How to Find an ADHD Assessment Provider Near You
Finding an ADHD assessment provider starts with knowing which professional you actually need: a registered psychologist, a psychiatrist or a paediatrician, since each does a different part of the job. Here is how to narrow the search and what a first phone call should cover.
Three types of professional carry out ADHD assessments in Australia: registered psychologists, psychiatrists and paediatricians, with a GP usually the first point of contact who refers you on, according to healthdirect. Which one to look for first depends on what you need. A registered psychologist can complete the full diagnostic assessment and write the report, but cannot prescribe medication. A psychiatrist, or a paediatrician for a child, can do both: assess and prescribe if medication turns out to be part of the plan.
Which provider type do you need?
If the main goal is a diagnosis and psychological strategies, a registered psychologist is a reasonable starting point. healthdirect names psychologists alongside psychiatrists and paediatricians as professionals qualified to diagnose ADHD. If medication is likely, going straight to a psychiatrist, or a paediatrician for a child, means the same person can move from diagnosis to a prescribing decision without a second referral partway through. Either way, only a psychologist with the specific clinical psychologist endorsement can use that title. A registered psychologist without it is still fully qualified to assess and diagnose ADHD.
Beyond who is in front of you, the clinical interview, the rating scales and the collateral information from family, school or work look much the same regardless of provider type, per the Australian ADHD clinical practice guideline. What changes most between provider types is what happens after diagnosis, not the shape of the assessment itself.
What a first phone call should cover
A short call before booking is worth the ten minutes. Ask whether the provider is currently taking new ADHD assessment referrals at all: 2026 University of Wollongong reporting on the state of ADHD services nationally found only 59 percent of clinicians contacted responded within two calls, and fewer than half had any availability to book. Also ask whether a GP referral is required (it usually is, and it is required for the higher Medicare rebate on a psychiatrist visit), roughly how many sessions the full assessment takes, and what the total cost looks like once every session is added up, not just the first one.
And if the first few calls go nowhere, that is not unusual. Try a provider outside the closest suburb rather than only the nearest one; availability varies a lot between individual clinicians even within the same city.
Searching by location
Availability, wait time and typical fees vary by city and by whether an online appointment works for you. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra each have their own mix of registered psychologists, psychiatrists and paediatricians offering ADHD assessment, and an online appointment with a provider registered anywhere in Australia is worth considering if local wait times are long.
Common questions
Should I see a psychologist or a psychiatrist for an ADHD assessment?
Either can carry out the diagnostic assessment. A registered psychologist can diagnose and provide psychological support but cannot prescribe medication, while a psychiatrist or paediatrician can also prescribe if medication becomes part of the plan. Many people start with whichever has the shorter wait.
Do I need a referral to book an ADHD assessment?
In most cases, yes. A GP referral is usually the starting point, and it is required if you want the higher Medicare rebate available for a psychiatrist assessment under item 291.
Sources
- healthdirect Australia: Attention deficit disorder (ADD) or ADHD
- University of Wollongong: A 12-month wait and a $1,400 bill
Related reading
- Getting a GP referral for an ADHD assessment
- ADHD assessment providers in Sydney
- Online ADHD assessment options
Get Matched
Tell us who the assessment is for and your preferred city, and we will aim to connect you with a provider serving your area.