Frequently Asked Questions about psychological assessment at Belco Psych Assessments.

You do not need to work this out yourself – all you need to do is submit an enquiry and complete our screening forms.

Tell us what you are noticing and what you would like help understanding. During screening, we consider the question, information already available and whether one of our assessment pathways is likely to help.

Our process →

No. You can make a private enquiry directly to BPA.

A referral may be needed if you want to access an available Medicare rebate or if another health professional is asking BPA to contribute to a broader assessment.

Make an enquiry →

Sometimes, but there are strict eligibility criteria that must be met (e.g., see Medicare Complex Neurodevelopmental Conditions).

Eligibility depends on the assessment, the referral pathway and the Medicare requirements that apply to your circumstances.

If you are hoping to use Medicare, speak to your GP, Paediatrician or Psychiatrist about whether they can provide a Medicare assessment referral for you or not.

Fees overview →

Screening helps us work out whether assessment is likely to answer your question before you commit to a larger amount of assessment work.

It also helps us understand what information is already available, what assessment may be needed, and whether BPA or another professional would be the better starting point.

Our process →

Forms help us collect relevant information efficiently before an appointment.

Completing information beforehand can reduce the amount of paid appointment time needed to gather the same information.

If forms are difficult or inaccessible for you, we can often work through the information together during an appointment instead.

Accessibility and support →

Yes. Tell us if a school, doctor, organisation or another professional has asked for a particular assessment or measure.

Your psychologist will consider whether it is suitable for the person, the question being asked and the purpose of the assessment.

Tests are administered when they are clinically useful, not simply because they have been requested.

Assessment tools and measures →

The measures used depend on the assessment question.

Assessment may include cognitive, academic, attention, behavioural, adaptive or broader neurodevelopmental measures, together with interviews, observations, records and information from relevant people and settings.

No single test is expected to explain the whole person.

Assessment tools and measures →

For general information about psychological testing, see the Australian Psychological Society’s information about psychological tests and testing.

APS information about psychological tests and testing →

Yes.

Please provide relevant previous psychological, educational, medical or allied-health reports during screening or intake.

Existing information can help us understand what has already been assessed, avoid unnecessary duplication and decide what new information is actually needed.

Not automatically.

Information from teachers or other educators can be very useful where we need to understand how a child functions across different settings.

We will discuss what information is useful and obtain the appropriate consent before contacting someone.

Sometimes.

Parents and carers are an important part of child assessment, but many standardised assessment tasks must be completed one-to-one with the psychologist to remain valid.

For younger or anxious children, we can discuss what may help them settle and participate while also maintaining the conditions needed for the results to be interpreted appropriately.

That is okay.

Assessment can sometimes be divided across appointments, paused or adjusted depending on fatigue, attention, stress or engagement.

If part of an assessment cannot be completed reliably, we will explain what this means rather than treating an unreliable result as meaningful.

No.

The purpose of assessment is to answer the referral question as accurately as possible.

Sometimes the evidence supports a diagnosis. Sometimes it points to another explanation, several contributing factors, or difficulties that are important even though diagnostic criteria are not met.

Assessment can still be useful.

We aim to explain the findings, identify relevant strengths and difficulties, and provide useful next steps rather than treating a diagnosis as the only valuable outcome.

Most BPA assessments include a written report unless a different arrangement has been agreed in advance.

The report brings together the relevant history, assessment findings, interpretation, conclusions and recommendations.

Our process →

Our reports can provide psychological evidence, findings and recommendations.

However, the organisation receiving the report makes its own decisions about eligibility, funding, accommodations, adjustments or services.

If you need an assessment for a particular purpose, tell us during screening so that we can consider what evidence is required and whether BPA is the right service for you.

Assessments are charged by the hour at the current rate listed on Our Fees. We do not offer fixed-price packages.

Because each assessment pathway depends on your age, individual needs, history, goals, and the question being asked, the total cost can usually be estimated more accurately after the first consultation. The first consultation generally involves approximately one hour of professional time at the current rate.

We will discuss likely next steps and associated fees before you decide whether to proceed. See Our Fees → for more information and an example assessment cost structure.

Because people asking the same question do not always need the same assessment. A fixed package can include testing that adds little useful information for one person while leaving out something important for another.

BPA starts with the referral question, reviews the information already available and selects assessment procedures that are likely to add useful information.

We charge for the professional time required rather than requiring everyone to purchase the same package. We provide information about likely fees before proceeding, and if the assessment needs to change as new information emerges, we discuss this with you.

Our approach allows the assessment to remain flexible as new information becomes available. For example, the psychologist may:

• decide that additional assessment is recommended to assist clients to meet their goals;
• determine that a planned assessment component is no longer necessary;
• recommend changing the direction or focus of the assessment based on information obtained;
• recommend a different assessment or service where this would better address the referral question; or
• recommend stopping the assessment where continuing would not be clinically appropriate or useful.

Most importantly, our approach helps avoid unnecessary assessment and allows the work undertaken to remain relevant to the individual client, rather than being determined by a rigid package.

Assessment tools and measures →

Fees overview →

Because two people asking the same diagnostic question may need very different information.

An individualised assessment starts with what you want to understand or achieve, considers the information already available, and then selects the assessment methods most likely to answer that question. Sometimes the most appropriate recommendation we can provide is also another professional, service or pathway rather than assessment with us. If you’ve signed up for a fixed package, that’s harder for us to do.

Age, development, language, culture, gender, masking or camouflaging, co-occurring difficulties and previous assessment can all influence what is most useful. A predetermined battery may therefore include testing that adds little for one person while overlooking something important for another.

At BPA, our aim is not simply to provide a “yes” or “no” diagnostic answer. We tailor the assessment so the findings help you understand the broader pattern, what it means and what may help next.

Because the same diagnostic question does not necessarily require the same amount of work.

One person may already have detailed recent testing and records. Another may need additional interviews, testing, information from other people or settings, or more complex analysis.

BPA charges according to the work required rather than assuming everyone needs an identical package.

Yes. As a general rule, we do the least amount of assessment required to adequately answer your question/s.

If information that emerges during assessment suggests that additional work would be useful, we discuss the reason and likely additional cost before substantially expanding the assessment.

Assessment involves more than the time spent completing tests.

The psychologist also needs to score and interpret results, review information from different sources, consider alternative explanations, integrate the findings and prepare conclusions and recommendations for the individual.

Yes.

Assessment is undertaken with consent.

We can explain why something has been recommended and what information may be lost or what questions may remain unanswered if it is not completed.

Absolutely! In fact, we think we should stop if we find the answer or if we find a better way.

Because BPA does not use rigid assessment packages, the assessment may sometimes be narrowed, changed or stopped where enough information has been obtained or where further testing is unlikely to add useful information. This is one of the many reasons we do not use fixed assessment packages.

Yes, where the request is clinically appropriate and relates to information we can reasonably provide.

This may include forms for schools, universities, government agencies, support services or other organisations. We will review what the form asks for and let you know whether we can complete all or part of it.

Time spent reviewing records, completing paperwork or preparing supporting information is billed according to the professional time required. Our fees →

Yes, where this is clinically appropriate and we have enough information to provide the evidence being requested.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include describing relevant assessment findings, diagnosis where applicable, functional difficulties and support needs, or completing appropriate sections of NDIS documentation.

Sometimes we may need additional information, an appointment or further assessment before we can provide an opinion. In other situations, another treating professional may be better placed to complete a particular part of the paperwork.

BPA can provide supporting evidence, but the NDIA makes decisions about access and funding, and completion of a form does not guarantee an outcome.

Time spent reviewing records, completing paperwork or preparing supporting information is billed according to the professional time required. Our fees →

Yes, where the form relates to matters we have assessed and we can provide the requested information appropriately.

This may include paperwork for reasonable adjustments, special examination provisions, learning support or other educational arrangements.

We can describe relevant findings and functional impact and make recommendations where supported by the assessment. The school, university or examining authority decides which adjustments or provisions it approves.

Additional paperwork is billed by the time required. Our fees →

Sometimes.

Where a letter is more appropriate, we may be able to provide a brief supporting letter explaining relevant findings, functional impact or recommendations.

The psychologist will first consider what the letter is for, what information can appropriately be provided and whether the available evidence supports the request.

Letter preparation is billed according to the professional time required. Our fees →

Usually, yes, where we still have enough current and relevant information to answer what is being asked.

If substantial time has passed, your circumstances have changed, or the form asks questions that were not addressed in the original assessment, we may need an updated appointment or additional assessment before completing it.

We will let you know before undertaking additional work. Additional paperwork is billed by the time required. Our fees →

Not automatically.

We need to be able to support the information or opinion we are being asked to provide with adequate evidence. We will review the form, your assessment information and the purpose of the request before deciding whether it is appropriate for us to complete.

If another professional is better placed to answer the question, we will let you know. Additional paperwork is billed by the time required. Our fees →

BPA charges for the professional time required.

This can include reviewing the request and relevant records, completing the form, preparing supporting information and any additional consultation needed.

Simple paperwork may take only a short amount of time. More detailed forms or requests requiring review and clinical opinion may take longer. Where the work is likely to be substantial, we can discuss this with you first. Our fees →

We understand that plans can change.

Possible cancellation fees depend on the amount of notice provided and the circumstances.

See the current Billing & Cancellations information for details.

Billing and cancellations →

Sometimes.

There is no single age that automatically determines this.

The psychologist considers the young person’s age, maturity, understanding, the assessment being proposed and the circumstances.

Consent arrangements are worked out during screening.

Adolescent assessment and consent →

A mature minor is a young person who has sufficient maturity and understanding to provide their own consent in the particular circumstances.

This is considered individually rather than being determined by one birthday.

Adolescent assessment and consent →

Not necessarily.

Who receives information depends on the consent and privacy arrangements established for the assessment.

We explain these arrangements before assessment begins.

Adolescent assessment and consent →

Where appropriate, yes.

Some parts of an adolescent assessment may occur directly with the young person.

We explain how parent or carer involvement will work as part of the assessment plan.

Adolescent assessment and consent →

Yes.

Their views are part of the discussion.

Sometimes information from another person is important to answer the assessment question. Where this occurs, we explain why that information is being requested and how it will be used.

You must tell us during screening.

We may need information about parental responsibility, parenting or court orders, who is requesting the assessment and who can provide consent before assessment can begin.

Consent is ongoing.

A young person can tell us if they are uncomfortable, need a break or no longer want to continue.

What happens next depends on their consent arrangements and the assessment, and we will explain the available options.

The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne has a plain-language Teen Health Info guide written for teenagers about privacy, confidentiality, consent and having a say in health care.

RCH Teen Health Info: privacy and health care →

BPA’s own consent arrangements for psychological assessment are explained here:

Adolescent assessment and consent →

The Raising Children Network has a practical parent guide about teenagers becoming more independent in health care, including consent, confidentiality and participation in decisions.

Raising Children Network guide to teenage health care →

The Royal Children’s Hospital also provides a parent and carer guide to health care privacy for teenagers.

RCH guide to health care privacy for teens and young people →

BPA provides selected adult assessment services for suitable attention, learning, cognitive and broader neurodevelopmental questions.

Children and adolescents remain the primary focus of the practice.

Screening helps determine whether BPA is the right service for the particular adult assessment question.

Yes.

For developmental questions, childhood and adolescent history can remain important even when assessment occurs much later in life.

Tell us during screening.

Historical records and information from people who knew you earlier in life can be useful, but we understand that not every adult has access to them.

We consider what alternative evidence is available and whether there is enough information to answer the referral question.

Not automatically.

We may recommend information from someone who knows you well where it would add important evidence.

We will explain why it would be useful and discuss consent with you.

The report may describe relevant functional difficulties and recommend adjustments where these are supported by the assessment.

The university, employer or other organisation makes the final decision about what evidence it requires and which adjustments it will provide.

Not generally. BPA is not currently providing a specialist acquired brain injury or dementia assessment service.

BPA can provide baseline assessment and general cognitive functioning or memory assessments. In the first instance, new or progressive changes in memory, thinking or other cognitive abilities should generally be discussed with a medical practitioner and may require assessment by a clinical neuropsychologist or another specialist. New or progressive changes may be time-sensitive, so it is recommended that you speak with your GP as soon as possible.

The Australian Psychological Society’s Find a Psychologist directory can be searched for neuropsychological assessment.

APS Find a Psychologist →

You do not have to provide everything through online forms.

Forms are designed to save time and reduce the amount of paid appointment time needed to collect the same information.

If forms are difficult for you, we can arrange an appointment and work through relevant questions together instead. We encourage our clients to make use of informal or alternative supports including asking a trusted person to help you complete forms if they are hard.

Because BPA bills according to professional time for all clients, this may require additional paid appointment time.

Accessibility and support →

Often, yes.

Tell us what makes participation easier.

Depending on the assessment requirements, we may be able to change pacing, use additional breaks or divide assessment across appointments.

Accessibility and support →

Sometimes.

A support person can be helpful for communication, comfort or providing background information.

We will discuss when their involvement is appropriate and whether any parts of standardised assessment need to occur individually.

Potentially.

We consider the person’s language background, the language demands of the assessment procedures and whether the findings can be interpreted appropriately.

Language support →

Interpreter support can be arranged where appropriate.

Not every psychological test can simply be translated or administered through an interpreter without affecting how the results can be interpreted.

We may recommend an initial appointment to understand the person’s language needs and plan an appropriate assessment approach.

Language support →

BPA charges for the professional time required for all clients.

Some adjustments have little or no effect on the amount of time needed.

Others, such as working through lengthy intake information during an appointment rather than completing it beforehand, may require additional paid time. We encourage our clients to make use of informal or alternative supports including asking a trusted person to help you complete forms if they are hard.

We will discuss likely costs with you.

Accessibility and support →

Fees overview →

No, BPA does not offer therapy or counselling to the public at this time.

BPA is an assessment-focused psychology practice and does not currently provide ongoing therapy or counselling.

If you are looking for therapy, the Australian Psychological Society’s Find a Psychologist service allows you to search for psychologists by issue, location and other preferences.

APS Find a Psychologist →

BPA does not currently offer ongoing therapy to the public.

Where therapy or another intervention may be helpful, the assessment report can include recommendations about the type of support that may be worth considering.

You can search for psychologists providing therapy through the Australian Psychological Society’s Find a Psychologist service.

APS Find a Psychologist →

No.

Psychologists do not prescribe medication.

Where medical assessment or medication is relevant, we may recommend discussing this with your GP, psychiatrist, paediatrician or another appropriate medical practitioner.

We will tell you if screening suggests BPA is unlikely to be the best fit.

Where possible, we may suggest the type of professional or service that is more likely to help.

Screening does not commit you to proceeding with assessment.