Assessments
Adult ADHD assessment in Australia: steps, cost and what comes next
How an adult ADHD assessment works in Australia: the steps, who assesses you, what it costs, why Medicare does not cover it, and what you can do after.
7 minute read
- Written by
- PsyAus Health
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- 7 minute read
Maybe a sibling got assessed. Maybe a post online sounded like your life. Maybe a new job or a new baby broke the systems that used to work.
Now you want to know what an adult ADHD assessment involves. This guide covers each step, who can assess you, what it costs and what you can do with your report.
What is an adult ADHD assessment?
An adult ADHD assessment is a structured look at how you focus, organise, plan and manage time, now and in childhood. A psychologist or psychiatrist uses interviews, standard questionnaires and input from someone who knows you. They also check for other causes. The assessment ends with feedback and a written report.
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition. It shows up as ongoing inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity. It starts in childhood and affects daily life.
How do you get an ADHD diagnosis in Australia as an adult?
To get an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, you book an assessment with a psychologist or psychiatrist. In some states, a GP with extra training can assess you too. You do not need a GP referral to see a psychologist privately. The assessment runs over several sessions and ends with a written report.
At PsyAus Health, the adult ADHD assessment follows five steps:
- You choose your psychologist and book online.
- You fill in forms and standard questionnaires.
- You attend interviews about your life history.
- Your psychologist checks for other possible causes.
- You receive feedback and a written report.
Who does an adult ADHD assessment?
In Australia, psychologists and psychiatrists can assess adults for ADHD and make a diagnosis. In some states, GPs with extra training can now diagnose adult ADHD too. Psychologists do not prescribe. If you want to talk about treatment options, you have that conversation with a GP or psychiatrist.
At PsyAus Health, a psychologist runs every adult ADHD assessment. You choose who. Each profile lists their training, how they work and their next available times.
What happens at each step
Your psychologist sets out the steps, the number of sessions and the fee before you start. Here is what each step involves.
Forms and questionnaires
You fill in an intake form and standard questionnaires. They ask about your life now and in childhood. With your consent, a parent or sibling who knew you growing up can fill one in too. School reports help if you have them. You can still be assessed without them.
Interviews about history
Most of the assessment is conversation. Over video, your psychologist asks about your childhood, school, work, relationships, health and daily routines. You talk them through what a normal week looks like. The aim is a clear picture of your whole life. It reaches well beyond the last few months.
Checking other causes
Stress, poor sleep, anxiety and low mood can all affect focus. So can learning differences and hard life events. Some of these can also occur alongside ADHD. Your psychologist looks carefully at each one in turn. That way, the findings fit your own situation and the life you describe.
Feedback and report
Your psychologist meets with you to explain what they found. You then get a written report. It sets out what was assessed, what was found and what is recommended. The findings may fit ADHD or point to another explanation. Your report ends with a plan for your next step.
How ADHD can show up in adults
In adults, ADHD can look different from the restless child many people picture. People describe losing track of time, leaving tasks to the last minute, misplacing things, feeling restless and acting before thinking. An assessment looks at your whole history. That shows how these patterns fit your life.
ADHD in girls and women can be missed in childhood. Some women describe “masking”. Masking means working hard to hide difficulties, often with lists, late nights or extra effort, so others do not notice. It can make ADHD harder to spot. That is one more reason an assessment covers your whole life.
How much does an adult ADHD assessment cost in Australia?
An adult ADHD assessment in Australia often costs more than $1,000. A University of Wollongong secret-shopper study (30 March 2026) contacted more than 700 providers. An adult initial appointment cost “more than $530 without rebates”. Total costs averaged “nearly $1,400”. The adult wait for a first appointment averaged just over 10 weeks.
At PsyAus Health, the adult ADHD assessment costs $1,190 in total. That covers every assessment session, feedback and your written report. You can pay by card or with Afterpay in four instalments. Our fees page lists every price.
Does Medicare cover an ADHD assessment?
No. Medicare pays no rebate on an adult ADHD assessment with a psychologist. Rebates may apply to eligible psychology sessions if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your usual GP or MyMedicare practice. For a video session of 50 minutes or more with a general psychologist (item 91170), the benefit is $101.55.
Rebates may apply to up to 10 individual sessions each calendar year. You do not need a plan to book. If you have private health insurance, check with your fund.
What happens after an adult ADHD assessment?
After the assessment, you decide what to do with your report and next-step plan. You might share it with your GP or a psychiatrist, with your consent. You might start sessions with a psychologist or an ADHD coach. A GP or psychiatrist makes their own decisions about any treatment.
GPs and adult ADHD
The rules on who can diagnose and treat ADHD are changing. In some states, GPs with extra training can now diagnose and treat ADHD in adults. Queensland GPs can treat adults as of December 2025. Trained GPs in South Australia can diagnose and treat adults. Other states are training GPs at different paces. Read more in MJA InSight+ (16 February 2026).
Each GP or psychiatrist makes their own decisions. They may use your report, ask more questions or run their own assessment.
Can you do an ADHD assessment by telehealth?
Yes. You can complete an adult ADHD assessment by telehealth, using video. At PsyAus Health, the interviews, questionnaires and feedback all happen online. You join from home, anywhere in Australia. You skip the travel. You see your psychologist on screen and talk as you would in a room. Read how telehealth works.
How to prepare for your assessment
- Note how focus and planning affect your work, study or home.
- Ask a parent or sibling to fill in a questionnaire too.
- Find any school reports or past assessment reports you already have.
- Write down your questions about sessions, the report and the cost.
Further reading
- AADPA: Australian ADHD clinical practice guideline
- healthdirect: guide to mental health professionals
Book an adult ADHD assessment
Our adult ADHD assessment page sets out the steps, the report and the fee in one place. Meet the practitioners and read their profiles first. Then choose your psychologist and book. We aim to reply within one business day.
Book an adult ADHD assessment
A psychologist runs it over several sessions. It ends with a written report and a next-step plan.
