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Answers to what parents and referring providers ask us most often — about sessions, neurodevelopmental assessments, Medicare rebates, and the referral process at our Cairns clinic.
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The initial consultation is primarily for parents and caregivers — a relaxed, one-hour conversation where we discuss your concerns, your child’s developmental history, and your goals. You don’t need to bring your child to this first appointment, so we can speak openly. Please arrive a few minutes early to complete any intake paperwork. Our clinic in Bungalow, Cairns is designed to feel calm and welcoming from the moment you arrive.
No — you do not need a referral to contact us. You are welcome to get in touch directly and our admin team will help you work out the right pathway. A referral from your GP or paediatrician may be beneficial for Medicare rebates, and some NDIS plans require a referral depending on how the funding is managed. Our admin team, Deb and Sofia, can advise you on what applies to your situation.
We support toddlers, children, and adolescents. Our Early Intervention (ABA) program works with young autistic children aged 2–9. Our psychology and assessment services support children and adolescents up to 18 years old. Dr Pearce can also provide adult autism assessments for individuals up to 25 years old with a valid referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist.
Our Early Intervention program provides individualised Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy for young autistic children aged 2–9. Programs focus on communication, play skills, social interaction, self-care, academic learning, and emotional regulation. The program is overseen by a registered psychologist and Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, and delivered by our behaviour therapists at your home, daycare, kindergarten, or school. We recommend a minimum of 1–2 hours per week, with more intensive programs available as needed. Consistency is key to achieving the best results.
Before your first visit, you will need to complete the Child & Family Intake Form — this is required before an appointment can be booked. You can request the form by contacting reception on 07 4281 6886 or [email protected]. If you are using Medicare, arrange your GP Mental Health Care Plan before the appointment. If you have NDIS funding, bring a copy of your NDIS plan. For assessments, any previous reports from speech pathologists, occupational therapists, teachers, or other clinicians are very useful. If your child takes regular medication (e.g., Ritalin, Vyvanse), ensure it is taken at the normal time on assessment days.
A provisional psychologist is a psychology graduate who has completed an accredited four-year university degree and is undertaking their final year of supervised practice to qualify for full (general) registration with AHPRA — the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. They are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and hold a current AHPRA registration number.
Provisional psychologists provide the same evidence-based therapies as fully registered psychologists, but all of their clinical work — assessments, treatment plans, and session notes — is reviewed and supervised by a board-approved registered psychologist. At Caterpillar Clinic, provisional psychologists are supervised by our Clinical Director.
Sessions with a provisional psychologist are offered at a reduced fee. However, Medicare rebates do not apply to provisional psychologist sessions — only to sessions with registered psychologists.
Yes. If your child lives across two or more households, we require signed consent from both parents or legal guardians before appointments can proceed. This ensures that all parties are in agreement about the child attending, understand what information can and cannot be shared, and are clear on appointment scheduling, reminders, and payment of session fees.
We understand that family situations can be complex. If you have questions about consent requirements, please contact our reception team — we have a detailed fact sheet available that explains the process and can help guide you through it.
You can contact us by phone on 07 4281 6886 or by email at [email protected]. Our admin team will take some initial details and explain the process. Once the Child & Family Intake Form is completed and returned, we will match you with the right clinician for your child’s needs.
We are generally able to see you within a week or so, depending on your flexibility with days and times, and whether you wish to see a Provisional Psychologist or a Registered Psychologist (wait times may be longer for Registered Psychologists). After-school sessions are in extremely high demand, so daytime availability is typically shorter.
We are located at 4/161 Aumuller Street, Bungalow QLD 4870. We have three designated car parks on-site at the back of the office building, with additional street parking close by.
Yes — confidentiality is a cornerstone of psychological practice. Information shared in sessions is kept private. There are limited exceptions required by law — for example, if there is a serious risk of harm to your child or others — and your clinician will explain these to you and your child at the start of the process.
We use secure, AHPRA-compliant practice management software to store client records. Your information is not shared with third parties without your consent, except in the limited circumstances required by law.
Keep it simple and positive. You might say they’re going somewhere fun to play, talk, and learn new ways to handle big feelings. If the word ‘doctor’ causes anxiety, try ‘feelings helper’ or ‘feelings coach’ instead. We’ll always follow your child’s lead in session.
Yes — our secure telehealth platform is available for parent consultations, feedback sessions, and therapy with older children and teens who prefer the comfort of their own environment. This is particularly useful for families outside of Cairns or in surrounding areas of Far North Queensland.
Frequency depends on your child’s individual needs and goals. Most children begin with fortnightly sessions, with a progress review every 6–8 weeks. For ABA Early Intervention, we recommend a minimum of 1–2 hours per week. Your clinician will recommend a schedule at the end of your first parent consultation.
Referrals under a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan typically cover six sessions initially, followed by a review sent back to your GP. You then see your GP to discuss the review, which can release up to four additional sessions (ten total per calendar year) with GP approval.
Our clinicians use evidence-based approaches tailored to each child, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), DBT-informed therapy, and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). We support children with anxiety, depression, behavioural challenges, emotional regulation, school refusal, social difficulties, eating disorders, and trauma recovery — for both neurodivergent and neurotypical children.
This is very client-dependent. Some children happily adapt and want to be by themselves, while others may take some time to adjust to being alone in the session. We suggest being guided by your child — there is no right or wrong way to do this. If a parent remains outside the room and the child is comfortable with us sharing information, we can provide parent updates after the session.
Yes, we do work with schools depending on what is needed. Some schools do not allow external therapists on-site, so please check with your school if that is something you would like arranged. We can attend in person or via video meeting. Before speaking with the school or sharing any information, we will ask you to sign a Third-Party Consent form.
We generally suggest a parent-only session initially, especially if your child is very anxious. This gives us a good understanding of what they are attending for, their likes and dislikes, and allows us to prepare for the first session with resources or games they are either familiar with or enjoy. If they have a favourite toy or game, please let us know.
Our first session with your child focuses on building a trusted relationship through fun and engaging activities. Many children end up looking forward to seeing their Caterpillar clinician!
We offer a range of psychological assessments including Autism diagnostic assessments, ADHD assessments, Cognitive assessments (including intellectual disability, cognitive profile, and giftedness), Specific Learning Disorder assessments (including academic achievement — reading, writing, spelling, and maths), and adaptive functioning assessments. Please contact us to discuss what is most appropriate for your child.
The Autism assessment has three parts: (a) the ADI-R — a parent-only interview lasting 1.5–2 hours covering your child’s early development and current behaviours. It helps to review photos, videos, or baby diaries from around ages 4–5 beforehand. (b) The ADOS-2 — a one-hour direct observation session with your child at the clinic. Sessions are recorded by iPad for scoring purposes only and deleted once scored. (c) The ABAS-3 — a questionnaire sent electronically to parents and a teacher about everyday living skills. The report takes 2–3 weeks to compile and is sent directly to the referring paediatrician and copied to the parent. Medicare rebate of $395.80 applies with a paediatrician or child psychiatrist referral for those under 25.
The Cognitive assessment has two parts: (a) Direct administration of the WPPSI-IV or WISC-V with your child — a child-only session of 1.5–2 hours, usually scheduled in the morning when children are most alert. Parents wait in the waiting room, though a parent may be present for younger or anxious children. (b) The ABAS-3 — a questionnaire for parents and teachers about everyday living skills. Reports take 2–3 weeks and must be paid in full before they are released. No Medicare rebates are available for cognitive assessments.
The ADHD assessment uses the Conners-4, BRIEF-2, ABAS-3, and a full cognitive assessment (WISC-V) to determine whether criteria for ADHD — Hyperactive/Impulsive, Inattentive, or Combined presentation — are met. A comprehensive written diagnostic report is provided. No Medicare rebates are available for ADHD assessments. The $200 non-refundable deposit is required at booking.
All diagnostic reports take approximately 2–3 weeks to compile after testing is complete. For Autism assessments, the report is sent electronically to the referring paediatrician and copied to the referring parent. For cognitive assessments, reports must be paid in full before they are released. You can nominate additional recipients (e.g., schools, other treating professionals) on the intake consent form. The report belongs to the referring parent and can be distributed at their discretion once completed.
We also offer a feedback session to walk you through the results and answer your questions. Please note the feedback session is charged at the standard hourly rate.
Depending on the type of assessment, it may involve one appointment of up to 90 minutes, or two appointments ranging from 90 minutes to 2 hours each. Your clinician will explain the structure and expected timeframes when you book. Reports are available within 2–3 weeks of the final assessment session, and the assessment fee must be fully paid before the report is released.
Yes — our team includes clinicians trained in diagnostic assessment for both ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Please contact us to discuss the right assessment pathway for your child.
Please note that for Autism assessments and subsequent diagnoses, the report needs to be officially verified by your referring paediatrician or psychiatrist.
Yes — we can administer cognitive assessments that identify giftedness as well as areas of need. This can be useful for school planning and understanding your child’s learning profile.
Yes — but we are not a bulk billing service. Sessions are not free; an out-of-pocket expense applies. With a valid GP Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP), Medicare rebates of $98.95 per session apply to sessions with our Registered Psychologists and Clinical Director (not Provisional Psychologist sessions). Your MHCP covers the first 6 sessions. After session 6, your psychologist sends a review to your GP — you then make an appointment with your GP to discuss the review, which can release up to 4 more sessions under the same plan (10 total per calendar year). Your MHCP should be arranged before your first appointment.
Our fees vary depending on the service and clinician. We publish a current fee schedule on our Fees & Rebates page, which includes session rates for Provisional Psychologists, Registered Psychologists, and the Clinical Director, as well as diagnostic assessment fees. All assessment bookings require a non-refundable $200 deposit. Fees are reviewed annually.
Only Autism assessments attract a Medicare rebate — $395.80 — and only with a current referral (within 12 months) from a paediatrician or child psychiatrist. For children under 18, the referral must be from a paediatrician or child psychiatrist. For adults aged 18–25, a psychiatrist referral is required. ADHD, Cognitive, and Specific Learning Disorder assessments have no Medicare rebates available.
Yes. Most private health funds offer rebates on psychological services if you have ancillary or extras cover. Rebate amounts vary depending on your fund and cover level — contact your health fund directly to confirm your entitlements. We do not process rebates directly at the clinic; you claim through your fund after payment. If your private health insurer requires specific item codes on the receipt, please let us know and we can amend it for your claim.
Yes. Caterpillar Clinic is a registered NDIS provider approved for Early Intervention Supports for Early Childhood and Therapeutic Supports. We accept Agency-managed, Plan-managed, and Self-managed participants. All NDIS participants begin with an Initial Consultation, after which a Service Agreement and Support Plan are completed. A copy of your NDIS plan is required before appointments can be booked. Our NDIS fees are slightly higher than standard fees to reflect the additional reporting and administrative requirements of NDIS service delivery.
As we are a busy clinic, we do have a cancellation policy. We send a text reminder 48 hours prior to your appointment and prefer as much notice as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule.
Cancellations: At least 48 hours’ notice — no fee. Less than 48 hours’ notice — 50% of the session fee. Non-attendance (no-show) — 100% of the session fee. For NDIS clients, both late cancellations and no-shows incur a 100% fee per NDIA guidelines.
Rescheduling: Between 24–48 hours’ notice — no charge. Under 24 hours (e.g., on the day) — $50 rescheduling fee. If we are able to rebook your cancelled session to another client, no fee will apply.
Three cancellations in a row, or three within three months without rebooking, may result in disengagement from the clinic. A credit card must be supplied at booking and may be charged automatically if cancellation terms are met. If you believe extenuating circumstances apply, an Objection to Charge form can be requested from administration for Clinical Director review.
No — we do not bulk bill. However, with a valid Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, we can process the Medicare rebate electronically after payment, reducing your out-of-pocket cost. Sessions with our Provisional Psychologists are offered at a reduced fee, which can be a good option for families with financial constraints.
Referrals from GPs, paediatricians, child psychiatrists, and allied health providers are welcome. For Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions, a GP Mental Health Care Plan is required and should be arranged before the patient’s first appointment. For Autism assessments, a referral from a paediatrician or child psychiatrist enables a Medicare rebate of $395.80. For other assessments, a written referral outlining clinical concerns is sufficient. Contact us on 07 4281 6886 or [email protected] — our intake team will contact the family directly.
Medicare rebates for standard psychology sessions can be accessed via: a GP Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP), a Paediatrician or Child Psychiatrist referral, a Chronic Disease Management Plan, or the Head to Health pathway (requires GP consultation and Head to Health approval). Rebates apply only to sessions with Registered Psychologists and the Clinical Director — not Provisional Psychologist sessions.
With family consent, we provide written progress summaries to the referring GP or paediatrician. For Autism assessments, the full report is sent directly to the referring paediatrician and copied to the parent as standard practice. For other diagnostic assessments, reports are shared with the referring practitioner where consent has been given. Additional recipients can be nominated on the initial consent form.
Yes. Our clinical psychologists provide Initial NDIS Support Letters ($210/hr, $240/hr for Clinical Director), Annual NDIS Plan Review Reports ($460), and Biannual Plan Review Reports ($690). Please contact our team to discuss the documentation required for your patient.
Caterpillar Clinic specialises in diagnostic assessments and clinical interventions for children and adolescents in Cairns.
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Creating Change for Children
Private child and adolescent psychology practice in Cairns, supporting families through assessment and intervention.
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