The Neurodevelopmental Disability Assessment Service is a state government funded service delivered by the Department of Communities to provide diagnostic assessments for autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability.
These services promote an understanding of the reasons why people function as they do. The services empower individuals’ families, carers, and communities, with insights to source, provide or advocate for the most helpful supports and interventions so that individuals realise their optimal levels of functioning, participation, and wellbeing.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) referrals and assessments
This service assesses children up to and including 17 years of age.
Access to the service is via paediatrician or child psychiatrist referral only.
The referring clinician must send their referral letter and all relevant supporting reports/information to our Neurodevelopmental Disability Assessment Services Team at Communities.
A signed Consent Form is required prior to the referral being considered for review and/or an assessment.
Senior clinicians from the Neurodevelopment Disability Assessment Team will review the information provided for suitability and may make contact with the referring paediatrician or psychiatrist to clarify information or seek additional information.
After the review, if the referral is accepted, the child will then be placed onto our assessment waitlist.
Due to the increasingly high demand for autism spectrum disorder assessments, the average wait time for pre-school children is approximately 11 months and approximately 24 months for school aged children.
Intellectual disability (ID) referrals and assessments
We assess both children and adults for Intellectual disability where there exists a strong clinical rationale to do so, and the assessment is most appropriately provided by Communities.
Referrals may be accepted from a broad range of people, but preferably by a doctor or allied health professional involved in the individual’s care or support provision.
A signed Consent Form is required prior to the referral being considered for review and/or an assessment.
The referring person must provide the information upon which their view, that the referred individual is likely to have an intellectual disability, was formed. This should be sent to the Neurodevelopmental Disability Assessment Services Team at the Department of Communities.
We require information about the individual’s developmental history, previous intellectual, developmental, psychoeducational, or cognitive assessment reports, and information from medical professionals who have previously assessed their development. Other information that may be relevant to an individual’s functioning should be provided, for example mental health status. Senior psychologist/s from our Neurodevelopmental Disability Assessment Team will review the referral information. If accepted, the individual will then go onto our assessment waitlist.
The average wait time for an intellectual disability assessment is approximately 3–6 months.
Eligibility for state-funded specialist disability services
The Neurodevelopmental Disability Assessment Team determines eligibility for these services in relation to autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, and cognitive disability in the case of the Disability Justice Service.
We welcome your feedback!
To help us improve our assessment services we welcome your feedback.
Please complete our online Parent and Carer Feedback Survey.
If you would prefer to complete a hard copy version, please contact the Neurodevelopmental Disability Assessment Services Team and we would be happy to send you it by post.
If you are not satisfied with the diagnostic assessment made by Communities or you want to appeal the decision, please email the Neurodevelopmental Disability Assessment Services Team for further information.
