Does the NDIS pay for an autism assessment? (2026)

The NDIS does not pay for an autism assessment. Its guideline on disability-related health supports says that under NDIS laws it can't fund the diagnosis of health conditions, or diagnostic assessments and screening services. Those are the job of the health system, which in practice means Medicare rebates, private fees or a public service.

The NDIS comes in after that, and in some cases before a diagnosis for young children. This guide covers what the NDIS offers children without a diagnosis, the free and government-funded assessment options we found by state, and what your report needs if you plan to apply to the NDIS.

If your child is young, you can get help before any assessment is finished.

The early childhood approach is for children younger than 6 with developmental delay, or younger than 9 with disability. The NDIS says children younger than 6 don't need a diagnosis for it. An early childhood partner can connect you with community and mainstream services, check whether your child is likely to benefit from early support, provide a short period of early supports, and help you apply to the NDIS. Early supports usually run for 3 to 6 months and can run for up to 12.

To find your early childhood partner, ask your GP, child health nurse or early childhood educator, use the office finder on the NDIS website, or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110. Children aged 9 and over work with a local area coordinator instead.

Thriving Kids began rolling out in October 2026 in every state and territory except Queensland, which had not signed on at launch. It is for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism with low to moderate support needs, and their families. It offers information on child development, help identifying when a child needs extra support, family programs and targeted supports such as allied health. Supports are being rolled out until 1 January 2028, and the government says there are no changes to how people access the NDIS before then.

Children. Public child development services assess eligible children at no cost in several states:

• South Australia: three hospital child development units assess children with complex developmental concerns in three or more areas, free with a Medicare card.
• Western Australia: the Child Development Service is free for children under 16 in the Perth metropolitan area with an eligible Medicare card, and parents can refer directly. Regional families go through WA Country Health Service.
• ACT: the Child Development Service assesses children under 12 for free on referral from a paediatrician or paediatric psychiatrist.
• NSW: local health districts run child development services. Hunter New England's, for example, is free for children 18 months to 12 years with complex needs, on referral from a health or education professional.
• Victoria: child and adolescent mental health services in every area provide autism assessment for children, each with an autism coordinator.
• Queensland: a GP referral to public paediatrics is triaged by urgency, with children under 6 whose screening suggests autism aimed to be seen within 90 days.

Our autism assessment cost guide has more detail on each service.

Adults. The free public services above are for children. For adults, the government-supported route is Medicare. Under 25, the Medicare items for complex neurodevelopmental conditions cover a paediatrician or psychiatrist diagnosis and up to eight allied health assessments. From 25, your GP can refer you to a psychiatrist, who can assess and diagnose using standard Medicare items.

The NDIS decides eligibility on evidence about your impairment and how it affects everyday life. Its disability requirements ask whether the impairment is likely to be permanent, whether it substantially reduces your ability to do everyday tasks, whether it affects work, study or social life, and whether you are likely to need NDIS support for your lifetime.

The NDIS's Applying to the NDIS guideline puts Level 2 and Level 3 autism on List A, its list of conditions likely to meet the disability requirements. Level 2 means requiring substantial support, and Level 3 means requiring very substantial support. The diagnosis must use DSM-5 criteria and come from a specialist multidisciplinary team, paediatrician, psychiatrist or clinical psychologist experienced in autism assessment. Autism that does not meet that severity is on List B, conditions likely to result in a permanent impairment, where you still need evidence that the other disability requirements are met. The NDIS describes these lists as a guide only. This changes from 1 January 2028. Under the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026, people who apply from that date will have their eligibility decided by a standardised assessment of functional capacity, and children 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs will be supported through Thriving Kids instead. People already on the scheme will be reassessed against the new criteria over 3 years from that date. Children 8 and under who joined before then are reassessed under the earlier rules until they turn 9.

The NDIS's guidance for health professionals says a report supporting an application must:

• state the diagnosis or the nature of the impairment
• explain why the condition is unlikely to improve with known, evidence-based treatments
• outline the functional impact of the impairment
• state the types of support needed

It also asks for the date of diagnosis, who made the diagnosis and the clinical assessments used, along with clear, task-specific examples of what you can and can't do without support.

For autism, the NDIS says evidence can come from any member of a multidisciplinary team, including a paediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist, occupational therapist or speech therapist. Its preferred evidence, in order, is the DSM-5 diagnosis, the Vineland-III, then WHODAS 2.0 for people 17 and over or PEDI-CAT for children 16 and under.

Australia's National Guideline for autism assessment expects a diagnostic report to include the evidence for each diagnostic criterion, the current support needs, the tools used, the person's strengths and functioning, and any co-occurring conditions, such as a dual autism and ADHD diagnosis. It also asks clinicians to explain how recommended supports can be accessed, including funding. When you book, tell the clinician you plan to apply to the NDIS so the report covers what the NDIS asks for.

If you have both ADHD and autism, the NDIS considers the evidence for each impairment and its effect on your daily life. ADHD has a different position in NDIS eligibility from autism, which our guide on whether ADHD is a disability in Australia explains. For the assessment steps when both conditions may apply, see our guide to getting an AuDHD diagnosis in Australia, and for how combined assessments are run, our combined ADHD and autism assessment guide.