Assessments for adults
Autism assessments for adults.
A careful look at whether autism explains lifelong patterns in communication, sensory needs, interests and energy, and what could help at home, work and study. We do adult autism assessments at our Gledswood Hills clinic and at our Kingswood clinic, minutes from Penrith.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, or leave a message and we’ll call you back.
We’re away from the phones right now. Send an enquiry and we’ll get back to you by the next business morning.
Most adults have their first assessment appointment within 2 weeks.
- You don't need a GP referral to book.
- Call to ask about this week's appointments.
- Gledswood Hills clinic, Gregory Hills Health and Business Centre, Level 2, 25/13 Digitaria Drive. Visitor parking is on site, at ground level and underground, and it's free for up to 2 hours.
- Kingswood clinic, Nepean Health Hub, Level 3, 302/13 Barber Avenue. Parking in the car park under the Health Hub is free for up to 2 hours.
- Our psychologists assess and diagnose
- A written report and a feedback session
- Reports take 4 to 6 weeks
Is this assessment for you?
An adult autism assessment isn’t about a label for its own sake. We listen first, and consider masking, burnout, culture, gender and your history.
What it answers
- Does autism explain the lifelong patterns you’ve been noticing?
- What else is part of the picture, such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep or trauma?
- What are your strengths and support needs at home, work and study?
- What supports could help at work, in study and in relationships?
Who it’s for
This assessment is for adults who want to understand lifelong differences in how they communicate, connect with people, experience sounds, light and touch, and handle change. Some people start asking after a child or relative is diagnosed. Others notice the cost of masking, or burnout, when work, study or family life gets busier. You may already have a diagnosis of anxiety, depression or ADHD and want to know whether autism is part of the picture. An assessment suits people who are ready to talk about their history, including childhood.
If attention and focus are your main question, an adult ADHD assessment may suit you better.
If you are in crisis, support for your safety comes first. If you are in danger or thinking about ending your life, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours).
Common signs include:
- Feeling different since childhood and working hard to fit in
- Social energy crashes or burnout after masking
- Reading cues, jokes or sarcasm is hard at speed
- Sensory overwhelm with noise, lights, textures or smell
- Strong routines and distress when plans change
- Deep interests and focus that bring calm and skill
- Direct communication that others misread
- Executive skill gaps in planning, time or switching tasks
- Relationship strain from misunderstandings
- Work stress from meetings, open plan or sudden changes
- History of anxiety, depression or ADHD
- Relief when learning about autism or seeing yourself in others
Differences are not failings, and no single sign means autism.
What you get, and what it takes.
The number of sessions depends on you and what we need to understand. We’ll explain the plan before you start.
How it works, from first call to follow-up.
Here’s every step, so you know what to expect before you book. The number of sessions depends on you, and we’ll explain the plan before you start.
Here's every step, and how long it takes, so you know what to expect before you book.
- Your first call. Call 1300 151 110, or send an enquiry and we'll get back to you by the next business morning. Client Care answers your questions.
- Intake session. We listen first and clarify your goals. You can bring a trusted person.
- Questionnaires. Brief forms for you and, if helpful and with your consent, someone who knows you well, such as a parent who can describe your early childhood. You fill some in at home, before or between appointments.
- Assessment sessions. Structured conversation and observation at a calm pace, with breaks. The number of sessions depends on you, and we explain the plan before you start.
- Scoring and your report. Your psychologist scores the measures, weighs up other explanations, such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep or trauma, and writes your report in plain language. Reports take 4 to 6 weeks.
- Feedback session. You go through the findings, your report and the next steps together, and ask anything you like.
- Follow-up, if you want it. An optional extra session to review progress and next steps.
What it takes
- Intake session We listen first and clarify your goals. You can bring a trusted person.
- Questionnaires Brief forms for you and, if helpful, someone who knows you well.
- Assessment sessions Structured conversation and observation at a calm pace, with breaks.
- Work or study consult With your consent, we can speak with your work or university about supports.
What you get
Feedback session
To go through the findings and next steps.
Your report
A written report with your results and recommendations, in plain language. Reports take 4–6 weeks. Your report covers:
What your report includes
Your report sets out what was looked at, the tools used, the findings, and whether the criteria for an autism diagnosis are met. If they are not met, it explains what the assessment did find and what may better explain your experience. Recommendations are practical and may cover work, study, relationships, sensory needs and daily life. With your written consent, a copy can be sent to your GP or another treating professional.
Your report covers:
- A plain English explanation of the findings
- Your strengths and support needs
- Recommendations for work, study, relationships and daily life
Follow-up
An optional extra session, with its own fee, to review progress and next steps.
Who does it
One of our psychologists carries out your assessment and writes your report.
A clinical psychologist, a registered psychologist, or a provisional psychologist working under the supervision of a Board-approved supervisor. We’ll tell you who is doing yours, and their registration type, before you book. All our psychologists are registered with AHPRA.
One of our psychologists at our Gledswood Hills or Kingswood clinic carries out your assessment and writes your report.
It may be a clinical psychologist, a registered psychologist, or a provisional psychologist working under the supervision of a Board-approved supervisor. We’ll tell you who is doing yours, and their registration type, before you book. All our psychologists are registered with AHPRA.
Here are the psychologists at Gledswood Hills who do adult autism assessments.
- Anela Bradd, Clinical Lead
- Caitlin Sheridan, Registered Psychologist
- Christina Quattropani, Senior Registered Psychologist
- Michael Bennetts, Registered Psychologist
- Owen Tong, Registered Psychologist
Here are the psychologists at Kingswood who do adult autism assessments.
- Kaja Porter, Senior Clinical Psychologist
- Jarrod McNicoll, Registered Psychologist
- Leyla Gundoganli, Registered Psychologist
- Phillip Green, Clinical Psychologist
- Divya Prabakrishnan, Registered Psychologist
- Courtney Dwyer, Registered Psychologist
- Brooke Gardner, Registered Psychologist
Funding
Whether any funding can help depends on your situation. Client Care can talk it through with you when you call.
See Rebates and funding.
What we assess, and tools we may use
What we assess
- Social communication and interaction style
- Sensory profile and energy needs
- Interests, routines and flexibility with change
- Executive skills like planning, time, working memory and switching tasks
- Adaptive skills at home, work and study
- Masking and burnout patterns
- Mental health and sleep screens where relevant
- Strengths, values and supports that already help
Tools we may use
- ADOS‑2 Module 4 and ADI‑R
- SRS‑2 and CAT‑Q
- Vineland‑3 or ABAS‑3
- BRIEF‑A
- An adult Sensory Profile
If the findings don’t point to autism
From the start, we look at what else could explain what you’re noticing, such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep or trauma. We do this first when we talk with you at intake, then throughout the assessment.
If the findings don’t point to autism, your feedback session and report explain what we found and what could help next.
What the assessment does and doesn’t do
- It does look at what’s behind the difficulties you’ve noticed, and set out the findings and recommendations in your report.
- It doesn’t prescribe medication.
You can share your report with your GP or psychiatrist if you choose.
See what a report looks like.
A fictional sample, so you can see what you’ll receive before you book.
After your report, we’re still here.
An assessment is the start of a plan, not the end of one. Here’s what can happen next, at your pace.
- Support from the same team Put the recommendations into practice with your psychologist, or with someone else on our team who fits what you need next.
- A warm handover If someone new is supporting you, with your permission your two psychologists do a warm handover. They talk through your history together, in person when they work from the same location, so you don’t have to tell your story twice.
- Work and study Your report can support requests for adjustments. With your consent, we can talk with your workplace or university.
- Your GP With your consent, we'll send your report to your GP, so your care stays joined up.
Getting to our clinics
Gledswood Hills. Gregory Hills Health and Business Centre, Level 2, 25/13 Digitaria Drive, Gledswood Hills NSW 2557.
- Doctors House and Holy Ground cafe are on the ground floor. We're upstairs on Level 2.
- Visitor parking is on site, at ground level and underground, and it's free for up to 2 hours.
- Wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance, and a lift to Level 2.
See our Gledswood Hills clinic for drive times from nearby suburbs.
Kingswood, minutes from Penrith. Nepean Health Hub, Level 3, 302/13 Barber Avenue, Kingswood NSW 2747, next to Nepean Hospital.
- Look for the T-Spoon Cafe on the ground floor. We're upstairs on Level 3.
- Parking in the car park under the Health Hub is free for up to 2 hours. Ask us to validate your ticket if you're with us for over an hour.
- Wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance and toilet.
See our Kingswood clinic for drive times from nearby suburbs.
Questions, answered.
Can’t see yours? Our Client Care team can help on 1300 151 110.
Why would I seek an autism assessment as an adult?
Some adults pursue assessment after recognising traits in themselves or after a child in the family is diagnosed. An assessment can provide clarity, help explain challenges, and support access to services and adjustments at work or study. A diagnosis can also support an application to the NDIS, which makes its own decision about eligibility.
Do I need a referral for an adult autism assessment?
No. You don't need a GP referral to book. Call 1300 151 110 and Client Care will talk it through with you. With your consent, we can send your report to your GP afterwards so your care stays joined up.
What does the assessment process involve?
It includes a detailed developmental history, structured interviews and standardised tools designed for identifying autism in adults. We may also gather input from family members or partners to build a full picture.
How long does the assessment take?
The number of sessions depends on you and what we need to understand. We’ll explain the plan before you start, so there’s time to gather information carefully, complete the assessments thoroughly and prepare a detailed report. Reports take 4–6 weeks.
What if I mask, or I'm not sure I fit the stereotype?
We ask about it directly. The assessment looks at masking, burnout and the effort it takes to fit in, not just how things look from the outside. Your history, and input from someone who knew you as a child where that's possible, helps build the full picture.
What happens after the assessment?
You will receive a written report explaining the findings in clear, accessible language. We also provide a feedback session to talk through results, answer questions, and offer practical recommendations for work, study, relationships, and daily life.
Can Unbound Minds provide a formal diagnosis of autism in adults?
Yes. Our psychologists assess for autism in adults and give a formal diagnosis when the findings support one. A diagnosis can inform self-understanding, guide workplace or study adjustments, and support applications for services such as the NDIS, which makes its own decision about eligibility.
Do I need a psychiatrist?
No. Our psychologists assess and diagnose, and your report sets out the findings and recommendations. Medication is a separate conversation with your GP or psychiatrist.
Do you do adult autism assessments near Penrith?
Yes. Our Kingswood clinic is in the Nepean Health Hub, Level 3, 302/13 Barber Avenue, Kingswood, next to Nepean Hospital and minutes from Penrith. There's a car park under the Health Hub, free for up to 2 hours.
Do you do adult autism assessments in Gledswood Hills?
Yes. Our Gledswood Hills clinic is in the Gregory Hills Health and Business Centre, Level 2, 25/13 Digitaria Drive, Gledswood Hills. Visitor parking is on site, free for up to 2 hours.
Start with a phone call.
Not sure whether you need an assessment or therapy? We’ll help you work out the right next step.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, or leave a message and we’ll call you back.
We’re away from the phones right now. Send an enquiry and we’ll get back to you by the next business morning.
Locations
Gledswood HillsLevel 2, 25/13 Digitaria Drive, Gledswood Hills. We call from (02) 8319 1945.
KingswoodLevel 3, 302/13 Barber Avenue, Kingswood. We call from (02) 8528 4620.
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Unbound Minds provides general mental health information and professional psychological services. This website is not a substitute for personalised advice, diagnosis or treatment.