Autism Assessment in Brisbane
Our neuro-affirming clinicians provide autism assessments in Brisbane for children, teens, and adults. We take time to understand sensory needs, communication styles, and the unique strengths each person brings—curiosity, focus, creativity, honesty, and deep interest areas. You’ll find a calm, respectful environment where you’re listened to and supported at every step.
We proudly welcome people of all genders, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds, and collaborate with families, referrers, and other health professionals to ensure high-quality care and meaningful outcomes.
Our Clinic
Our experienced psychologists provide comprehensive Autism Assessment in Brisbane to help you make sense of patterns across everyday life, at home, school, university, or work. Each assessment uses evidence-based tools and results in a clear, practical report with tailored recommendations. If ongoing therapy or allied-health support is helpful, we’ll guide you through those options too.
Understanding Autism
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a naturally occurring neurodevelopmental difference, meaning it originates in the way the brain is wired and develops over time. These neurological differences influence how a person processes information, communicates, experiences their senses, and relates to the world around them.
Autism is not an illness or something to be cured. It reflects a different way of thinking, feeling, and perceiving, shaped by unique neural pathways that can make some experiences — such as social interaction, change, or sensory input — feel more intense or complex.
Neurological Differences
Autism is a brain-based difference, not a behavioural disorder. Neurological variations affect how attention, sensory information, and emotions are processed. This can lead to unique patterns of learning, focus, and interaction.
At Hively Health, we recognise that these neurological traits are part of human diversity. Our goal is to understand how your brain works best, not to change it, but to help you use your strengths to thrive.
Strengths & Diversity
Autistic people often demonstrate exceptional strengths such as creativity, focus, honesty, strong memory, and innovative problem-solving. While some may experience challenges with communication, flexibility, or sensory regulation, these differences coexist with remarkable talents and perspectives.
We take a neuro-affirming approach, meaning we focus on each person’s strengths, challenges, and needs, helping you or your child build confidence, self-understanding, and practical strategies for everyday life.
Hively provides autism assessments in Brisbane to help individuals understand their experiences, gain clarity and confidence, and access the supports that fit their needs.
Our Approach to Autism and Assessment: Brisbane
Autism assessment is a detailed and supportive process that helps you understand how your social communication, sensory experiences, and patterns of thinking or behaviour relate to the broader autism spectrum.
Autism is identified through a combination of interviews, observations, and standardised tools designed to capture a person’s lived experience. Our clinicians may use instruments such as the MIGDAS-2, alongside questionnaires and developmental history, to build a clear picture of each person’s strengths, differences, and support needs.
Every autistic person is unique. Some may have heightened sensory awareness, focused interests, or strong attention to detail, while others experience challenges with flexibility, social connection, or communication. The goal of an autism assessment is not to label, but to provide understanding, validation, and practical recommendations that help you thrive in daily life.
Our psychologists are experienced in recognising traits and supporting individuals displaying the following common autistic strengths and challenges:
Social Communication Differences
Sensory Sensitivities
Strong Attention To Detail
Deep Or Focused Interests
Preference For Routine
Thrives With Predictability
Difficulty With Change
Emotional Overwhelm
Challenges Reading Cues
Literal Interpretation
Repetitive Movements Or Speech
Masking Or Exhaustion
Intense Focus Periods
Difficulty Shifting Tasks
Anxiety In New Settings
Sensory Seeking Behaviours
Difficulty Regulating Emotions
Social Fatigue
If these patterns feel familiar and have been present across settings, an autism assessment can help you understand your profile and access the right supports.
Our Autism Assessment Process: Step by Step
Our clinicians take the time to make the process clear, collaborative, and grounded in understanding, creating a space where you feel safe, respected, and genuinely seen from the very first conversation.
1. Intake Session
A detailed conversation about developmental history, current experiences, sensory preferences, and goals. This helps your clinician tailor the assessment.
2. Assessment Sessions
A structured diagnostic interview using formal assessments (MIGDAS-2 interview, + Self Reporting measures), cognitive assessments/reports ((WISC-V, WAIS-V, WPPSI-IV), plus questionnaires.
3. Scoring & Clinical Interpretation
Your psychologist integrates all data including interviews, observations, questionnaires, and relevant documents, to form a holistic, neuro-affirming understanding.
4. Comprehensive Report Preparation
You’ll receive a written report summarising results and a recommended diagnosis (if applicable), plus practical strategies and supports tailored to your needs.
5. Feedback Session
We walk through the findings, answer questions, and outline clear next steps.
For clients under 18, reports can be verified by a paediatrician or child psychiatrist. For adults (18+), a psychiatrist provides the formal medical diagnosis where required. See our Paediatric Autism Assessments page for more information.
Additional Support Options
To deepen understanding and support access, we can include (as clinically indicated):
- Learning & Memory Assessments to explore how a person learns, processes, and recalls information.
- Functional Behaviour Assessments, and supporting adaptive measures for school, university, NDIS, or workplace planning
- Observations at home, school or work to see how traits show up in daily life
- NDIS-ready letters and practical recommendations for accommodations
After your Autism Assessment
Recognising your unique profile is the beginning of positive change. After your autism assessment in our Brisbane clinic, we provide personalised recommendations such as sensory and communication supports, ongoing therapy options, school/workplace adjustments, and guidance around funding pathways. Our aim is to equip you and your family or support network with clear, actionable next steps.
We welcome clients of all genders, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds, and are committed to a safe, inclusive space.
Accessing our Services
Our services are flexible and accessible. Autism assessments can be completed in our East Brisbane clinic or via telehealth (age and tool-dependent).
Fees & Rebates
- Private Health Insurance: Check with your provider for psychology & assessment coverage.
- Medicare Rebates: Autism assessments by psychologists are generally not covered by Medicare. Rebates may apply to therapy sessions with a psychologist when you have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP.
- Private Appointments: Book directly—no GP referral required.
- NDIS: Your assessment report may help with access or planning (where applicable).
Contact us to discuss current fees and rebate options.
Visit our Brisbane Clinic
Our clinic, located in a beautifully restored Queenslander at 15 Didsbury St, East Brisbane, offers a serene environment for therapy and autism assessments.
Book an Autism Assessment in Brisbane today with the team at Hively Health. Our clinic is open by appointment only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clinicians consider patterns across two key areas: Social communication/interaction differences and, restricted or repetitive behaviours/interests, including sensory differences.
Traits must have been present from early development and impact daily functioning. Your psychologist integrates interviews, observations, questionnaires, and history to determine whether criteria are met.
Most people complete an intake (60 mins), assessment sessions (2–3 hours total), and a feedback session (50 mins). Time can vary depending on age, goals, and whether cognitive or functional assessments are included.
Psychologists complete comprehensive assessments and prepare a clinical report with a recommended diagnosis, if applicable. For formal medical diagnosis/verification, paediatricians or child psychiatrists (under 18) or psychiatrists review the report and provide final sign-off where required.
Many autistic people identify autism as a neurotype rather than a disability. For funding and supports (e.g., NDIS), ASD can meet disability criteria when day-to-day functioning is significantly impacted. Your report outlines the functional information often needed for applications.
Yes. Autism and ADHD frequently co-occur. Overlapping experiences such as executive functioning or sensory differences can look similar but stem from different processes.
A comprehensive assessment clarifies what’s present so supports can be tailored.
If you’re seeking clarity and support around autism, our compassionate team is ready to help. You deserve an assessment that sees the whole person, not just the checklist.
We proudly serve the Greater Brisbane Region with in-clinic appointments and telehealth options nationwide.
Get started with an autism assessment today and feel confident about what comes next.
All enquiries are responded to within 24 hours by our friendly administrative team.
