Diagnostic Service
Autism Resource Centre Diagnostic Service
Autism NZ is now offering an autism diagnostic service in the Autism Resource Centre in Petone.
Aims of the service
“Every Step Together”: Our aim is to provide a diagnostic service that is individual- and family-centred, strengths-based and connects people to ongoing supports that meet their needs.
We are providing a lower cost private option in which people seeking a diagnosis pay a reduced fee to access autism assessment and diagnosis. This will help alleviate access barriers Autism NZ identified in research on autism diagnosis in New Zealand. In particular, wait times through the public system and cost barriers through the private system.
We have worked closely with the autistic and autism community, District Health Boards and private practitioners in development of this service, as well as ensuring it aligns with recommendations from the New Zealand Autism Guideline. Our diagnostic assessments are accepted by Government services that require a diagnosis to access the service.
Commitment to culture and community
We are committed to meet the needs of all people and cultures who would like to access an assessment through our service. We take an individualised approach to support Māori, Pasifika and whānau of all cultures through the process. We aim to work with you kanohi ki te kanohi to talk about our service and what happens during an assessment. This can include support in filling out paperwork involved, support and guidance through the appointments, and follow up after the assessment. If you would like to follow our cultural pathway, please let us know, and we can either organise to go through the Registration of Interest (ROI) with you, or we can send it to you to fill out. You can contact us on diagnosis@autismnz.org.nz or ring Bailey Trower on 021 190 6053 to talk through how best to support you.
Our commitment includes other communities and identities, including LGBTQIA+. It is important for us to provide a safe space for people to embrace and express their cultural and personal identity.
Wider aims
To increase professional capacity and expertise the service also hosts professional development opportunities related to autism diagnosis. Autism New Zealand hosts yearly workshops on autism assessment and diagnosis and provides autistic authored information resources.
The service is also a teaching-based facility for psychology interns. We provide internship opportunities for master’s students to gain diagnostic experience under the supervision of experienced practitioners thereby broadening the autism specific clinical workforce.
We have a multidisciplinary team involved in our service.
- Diagnosis and Early Support Manager – Julie Hook
- Diagnosis and Early Support Coordinator – Bailey Trower
- Lead Psychologist – Judi Barnao
- Speech-Language Therapist (SLT) – Michelle Stevens
- Educational Psychologist – Kate Garland
- National Research and Advocacy Manager – Larah van der Meer
- Research and Advocacy Advisor – Lee Patrick
- Research and Advocacy Advisor – Chanelle Moriah
Who can access the service?
We will prioritise access for children under 5 years, teens as well as adults 18 years and over who are querying a diagnosis of autism. This is based on findings from Autism NZ autism diagnostic research which identified increasing access for these ages as key areas of need.
Only those living in the wider Wellington region (not including the Wairarapa) are eligible to access the service in person. Over time we will look to increase this to other regions and possibly using online Zoom consultations.
We will also consider whether assessment for conditions other than autism (e.g., ADHD) is more appropriate. In some instances, medical history, mental health input, and/or lack of informants to identify early developmental history may mean we are unable to provide an assessment.
When will the service run and how many people will be assessed?
The service runs two days per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The service has limited capacity. We can conduct 2-3 diagnostic assessments per week given the limited funding and time available. The aim is to increase this capacity over time.
Please note: Our waitlist for children and adults is now open. Please email us to be added to our waitlist.
Alternatively, you may want to look on the Community Links page which provides other diagnostic options.
How much does the assessment cost?
The service is provided at a subsidised rate.
Standard Assessment: $1,800 (incl. GST).
Our standard assessment for autism follows recommendations from the New Zealand Autism Guideline and involves observation, interview, and standardised assessment. It includes a report with outcomes from the assessment.
Complex assessment: $1,800 plus $120 per additional hour (incl. GST).
In certain situations additional assessment is required to rule out or identify other possible diagnoses (e.g., developmental delay, ADHD). If, following the initial interview, we feel that further assessment is necessary, we will discuss the reason for additional assessment, what it will involve, as well as provide a quoted price.
Acknowledgement of our funders
The following funders have provided grants to support the diagnostic service:
Spectrum Foundation
IHC Foundation
Sutherland Self Help Trust
Lottery Community Sector Research
We are continually seeking funding to support the diagnostic service to ensure we can keep costs as low as possible.
Please see our diagnostic information sheets below, which outlines our diagnostic assessment process for both children and adults:
How to apply:
Our waitlist is open, we are now taking requests for both children and adults to be placed on our waiting list – please email us with your name and contact information (email, phone number, suburb in Wellington that you live in, and for child assessments – age of child). Once your name comes up on the list, we will contact you to fill out a registration of interest form.
Any queries can be directed to diagnosis@autismnz.org.nz
More information
Email. diagnosis@autismnz.org.nz
Phone. Bailey Trower, Diagnosis and Early Support Coordinator on 021 190 6053
Office hours. Tuesdays and Thursdays 8.30am – 5pm
Physical address. Autism Resource Centre, 20 Sydney Street, Petone, Lower Hutt 5012
The Autism Resource Centre is a custom-built space for the autistic and autism community. It is wheel-chair accessible and includes sensory-friendly light sources, appropriate sound filtration, quiet rooms, and transition spaces to support people in entering and leaving the building