Terms & Conditions

Welcome to Divergent Within

We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all our clients. By booking an appointment with us, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

1. Services Offered

Divergent Within is an assessment-only service.  This service is provided by qualified psychologists who adhere to professional standards and ethics.

As part of providing a psychological service to you either in person or via telehealth, Divergent Within needs to collect and record personal information from you that is relevant to your situation, such as your name, contact information, medical history, and other personal information collected as part of providing psychological services to you. This collection of personal information is a necessary part of the psychological assessment that is conducted. 

2. Purpose of Collecting and Holding Information 

Your personal information is gathered for the purpose of providing psychological services, which includes assessing and diagnosing. It is kept securely and, in the interests of your privacy, is only used by your psychologist and the authorised personnel of the practice (as necessary). Your personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions and enables your psychologist to provide a relevant and informed psychological service to you. Your personal record is stored electronically in your client file on Halaxy, which you consent to as a client of Divergent Within. Your psychologist is required to keep your file for a minimum of 7 years (or if you are a minor (i.e. younger than 18 years old), then until you reach the age of 25). You may access the information in your file on request, subject to the exceptions in the National Privacy Principles. 

If you do not wish for your personal information to be collected in a way anticipated by Divergent Within’s Privacy Policy, your psychologist may not be in a position to provide the psychological services to you. 

3. Confidentiality

Clients' personal information will remain confidential except when:

  1. It is subpoenaed by a court, or disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law;

  2. Failure to disclose the information would, in your psychologist's reasonable belief, place the client or another person at serious risk to life, health, or safety; 

  3. The client's prior approval has been obtained to:

    1.  Provide a written report to another agency or professional e.g., a GP or lawyer; 

    2.  Disclose the information in another way;

    3. Disclose to another professional or agency (e.g., your GP) and disclosure of your personal information to that third party is for a purpose which is directly related to the primary purpose for which your personal information was collected;

  4. Clinical consultation with another professional is required in relation to, or to provide better, clinical services (however, where possible, identifying details will remain confidential). 

4. Privacy

Divergent Within is subject to the Privacy Act 1988 and must comply with obligations related to the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. The Privacy Police is contained on our Website.

5. Pricing

As part of our commitment to maintaining the quality of care and services provided, please be aware that our fees may undergo a slight annual increase to account for inflation and operational costs. To ensure transparency and to give you ample time to plan accordingly, we will provide advance notice of any fee increases prior to their implementation. 

6. Provision of a Telehealth Service

Where appropriate, the service may be provided by videoconferencing. To access telehealth consultations, you will need access to a quiet, private space and the appropriate device i.e., smartphone, laptop, iPad, computer, and a reliable broadband internet connection. The privacy of any form of communication via the internet is potentially vulnerable and limited by the security of the technology used. 

A telehealth consultation may be subject to limitations such as an unstable network connection, which may affect the quality of the psychological service.

7. Fees for Autism and/or ADHD Assessments 

  • When completing your intake and consent forms, you will be asked to enter credit/debit card details which are encrypted and stored securely in the practice management system (Halaxy). Payment for your initial consultation ($250) and feedback session ($250) are deducted from your card at the time of the appointments. 

  • The full assessment fee balance must be paid on the day of your diagnostic assessment session. 

  • We offer two options for assessments: (1) an assessment with comprehensive report and feedback session, or (2) an assessment with a short diagnostic summary (2-3 pages) and no feedback session. The costs for these two options will differ depending on the assessment you are seeking (further information about your specific payments will be provided when you book your assessment).

    • Combined psychological assessments for Autism and ADHD are charged at a rate of $2,500 for the comprehensive option and $2,000 for an assessment without the extended report. 

    • Psychological assessments for Autism alone are charged at a rate of $2,000 for the comprehensive option and $1,500 for an assessment without the extended report. 

    • Psychological assessments for ADHD alone are charged at a rate of $1,700 for the comprehensive option and $1,250 for an assessment without the extended report. 

  • Medicare does not permit the provision of rebates for Autism/ADHD assessments using Mental Health Care Plans (MHCPs) or Chronic Disease GP Management Plans (GPMPs).  

  • Medicare allows Paediatricians and Psychiatrists to refer clients up to the age of 25 for an Autism assessment, where Medicare rebates are allowable. If you are a young adult seeking assessment, please discuss Medicare item number 135 with your Paediatrician or Psychiatrist if you are still under their care. 

8. Cancellation Policy

We understand that circumstances may arise that require you to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Our cancellation policy is as follows:

  • Cancellation Notice: We require a minimum of 48 hours’ notice for cancellations or rescheduling.

  • Late Cancellations: Cancellations made with less than 48 hours’ notice will incur a cancellation fee of $250 (the scheduled cost for an intake/feedback session).

  • No-Show Policy: If you do not attend your appointment without prior notice, you will be charged $250.

​9. Arriving Late

If you arrive late for your appointment, your session may be shortened to accommodate the schedule of other clients. The full session fee will still apply.

10. Other Things to Consider

  • To engage in this service, you must be 18 years or older. 

  • If you are participating in the assessment remotely (via telehealth) you must have access to a computer with a webcam and have a stable internet connection. Assessments cannot be provided over the phone, as the psychologist needs to see you during the assessment to make an accurate diagnosis.

  • As best practice, we always recommend assessing for both Autism and ADHD together, as research suggests that Autism and ADHD frequently co-occur. A mixed presentation of Autism and ADHD (AuDHD) can look very different from someone who is just Autistic or just has ADHD. 

  • Despite this, we do offer assessments for Autism and ADHD alone, when there is good reason for doing so (e.g., you already have a diagnosis of ADHD and are wanting to know if you meet the criteria for Autism). If you are unsure which assessment option best meets your needs, please get in touch. We are happy to discuss your goals and assist your decision-making. 

  • Please note that Divergent Within cannot guarantee that our diagnostic reports will be sufficient for NDIS funding. The NDIS determines eligibility based on an individual's 'level of functioning' among other factors beyond our control. While we can include recommendations for the NDIS in our report, we cannot assist with an access request. If accessing the NDIS is a primary goal, you may be better served by an alternative service.

11. APS Charter for Clients of Psychologists 

The APS Charter explains your rights as a client of a psychologist: 

https://psychology.org.au/getmedia/5fb479bb-4ab8-49f3-a9eb-1a76a3779ef4/aps-charter-for-clients.pdf

If, after reading this form, you are unclear about any of the information provided, please speak to your psychologist prior to the commencement of your appointment. 

By booking an appointment with us, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these terms and conditions.

We may update these terms and conditions from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our Website, and your continued use of our services will signify your acceptance of those changes.

For questions or concerns regarding these terms and conditions, please contact us at 
hello@divergentwithin.com.au