ASSESSMENTS FOR ADULTS

Helping your teen to be understood often starts here.

Educational and neurodevelopmental assessments for adolescents can be the first step towards understanding your teenagers strengths, differences and challenges. They can foster and promote learning and well-being by identifying the most appropriate interventions and required adjustments and supports at home, school and in the workplace. When appropriate, the assessments at Raise the Bar Psychology support applications for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and inclusive education funding in schools, and inform the development of individualised education plans.

Assessments for adolescents can help evaluate concerns and identify mental health challenges, giftedness and career readiness. They can also determine whether learning or neurodevelopmental differences are present such as Autism, ADD, ADHD, and learning disorders including dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia.

We use scientifically validated assessment tools designed to identify and understand:

Types of assessments

Raise the Bar Psychology provides person-centred, trauma informed and neuro-affirming educational and neurodevelopmental assessments for adults. Our psychologists are able to construct an assessment battery that addresses and responds to your presenting concerns and individualised needs.

Career/Vocational Assessments

Career or Vocational Assessments are a tool to help adults explore volunteering, study or career pathways and options. They are also useful for individuals exploring alternative employment options after an injury or disability.

A vocational assessment is an evidence-based, thorough evaluation of your transferable skills, qualifications, and interests to help identify potential employment or training options. The assessment considers factors such as your background, education, and occupational requirements and provides strategies that align with your needs and interests.

Vocational assessments benefit various groups, including injured workers returning to employment, students exploring career paths, individuals seeking promotions, workers at a career crossroad, parents reentering the workforce, and employers aiming to understand and place suitable candidates within their organisation.

At the end of the assessment, you will receive a comprehensive and individualised report detailing your work history, transferable skills, aptitude, and personality factors to facilitate matching you with suitable career paths.

Mental Health Assessment for Adults

Mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression can disrupt your daily activities at home, during study, and at work. At Raise the Bar Psychology, assessing for mental health challenges is a crucial aspect of all of our assessment services. Identifying mental health challenges enables recommendations regarding evidence-based interventions, and implementation of necessary adjustments and support systems in home, study, and work environments.

Adult Autism Assessments

Adults of all ages can complete an autism assessment, with it becoming have more common in recent years. An autism assessment often involves gathering a thorough developmental, schooling and work history, developing an understanding of strengths, differences and challenges across home, work and in social situations, administering several standardised assessment tools, and interviews with you and your significant others such as parents and partners (when appropriate).

Autism assessments can also assess cognitive ability and academic achievement if learning concerns are present.

Adult ADHD/ADD Assessments

An Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) assessment can be completed with adults of all ages and has become more common in recent years. An adult ADHD assessment typically involves

Interviews with you and your parents or partner (when appropriate)
Assessment of your attention and executive functioning skills in the clinic
Questionnaires being completed by you, your parents or your partner (when appropriate)

Raise the Bar Psychology has both behavioural and performance measures of attention and executive functioning that provide understanding regarding your degree of attentional and behavioural control, as well as your planning and organisation skills. A comprehensive and individualised report with personalised recommendations is provided at the conclusion of the assessment.

Cognitive or Intelligence Assessments for Adults

Cognitive assessments evaluate your intelligence and identify specific areas of strength and challenge, including language, problem-solving, memory and speed of processing. Cognitive ability provides the foundation for learning. When appropriate, the results of a cognitive assessment can be used to support the provision of reasonable adjustments in the workplace and during formal study, and support applications to NDIS and Centrelink.

Cognitive assessment of adults can assist with the identification of various concerns and presentations such as intellectual disability, giftedness, dyslexia, autism, and ADHD.

Assessment Process

An assessment can uncover your unique strengths, differences and challenges, how your brain learns best, and whether you require particular support or adjustments at home, school or the workplace.

At a minimum, it provides clear insights to help you overcome barriers, leverage your strengths and identify supports needed to reach your potential.

Step 1 : Booking & Consent

Share your concerns, goals, and needs so that we can match you with the right psychologist and assessment.

Step 2 : Clinical Intake

Meet with your psychologist to share background information. Your psychologist will explain the assessment process and what to expect.

Step 3 : Assessment

Assessments are delivered using a "hybrid" model. This means most of our conversations happen from the comfort of your own home via Telehealth, with only the essential face-to-face assessment held in person at our clinic.

Step 4 : Feedback

Receive a clear and simple explanation of assessment results. Ask questions. Plan a clear path forward. A comprehensive and personalised report is provided.

Step 5 : Ongoing support

We offer child friendly feedback sessions, school consultation, and parent support. Many families return to monitor progress and to review recommendations in preparation for important transitions (e.g., starting primary, secondary or tertiary education).

Everyone deserves a chance to thrive, and if you aren’t, we’re here to help you identify why, and to support you through the process and beyond.

We’d love to support you; whether you have a few questions or concerns, want to know your options, or are looking for the best provider for your teen, book a call with us today.

Your questions answered

Can I get a Medicare rebate?

Medicare rebates are available if referred under items for ‘Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders and eligible disabilities’ by a psychiatrist.

Do I need a referral?

No, a referral is not necessary. Our team is available to help you evaluate whether an assessment would be beneficial depending on your needs and circumstances, and they can help determine which assessments would be most useful if an assessment is recommended.

Why do Vocational Assessments matter?

Vocational Assessments showcase your job capabilities and suggest alternative occupations that align with your abilities, interests, values and needs. These assessments analyse your transferable skills, experience, and qualifications to identify suitable job options while considering any medical or psychological restrictions.

For adults on the NDIS, a vocational assessment can help identify suitable employment options, with consideration for reasonable adjustments to enhance independence and maximise work capacity.

What is included in a Vocational Assessment?

A comprehensive Vocational Assessment includes various tools and activities such as

transferable skills analysis
aptitude inventories
psychometric testing
functional capacity evaluations

The assessment gathers information on an individual’s employment history, education, transferable skills (including military experience and volunteering), and functional and work capacity. It also considers potential barriers such as background checks, legal history and medical conditions. Finally, it addresses training or education needs related to potential employment.

How can an assessment help me?

Assessments can help you identify your strengths, differences and challenges, what makes you unique, how your brain learns best, and whether you might qualify for funding and support.

At a minimum, getting assessed as an adult can help you to overcome barriers, how to work with your strengths and identify what government support might be available to you (if needed).

What does the assessment process involve?

Most assessments include an initial intake session, one or more assessment sessions (the length depending on the type of assessments required), and a feedback session typically four weeks after the final assessment session. A comprehensive and indiviudalised report is provided at the conclucion of an assessment.

How long does the assessment take?

The length of an assessment will depend on the number and type of assessments required, and this will be determined on a case-by-case basis. All aassessments typically include a one-hour intake session and a one-hour feedback session usually four weeks after the final assessment session. Depending on individual needs, the assessment process can vary from three to eight hours.

What adult conditions or concerns can be addressed through assessment?

Educational and neurodevelopmental assessments can identify and support adults and their significant others understanding of various presenting concerns and neurodevelopmental or learning differences including mental health challenges, learning difficulties, cognitive challenges, delays in adaptive functioning skills, and autism and ADHD.