The key facts
- Current waitReferral to first appointment, Australia-wide
- 5 to 6 Weeks
- Total assessment feeCovers the full initial assessment, before any Medicare rebate
- $1,300
- FormatSecure video consultation, every state and territory
- Telehealth
What the assessment involves
A child and adolescent ADHD assessment is comprehensive, not a single short consultation. It normally includes:
- time with the parent and child together
- time with the child on their own
- time with the parent on their own
Speaking with the family together and with each person separately lets the psychiatrist build an accurate and complete history, which the assessment depends on.
If you are earlier in the process and want a sense of whether an assessment is worth pursuing, you can start with our free parent screening questionnaire. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis, and every booking is reviewed by our clinical team before it proceeds.
Cost and Medicare rebates
The child and adolescent initial assessment fee is $1,300, covering the full assessment described above. There are no separate charges hidden inside it, and our whole fee schedule is published on the fees page.
With a valid referral you can claim a Medicare rebate: you pay the fee at the time of the appointment and Medicare pays the rebate back to you. The rebate is set against the Medicare Benefits Schedule item your psychiatrist uses; the item numbers that apply to a psychiatrist consultation are 296, 297, 299, 300, 302. Lionheart Clinic does not bulk-bill.
Wait time and how the referral works
The typical wait is 5 to 6 weeks from referral to first appointment, and your intake is reviewed within 5 business days of us receiving your booking and referral. Because appointments are by telehealth, the wait is the same wherever you live in Australia. Current figures are always on the wait times page.
You do not need a referral to book privately. To claim a Medicare rebate, ask your GP for a Mental Health Treatment Plan or a referral addressed to a psychiatrist, or use a referral from your paediatrician. You can start your booking before the referral is ready and send it to us when you have it.
Our psychiatrists
Common questions
- How long is the wait for a child ADHD assessment at Lionheart Clinic?
- Typically 5 to 6 weeks from referral to first appointment, Australia-wide via telehealth. Your intake is reviewed within 5 business days of us receiving your booking and referral.
- What is the total cost of a child ADHD assessment?
- The child and adolescent initial assessment fee is $1,300, and it covers the full assessment. With a valid referral you can claim a Medicare rebate towards it. Lionheart Clinic does not bulk-bill.
- What does the child ADHD assessment include?
- The initial assessment normally includes time with the parent and child together, time with the child on their own, time with the parent on their own. Speaking with the family together and with each person separately lets the psychiatrist build an accurate and complete history, which the assessment depends on.
- Do we need a referral to book an ADHD assessment?
- No referral is needed to book privately. To claim a Medicare rebate you need a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan or a referral from your GP or paediatrician. You are welcome to start your booking before your referral is ready.
- Can my child see a psychiatrist for ADHD instead of a paediatrician?
- Yes. Paediatricians are often the first stop for straightforward ADHD, and a child and adolescent psychiatrist is a recognised specialist pathway, particularly when ADHD occurs alongside anxiety, autism or other conditions, or when medication management is more involved. Lionheart Clinic psychiatrists assess and treat ADHD in children and adolescents aged 5 to 18.
- Is a telehealth ADHD assessment recognised in Australia?
- Yes. Telehealth psychiatric assessment and review are recognised under Medicare, and let families anywhere in Australia see a subspecialty child and adolescent psychiatrist without travel or local waitlists.
Last updated 8 August 2026