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Pinpointing your child’s unique needs and superpowers
At the Marsden Health Kids Clinic, we do things a little differently. We’re proud to offer the most comprehensive assessment option currently available in Wollongong for diagnosing Autism, ADHD and related difficulties. With a wide range of in-house experts, we give you access to multidisciplinary support under one roof.
Book Assessment NowAn assessment might be helpful if your child is…
Not reaching their full potential
Finds it difficult to make/maintain friendships
Dreamy and forgetful
Showing signs of thinking differently
Always on the go and unable to settle
Struggling to manage big emotions
At a different level from their classmates
Behaving in unique ways
Displaying challenging behaviours at home, at school or out and about
Which assessment is right for your child?
It can be overwhelming to figure out what support your child needs, especially if they’re navigating multiple complex challenges. That’s why we adopt a comprehensive approach that understands that domains of functioning are all interconnected.
By taking a broad approach to understanding and assessing your child’s needs in all areas of functioning, we’re able to find ways to support their development and achieve better outcomes. Plus, we offer a 1-hour consultation process with a clinician if you’re unsure what type of assessment would be best suited to your child.
Assesment Options
Coming to see a psychologist for the first time can be daunting, especially for a child. Let us know of any concerns in advance so we can meet your child where they are and tailor therapy to suit them.
A snapshot of the assessment process
Step 1
Share your concerns, worries and difficulties with us and how these are impacting your child’s daily life—the more detailed you are, the better. Plus, we’ll uncover your child’s strengths and abilities to gain a well-rounded picture of them.
Step 2
Our multidisciplinary team will review your concerns and prepare a tailored approach to assessment.
Step 3
We’ll share our proposed assessment approach with you, including the process and cost. Simply approve the assessment or chat to us about any concerns you have.
Step 4
We’ll set a date and time for your assessment, which will be confirmed once your deposit is paid.
Step 5
One of our clinicians will be in touch prior to the assessment to collect further information.
Step 6
On the day of your child’s assessment, final payment will be made. After the assessment, we’ll organise a feedback session (this cost is covered in your assessment fee).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you share more information about referrals for Autism assessments?
In general, you likely won’t need a referral to book an assessment. However, Medicare does offer a rebate for an Autism assessment when a specific referral from a psychiatrist or paediatrician is provided.
We advise you to speak with your psychiatrist or paediatrician about your eligibility. Medicare advises that specific item numbers must be billed in order for the referral to be valid. These item numbers can be provided by our Client Engagement Team; however, your referring specialist will decide what is most appropriate or valid for your specific circumstances. Please note: if you don’t already have a psychiatrist or paediatrician, you will need to see your GP to get a referral to book an appointment.
When do I get my Medicare rebate?
We bill all appointments on the day of the appointment using the billing details that are provided to us during the intake procedure. We also submit invoices to Medicare on the day for clients to receive the Medicare rebate.
Do you bulk-bill?
Unfortunately, we are not a clinic that can provide bulk billing services.
I have a very busy schedule. Can I secure after-school appointments for my child?
We appreciate the juggle of parenting and understand the need for appointment times that fit in with a busy family schedule. However, it is important that the neuropsychological and developmental assessment for a child take place in the morning or at the latest just after lunch (only if approved by the assessing clinician).
My child is scared of dogs. How will I bring them in when there are dogs in the clinic?
Please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any concerns about dogs. Our clinic dogs are well trained and, while they can’t get a working with children check, we reckon they are worthy of one. However, we know that not all children feel comfortable around dogs, and we can make arrangements so that they don’t come into contact with our pets at the time they are coming in. Don’t hesitate to let our client engagement team know about your concerns so that we can make the necessary changes so that your child feels comfortable and safe when they come in.
I am having trouble with NDIS funding and don’t know where to start or how to complete the application process. Are you able to assist?
Applying for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an important process for accessing the funding and support that your child requires. We know that it can be a complicated, time-consuming and confusing process, and it can help a great deal to be talking through this process with someone who knows it back-to-front. Our Developmental Educator, Carina, has helped many families through this process and has completed her fair share of applications, too.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help with the application (keep in mind that fees apply). It can be a worthwhile investment to submit a strong application to the NDIS from the beginning.
I have multiple children. Can both of my kids see the same clinician?
Any of your children can be assessed by the same clinician. However, when it comes to providing ongoing therapy, it is best to avoid the same clinician providing therapy to individuals who are related.
Do you have a waitlist, if so, how long will I have to wait?
We know it’s not ideal to have to wait when it comes to your child’s development and emotional wellbeing. That’s why we aim to provide an assessment for your child as fast as possible. We aim to assess your child within two months of your initial enquiry. However, we ask for your patience when this is not possible. If there is an urgent need to provide an assessment sooner please ask for special consideration of your circumstances and we will do everything we can make it happen.
What do I tell my child about coming for an assessment or for therapy?
You know your child best and you may already have some thoughts about what you’d like to tell them. We like to make sure children know they’re coming in to be understood, identify things they’re doing well at as well as exploring things they’re finding difficult. We aim to provide a safe space for your child to talk about what’s going on for them.
We use activities like drawing, colouring in, playing games and reading books to learn more about them and figure out how we can help with the hard stuff. It can be helpful to remind your child that you’ll be going through the process with them, as we want you to gain a better understanding of your child and how to meeting their needs.
What does my child do when I am speaking with a clinician? Where do they need to wait?
We don’t like to make children wait for longer than necessary. However, it is important to have some conversations without children in the room. Due to this need, we have a safe waiting room with plenty of activities, including books, toys and a fun little tent that is overseen by our Client Engagement Team.
If your child doesn’t feel comfortable or safe to wait on their own with another one of our team members then we’ll find another way to have these confidential conversations, such as having another parent or sibling with the child, completing a parent session independently or via telehealth, or having the child picked up early from an assessment or therapy session.
Book Now
Complete this brief Online Intake Questionnaire (2 mins) to speed up the process for booking your initial appointment at Marsden Health. We will contact you as soon as it’s complete.