What you might notice
Every child is different, and none of these on their own means your child is autistic or has ADHD. They’re signs worth talking about.
- Speaking later than other children, or using words in their own way
- Strong interests, routines or ways of playing
- Big reactions to noise, textures, food or change
- Always on the move, or finding it hard to settle
- Finding it hard to sit still, wait, or follow instructions
- Daydreaming, losing things, or not finishing work
- Finding friendships confusing or exhausting
- Coming home overwhelmed after holding it together all day
- Struggling with organisation, deadlines or motivation
- Feeling different, anxious or worn out from fitting in
- Intense focus on things they love, and very little energy for anything else
Misread, or missed
Too often, children are judged before they’re understood.
Black children and children of colour are more likely to be seen as “defiant”, “aggressive” or older than they are, when they’re struggling. That’s racism, and it means their needs are met with discipline instead of support. Girls, and children who learn to mask, are more likely to be called “quiet” or “fine”, and missed altogether.
Children growing up between cultures can also be misread when their behaviour makes sense at home but not at school, or the other way round.
Most assessment tools were developed with white, Western children, and haven’t been tested with First Nations, Black or multicultural communities. Racism also shapes who gets referred early, so many people in our communities are only recognised as adults, if at all. We take this into account in every assessment.
How we understand behaviour
We don’t start with behaviour. We start with your child. Behaviourism asks what the behaviour got the child. Our approach, P.A.T.H., asks what the child was up against:
What is being asked of your child here, and what do they have available right now?
Whose expectations are these: school’s, family’s, culture’s? Many are neurotypical rules, never made with your child in mind.
Is this a choice, neurology, or development?
What can home, school and the places around your child do differently?
A diagnosis, if one comes, is part of understanding your child, not the whole story.
(P.A.T.H. is Anoshe’s approach to understanding behaviour, derived from Roots vs Routes, Kambasha, 2026.)
How it works
You don’t need a diagnosis to get support. Sometimes you just want to understand your child. We can help you make sense of what might be going on, without turning it into a formal diagnosis.
We start with a conversation
You meet with an Anoshe practitioner. Together, we decide whether a full assessment is the right next step, or whether something else would help more.
We get to know your child
We gather your child’s history, observe them, and ask you, their school and others who know them well to complete some questionnaires. We bring it all together into a picture of your child and their world.
You see your GP
Your GP refers your child to a paediatrician, so some appointments may attract a Medicare rebate.
Your child sees a paediatrician online
A paediatrician meets with you by video, usually over two appointments.
You receive a report
The paediatrician’s report comes to you, your GP and Anoshe, usually within a day or two of the final appointment.
We keep walking with you
Whatever the outcome, Anoshe supports your family with next steps.
Diagnosis is just the beginning
A diagnosis isn’t the only step, and often it’s just the start. The real work is what comes next: helping your child understand themselves, and making the world around them work better for them. Whether or not your child is diagnosed, we keep walking with you.
Helping your child understand how they think, feel and learn, and to see their brain as something to work with, not against.
Strategies for everyday life: routines, focus, emotions, friendships, sleep and getting out the door.
Small changes at home, at school and in the community that make a big difference, so your child isn’t the only one doing the adjusting.
Building your child’s confidence, and yours, to speak up, ask for what they need, and stay proud of who they are.
Support can include therapy for your child and family, occupational therapy, ADHD coaching, school support, and help with NDIS applications where that’s right for your family.
What it costs
Costs depend on what’s being assessed, how complex it is, and how long it takes. Please discuss this with us at your consultation.
You pay the paediatrician directly. Some appointments may attract a Medicare rebate with a GP referral, and we’ll talk you through this at your consultation.
If your child’s assessment is funded by a service or program, it may cost you nothing. Talk to us.
Questions families ask
Do I need a GP referral?
Yes, for the paediatrician. It means some appointments may attract a Medicare rebate.
Can you assess children under five?
Yes. Our pathway starts from birth, and early understanding can make a real difference.
I’m unsure about a formal diagnosis. It feels like a label.
You don’t have to get a diagnosis. A diagnosis can help, and can open up supports at school and other ways to navigate the world. If it isn’t for you, we can talk you through how to support your child and navigate the world without one.
What if my child isn’t diagnosed?
You’ll still have a clearer understanding of your child, and we’ll keep supporting you.
Do you work in other languages?
Yes. Our team works in multiple languages, so your family can be supported in the language you’re most comfortable with.
How soon can we start?
We have immediate availability for a first conversation.
How long does it take?
Most assessments take up to three sessions, and no more than four unless your child’s needs are more complex. We’d rather do it properly than rush, so if we need more time, we’ll tell you why.
Get started
Contact us, and we’ll talk you through the first step.
Book now Email hello@anoshetherapies.com.au Call (03) 4327 9085