive behaviour.
Step 1: a paediatrician or psychiatrist
With a GP referral, a paediatrician (item 135) or psychiatrist (item 289) does a comprehensive assessment of at least 45 minutes, makes the diagnosis and writes a treatment and management plan. There are video versions (92140 and 92434). Only one of these items can be claimed in a lifetime, and the rebate is $272.50.
Step 2: up to 8 allied health assessment services
With a referral from the paediatrician or psychiatrist, allied health professionals can contribute, including psychologists (82000), speech pathologists (82005) and occupational therapists (82010), with video versions such as 93032 for psychologists. These can happen before the diagnosis, to help the doctor reach it.
- Up to 8 in a lifetime, shared across all the allied health assessment items, according to Medicare's explanatory note. Not 8 per profession.
- A review after 4. The referring paediatrician or psychiatrist must review and agree before the remaining 4.
- At least 50 minutes each, for a person under 25.
The rebate is $101.55 per psychology service and $89.50 for speech pathology or occupational therapy.
After diagnosis: up to 20 treatment services
Once the diagnosis and plan are done, Medicare covers up to 20 allied health treatment services in a lifetime for people under 25, in two referrals of up to 10. They are only paid once the paediatrician or psychiatrist item has been processed.
A rebate isn't the same as free
Providers set their own fees, so there may be a gap. A service is free only if the provider chooses to bulk bill. Rebates here were checked in September 2026 and change when the schedule is updated.
Adults: fewer public options
For adults, free assessment is rare. Amaze says publicly funded adult assessment clinics are not available in NSW and are currently only in Western Australia.
A GP is still the place to start. The Autism CRC suggests adults speak to their GP first. Healthdirect says adults are diagnosed by a psychiatrist or psychologist.
What Medicare covers after 25
- No psychologist item for adult autism assessment. The autism psychology items stop at 25, so a psychologist-led adult assessment is usually paid in full.
- A psychiatrist's assessment can attract a rebate. With a GP referral, item 291 covers a psychiatrist's comprehensive diagnostic assessment and management plan. It isn't autism-specific, can be claimed once in 12 months, and the rebate is $467.45.
- Better Access is for treatment. The government fact sheet describes these Medicare sessions as mental health treatment for people with a clinically diagnosed mental disorder.
University psychology clinics
Some universities run clinics where postgraduate trainees see clients under supervision, often for lower fees than private practice. For autism, availability is patchy:
- The UQ Psychology Clinic assesses autism for people up to 25, not older. Its fees page says its provisional psychologists can't bill Medicare.
- The Flinders University Psychology Clinic says it doesn't currently do autism or ADHD diagnostic assessments.
Private health insurance
Some extras policies pay towards psychology services. The Commonwealth Ombudsman says benefits, limits and waiting periods vary between funds, and the provider has to be registered with your fund. South Australia's Office for Autism notes that, depending on cover, insurance may pay some of the cost of an autism assessment. Ask your fund before booking.
The NDIS doesn't pay for diagnosis
The NDIS does not fund diagnostic assessments. Its list of supports that are not NDIS supports includes diagnostic assessments and screening services, under health. The NDIA's mainstream and community supports guideline gives assessing and diagnosing disabilities such as autism as an example of a health support that isn't an NDIS support. That applies even if you already have a plan. How the NDIS works covers the evidence the NDIA looks for.
For young children, support can start before any diagnosis:
- NDIS early childhood partners work with children younger than 9 with developmental delay or disability, and the NDIA says they can help even if a child isn't eligible for the NDIS.
- Thriving Kids is a new program for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs. The government says children won't need a diagnosis to get support, and state services start rolling out by 1 October 2026. Our Thriving Kids guide covers what is known so far.
Making any assessment go more smoothly
- Ask your GP about every option at once. Public and private lists can run side by side. Most GP referrals to specialists last 12 months, so check yours is current when your turn comes.
- Write down what you've noticed. Raising Children suggests specific examples, your child's age when you noticed them, and how long they have lasted.
- Collect school and therapy information. Queensland's referral guidelines ask for a letter from the school or early learning service where it has concerns, and value therapist reports and any family history of autism or ADHD.
- Keep count of Medicare services. Under 25, the 8 assessment services are shared across professions, so tell each provider what has been used.
- Get costs in writing. Ask private providers for the total fee, what it includes (such as the report), which Medicare items apply, and the wait.
- For adults: old school reports, and someone who knew you as a child, help with the developmental history.
Questions people ask
Can you get a free autism assessment in Australia?
Yes, for children, through public child development services and public paediatric clinics run by state and territory health services. They are free, but many have long waiting lists. Under 25, Medicare rebates reduce the cost of private assessment. Adults have very few free options.
Is there a government funded autism assessment for adults?
Very little. Amaze says publicly funded adult assessment clinics aren't available in NSW and currently exist only in Western Australia. Medicare has no psychologist item for adult autism assessment, but a psychiatrist's assessment on GP referral can attract a rebate under item 291.
What does Medicare cover for an autism assessment?
Under 25, Medicare pays a rebate for a paediatrician's or psychiatrist's assessment and plan (item 135 or 289, $272.50), and for up to 8 allied health assessment services in a lifetime, such as a psychologist's, on that doctor's referral (item 82000, $101.55 each). From 25, the main rebate is for a psychiatrist's assessment under item 291 ($467.45).
Can an autism assessment be bulk billed?
It can, if the provider chooses to bulk bill, which means accepting the Medicare benefit as full payment. Otherwise there may be a gap. Public services for children are free. Ask before you book.
How much does an autism assessment cost?
Public assessments for children are free. Private fees vary by provider, so ask for a written quote that includes the report. Medicare rebates reduce the cost under 25, and some extras policies pay part of a psychology fee.
Does the NDIS pay for an autism assessment?
No. The NDIS lists diagnostic assessments and screening services as supports it doesn't fund, and treats diagnosing autism as the health system's job. Young children can get some support without a diagnosis.
Wondering whether an assessment makes sense? The free screener takes about three minutes, for your child, your adult son or daughter, or yourself. It suggests which assessment fits, and it will tell you if one does not look like the right next step. Start the free screener.
Where this information comes from
We would rather you checked us than took our word for it. Every link below is the original source, not a summary of one.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 82000.Psychologist assessment item for suspected complex neurodevelopmental disorder in people under 25: referral, 50-minute minimum and benefit.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule explanatory note MN.10.1.Who can refer for allied health assessment, the lifetime maximum of 8 assessment services across items, and the review after 4.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 289.Psychiatrist assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan for complex neurodevelopmental disorder in people under 25, once per lifetime.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 135.The paediatrician equivalent of item 289, once per lifetime.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule explanatory note AN.0.24.Defines complexity (impairment across two or more developmental domains) and sets 8 assessment and 20 treatment services per lifetime.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 82015.Psychologist treatment item for under-25s with a treatment and management plan, with a maximum of 20 treatment services per lifetime.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 92434.Video version of item 289 for psychiatrists.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 92140.Video version of item 135 for paediatricians.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 93032.Video version of the psychologist assessment item 82000.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 82005.Speech pathology assessment item for under-25s, with its benefit.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 82010.Occupational therapy assessment item for under-25s, with its benefit.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule item 291.Psychiatrist comprehensive diagnostic assessment and management plan on GP referral, any age, once in 12 months.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (8 May 2026). Diagnosis and treatment for complex neurodevelopmental conditions: fact sheet.Plain-language summary of the under-25 items: who diagnoses, 8 assessments and 20 treatments per lifetime, referrals, and out-of-pocket fees.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (2025). Better Access initiative: patient fact sheet.Who is eligible for Better Access mental health treatment sessions.
- Healthdirect. Bulk billing for medical services.What bulk billing means and that it is the provider's choice.
- Healthdirect. What is a referral?Medicare needs a referral to cover a specialist visit, and most GP referrals to specialists last 12 months.
- Raising Children Network (2024). Autism diagnosis: what to expect.Australian government-funded parenting site on public and private assessment, waiting lists, and what to note before an assessment.
- Child and Adolescent Health Service, WA. Child Development Service: eligibility and referrals.Perth metropolitan service: parent and professional referrals, children under 16, free, and waits that can be lengthy.
- Office for Autism, Government of South Australia. Pathways for assessment.Free assessment at the Women's and Children's Hospital Child Development Unit for eligible children, and private health insurance possibly covering some costs.
- Queensland Health (2024). Clinical Prioritisation Criteria: autism spectrum disorder (diagnosed or suspected).What GP referrals to Queensland public paediatric clinics should include, and the urgency categories with target timeframes.
- Amaze (2026). Autism assessment and diagnosis: Sydney, New South Wales.Public options for children in NSW, advice to join several waiting lists, and the lack of publicly funded adult assessment clinics in NSW.
- Autism CRC. Assessment and diagnosis: for adults.National autism research centre's advice for adults to start with their GP or primary health care provider.
- Healthdirect (2025). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Who diagnoses autism in children and adults.
- UQ Psychology Clinic. Assessment services.University training clinic that assesses autism for people up to 25 but not 26 and over.
- UQ Psychology Clinic. Fees.States the clinic's provisional psychologists are not eligible for a Medicare provider number.
- Flinders University. Flinders University Psychology Clinic.University training clinic that does not currently provide autism or ADHD diagnostic assessments.
- Commonwealth Ombudsman. Mental health treatment and private health insurance.Extras policies may pay towards psychology services; benefits, limits and waiting periods vary by fund.
- National Disability Insurance Agency. Supports that are not 'NDIS supports'.Lists diagnostic assessments and screening services, under health, as supports the NDIS can't fund.
- NDIS. What are NDIS supports?The NDIA page that links the two lists of what are and aren't NDIS supports.
- National Disability Insurance Agency (27 July 2026). Mainstream and community supports (guideline).Gives assessing and diagnosing disabilities such as autism as an example of a health support that isn't an NDIS support.
- NDIS. Guide to the early childhood approach.Early childhood partners support children younger than 9, including children who aren't eligible for the NDIS.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. About Thriving Kids.Who Thriving Kids is for and that no diagnosis is needed.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Thriving Kids.State services start rolling out no later than 1 October 2026.
Links to external sites are provided for reference. We do not control them and they may change. Last checked 25 September 2026.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about yourself or your child, talk to your GP.
Not sure where to start?
For your child, your adult son or daughter, or yourself. The free screener takes about three minutes and tells you which assessment fits — or whether you need one at all.