The question almost nobody asks you at booking
What does your report have to do?
A diagnosis on its own unlocks nothing. Each organisation has its own rules about what the report must contain and who is allowed to sign it — and the wrong assessor means paying twice.
Who accepts what
| What you need it for | What it takes | Who can sign it |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding yourself | A clear diagnostic report | A registered psychologist is enough |
| University or TAFE adjustments | Diagnosis plus functional impact | Psychologist accepted at every institution we checked |
| Workplace adjustments | Diagnosis plus what you need changed | Allied health reports are accepted, including psychology |
| NDIS access | Autism at level 2 or 3, or intellectual disability, with evidence of functional impact across daily life | Clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, paediatrician, or a multidisciplinary team |
| Centrelink, mental health function | Diagnosis plus impairment rating evidence | A medical practitioner must make the diagnosis; a psychologist's report supports it |
| Centrelink, intellectual function | IQ and adaptive testing | Must be an appropriately qualified psychologist |
| ADHD medication | A prescriber satisfied in their own right | Psychiatrist, paediatrician, or an authorised GP depending on your state |
Current as at [DATE]. Rules change; we check yours at intake rather than relying on this table.
Things worth knowing before you spend money
- The NDIS does not fund diagnostic assessments. Diagnosing a condition sits with the health system. If a provider suggests your plan will cover the assessment, read it carefully.
- A general-registration psychologist is not a clinical psychologist. For NDIS access the difference matters, because the list of accepted assessors names clinical psychologists specifically. We staff accordingly.
- Level 1 autism rarely gets NDIS access on its own. It sits on the secondary list and needs substantial functional evidence. We will tell you where you are likely to land before you apply.
- We cannot promise an outcome from the NDIA, Centrelink, your employer or your university. Anyone who does is telling you what you want to hear.
Already have a diagnosis?
If you were assessed elsewhere and the report is not doing what you need, we can sometimes write a functional report that builds on it rather than starting over. Send us what you have and we will tell you honestly whether that works or whether reassessment is the only real option.