Dr Tiffany Gerlich
Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Neuropsychologist
Part of the team that standardised the developmental assessment used with Australian and New Zealand infants and toddlers. Dr Gerlich's profile
Early development · babies and toddlers · Southport, Gold Coast A clear picture of how your baby or toddler is developing, and what comes next.
A play-based developmental assessment for babies and toddlers from birth to three and a half years, for families, child health nurses, GPs and paediatricians who want to know whether development is on track and where support should start.
Another age or question? All child and adolescent care.
- Birth to three and a half years
- Parent interview and feedback by telehealth; the play session in person
- No referral needed for a private assessment
- Reports written for NDIS early childhood and paediatric pathways
For paediatricians, GPs and child health nurses
We are now taking referrals for developmental assessment of infants and toddlers. The assessment is the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, fourth edition (Bayley-4, Australian and New Zealand standardisation, 16 days to 42 months). The report returns to you with standardised scores and recommendations.
What to refer
- Infants and toddlers with delayed milestones, prematurity or a complicated neonatal course, or a medical or genetic condition that affects development
- Children under 6 for whom an NDIS early childhood application needs a measured developmental profile with standardised scores
- The allied health assessment component of your diagnostic work-up where a complex neurodevelopmental disorder is suspected
- Repeat assessment against an earlier baseline
Medicare
Where a consultant paediatrician or psychiatrist refers a child with a suspected complex neurodevelopmental disorder or an eligible disability, Medicare rebates the psychologist's assessment services: item 82000 and its telehealth equivalents, up to eight services across allied health disciplines, with your review after four. A GP referral alone does not attract these items.
How to refer
Online referral form or email; every referral is acknowledged on receipt.
When to act on a worry
Worth assessing when
- Milestones in sitting, walking, first words, play or interaction are later than expected, or more than one area is behind
- Your child has lost a skill they had, such as words or gestures
- Your child was born prematurely, had a complicated birth or newborn period, or has a medical or genetic condition that can affect development
- A child health nurse, GP or paediatrician has recommended an assessment, or an NDIS early childhood application needs a measured developmental profile
Check first, or start elsewhere
Hearing and vision should be checked first, because both affect development and test results. Where speech and language is the only concern, a speech pathologist can assess this directly. Feeding, sleep or settling difficulties without a developmental question are best raised with your GP or child health nurse. A single late milestone with everything else on track is often worth a conversation with your child health nurse before an assessment.
What the assessment is like
A conversation with you
Pregnancy, birth and newborn history, medical history, feeding and sleep, and what you have noticed and when. We review any reports from your child health nurse, paediatrician or early childhood service, and you complete short questionnaires about everyday skills and social and emotional development.
A play session with you in the room
About an hour of toys and everyday activities at your child's pace, with breaks for feeds and settling. Five areas are measured: thinking and problem solving, language, movement, social and emotional development and everyday skills.
Feedback and a written report
A feedback appointment explains what the results mean for your child, with standardised scores, next steps for home and, with your consent, the report to your GP, paediatrician or early childhood service.
What comes next
Where development is on track, the report is a baseline. Where there is a delay, it says where early intervention should start and describes your child's development in the terms an NDIS early childhood application uses. Where the pattern raises a diagnostic question, we say what the next step is and when.
After the assessment
The assessment usually leads in one of two directions.
If development is on track
You have a measured picture rather than a worry, and a baseline to compare against if a question comes up later. We suggest what to watch for and when a review would be worthwhile, and point you to good everyday sources on development, such as our guide to supporting your child's development.
If there is a delay
The report describes which areas are behind and by how much, so that early intervention starts in the right place: speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy or an early childhood service. Where the pattern suggests a question about autism or another neurodevelopmental condition, we recommend paediatric review and, at a suitable age, a neurodevelopmental assessment.
Who you will see
Developmental assessment of infants and toddlers is conducted by Dr Gerlich. Qualifications and AHPRA registration are on the team page.
Elie Walsh
Psychologist · Clinical Neuropsychology Registrar
Works across the child and adolescent service, including the attention, learning and autism questions that sometimes follow an early assessment. Elie Walsh's profile
Fees and funding
Private
No referral is needed. We give a written estimate before booking, and the booking fee is credited to the total. Fees are based on clinician time at $250 to $290 an hour. Fees and policies.
Medicare
Developmental assessment is not rebated, except where a consultant paediatrician or psychiatrist has referred your child for a possible complex neurodevelopmental disorder or an eligible disability.
NDIS
The early childhood approach supports children younger than 9; children younger than 6 do not need a diagnosis. Government arrangements for young children's developmental supports are changing over 2026 to 2028, and we confirm the current pathway with you.
Common questions
How early can a baby be assessed?
The assessment is standardised for children from about two weeks to three and a half years. Very early assessment is usually for babies with a known medical risk, such as prematurity or a complication after birth. For most families the question arises later, when a milestone is late.
Will my baby be upset by the assessment?
The session is play, with you in the room, at your child's pace. We plan it for the time of day your child is usually most settled, and pause for feeds, changes and comfort. If a session is not representative, we arrange another.
Does the assessment diagnose autism or a developmental disorder?
No. It measures development across five areas and describes any delay. Where the pattern raises a diagnostic question, we recommend the next step, which may be review by your paediatrician or a neurodevelopmental assessment at a suitable age.
Can the report be used for an NDIS early childhood application?
Yes. The report describes each developmental area with standardised scores and describes functional impact and support needs, which is what the early childhood pathway assesses.
My two-year-old isn't talking yet. Should I be worried?
Late talking is common and often resolves, but it is worth acting on rather than waiting. The first steps are a hearing test and a conversation with your GP or child health nurse; a speech pathologist can assess language directly. A developmental assessment is the right step when there are concerns beyond speech, such as play, understanding, movement or social interaction.
Request an assessment
Tell us your child's age, what you have noticed and who else is involved in their care. We reply within two working days with whether an assessment is the right step now, the likely fee and the next available play session.
Prefer to start by email? Write to enquiry at brainandmind.com.au. Referring doctor or child health nurse? Make a referral. Phone enquiries are welcome during business hours on 0452 452 262.
Sources
Pearson Clinical Assessment (Australia & New Zealand), Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Fourth Edition, Australian and New Zealand adaptation (Bayley-4 A&NZ); National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Early childhood approach; MBS Online, Complex neurodevelopmental disorder and eligible disability items.