Graduate Certificate in Autism Diagnosis

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

• a Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA and successfully completed prior tertiary study in speech pathology, occupational therapy or medicine, as recognised by
  UWA.

OR

• an accredited bachelor's honours degree in psychology, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by the Psychology
  Board of Australia or the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council;

AND

• registration with the professional body of your specialisation, as recognised by UWA;

AND

• evidence of having at least six months of full-time equivalent relevant experience working directly with children,
  adolescents or adults, as recognised by UWA;

AND

• a satisfactory written personal statement, as recognised by UWA;

AND

• a curriculum vitae outlining relevant documented occupational and practical experience, as recognised by UWA;

AND

• two satisfactory references, as recognised by UWA.

Applicants may be invited to attend an interview to determine suitability for admission..

Application requirements (what to include in your application)

References

You need to ask two referees to complete an online reference to support your application. You should consider asking academic referees who can comment on your capacity to cope with the study demands of the GCAD, as well as professional referees who can attest to your clinical knowledge, skills and experience. If it has been a long time since you completed your university training, then we accept two referee reports from current or former work supervisors or colleagues who you work closely with and who know you and your work well.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

You need to submit a curriculum vitae summarising relevant occupational and practical experience and training (maximum of 4 pages).

Personal Statement

You need to submit a satisfactory personal statement, as recognised by UWA, briefly outlining (a) why you would like to study the GCAD; (b) your autism-related professional, personal or lived-in experience; and (c) how you intend to use the GCAD knowledge and skills in your professional practice. (maximum one A4 page).

Supporting documents

Additional documentation such as English language competency, academic transcripts, working with children checks, and identification may also be required depending on your circumstances.

Application process and timelines

• Applications for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Autism Diagnosis in 2025 open on 1 August 2024 and close on 31 October 2024.
• You may be invited for an interview, which will be held from mid to late November 2024.

Course offers

• Course offers are planned to commence in early December 2024.

Important course and unit information

• The Graduate Certificate in Autism Diagnosis comprises 24 credit points, including the units PSYC5520, PSYC5521, PYSC5522 and PSYC5523.

• Successful applicants who gain a place in the Graduate Certificate in Autism Diagnosis will be required to complete the seven micro-credential courses that comprise the first two coursework units (PSYC5520 and PSYC5521).
• The units PSYC5520 and PSYC5521 are not available to be studied in the course and will be credited upon successful completion of the micro-credential courses PSYCM510, PSYCM511, PSYCM512, PSYCM513, PSYCM514, PSYCM515, and PSYCM516.
• All students undertaking this course must complete these micro-credential courses in order to be awarded credit for PSYC5520 and PSYC5521 and complete the course.
• Please note: Micro-credential courses require upfront payment of tuition and are not available via a FEE-HELP loan.

Course commencement information

• The seven autism diagnosis micro-credential courses will be available for enrolment in late 2024 and early 2025, allowing sufficient time for their completion prior to commencement of PSYC5522 and PSYC5523.
• PSYC5522 and PSYC5523 commence from August 2025.The figure below summarises the GCAD units and modes of delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many students do you accept into the GCAD per year?

Usually about 15-25 each year/in each cohort, sometimes a few more and sometimes a few less depending on how many applicants meet the admission requirements, and teacher-student ratio in the applied/practical units PSYC5522 and PSYC5523.

Do I have to have previous clinical experience assessing or supporting autistic individuals to be offered a place in the GCAD?

Previous or current clinical experience assessing and/or supporting autistic children, young people or adults is not essential (relevant clinical experience with children, adolescents or adults is required), but it is always helpful and is therefore desirable. Please ensure to outline any autism relevant experience in your CV and/or personal statement. We have accepted applicants who have limited experience working with autistic individuals but who are currently in roles where they can apply their GCAD training.

Do I need to live in or travel to Perth to study the GCAD?

The course is now delivered fully online, therefore we accept students from all over Australia. We also accept applicants from New Zealand. You do not need to live or travel to Perth to complete the course.

We are currently not able to accept international applicants outside of Australia and New Zealand for our 2025 GCAD intake. However, professionals outside of Australia and New Zealand who are interested in further developing their knowledge in autism diagnosis can enrol and complete one or more of the autism diagnosis microcredential courses available for enrolment via UWA Plus.

How long will it take me to complete the GCAD?

The GCAD is completed part-time. This means you can study the GCAD part-time while working. You can choose to complete the GCAD part-time in one or in two calendar years.
The Tables below show the approximate structure and timeline for part-time study over one or two years.

What is the GCAD’s approach to understanding, diagnosing and supporting autistic people?

The GCAD is informed by Australian and other international guidelines for the assessment and diagnosis of autism. We adopt a lifespan approach and consider identification and diagnosis to be an important step towards understanding, accepting, and supporting autistic people. The program staff view autism as a difference and adopt neuroaffirming and respectful language and perspectives. The autism diagnosis microcredential courses and GCAD units draw from evidence from co-produced research with autistic people and the lived experiences of autistic people. We explore social issues and barriers relating to diagnosis. We also explore and reflect on autistic people’s experiences of the diagnostic process and the ways in which a respectful and collaborative diagnostic process can be implemented.

• Have you provided academic transcripts of any tertiary studies that you completed at a university other than UWA?
• Have you provided a Curriculum Vitae, including relevant professional and clinical experience and training (4 pages max)?
• Have you contacted two referees and ensured they have completed the online reference form?
• Have you submitted a personal statement briefly outlining (a) why you would like to study the GCAD; (b) your autism-related professional, personal or lived-in experience; and (c) how you intend to use the GCAD knowledge and skills in your professional practice (maximum one A4 page)?