Our autism diagnostic team is led by experienced clinicians Annika Ballantyne (Speech Pathologist) and Michelle Rhyder (Registered Psychologist). We are committed to providing a supportive, nurturing, and neuroaffirming experience for every family that walks through our doors, and we strive to offer a service we would want for our own families.

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With over four years of collaboration in conducting combined autism assessments, we bring a wealth of expertise and personal understanding to our work. We are both mothers to daughters with Autism and ADHD, which has fostered a special interest in supporting autistic girls.

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The Mandurah Autism Assessment team adheres to the “gold standard” of autism assessment, addressing the DSM-5 criteria through a multi-disciplinary team approach and utilising the best diagnostic tools available for the child’s age and abilities.

These include:

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2)

Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition (MIGDAS)

A clinical parent interview based on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised

Additional profession-specific assessments as needed
 

We provide comprehensive feedback on the outcomes of your child’s assessment, along with a thorough, detailed written report.

Referrals are accepted from Paediatricians, Psychiatrists, and parents directly (with supporting evidence from another professional, such as a GP, childcare educators, teachers, or allied health professionals). Please note, if you plan to claim a Medicare rebate, a referral from a Paediatrician is required.

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ABOUT US:
 

Annika is a Speech Pathologist with over 12 years of experience and holds a Post Graduate degree in Autism assessment and diagnosis (GradCertAutDiag). As a mother of three children, two of whom are neurodivergent, Annika is deeply passionate about guiding families through the assessment and diagnostic process and she is known for her empathy, understanding, and dedication as a clinician.

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Michelle is a Registered Psychologist with 15 years of experience working with children of all needs. Her extensive background, combined with her personal insights as a mother of a neurodivergent child, allows her to offer compassionate and tailored support to every family she works with.

 

Please call the clinic directly or email 
mandurahautismassessments@gmail.com 
if you would like further information on our Autism assessments.