Dialog Box

CatholicCare Victoria

Cognitive & Educational Assessments

Evaluating children's verbal and non-verbal skills to understand learning needs

Our Cognitive & Educational Assessments service provides an assessment (conducted at school or via telehealth), a comprehensive written report, and a verbal feedback session for teachers and parents.

Cognitive & Educational Assessments can be used to understand the learning needs of children and to apply for funding support, and can be accessed by schools and parents.

Access Support Now 


Female counsellor talking about emotions with a young boy.

Understand the educational needs of your kids

Schools and parents can use cognitive/educational assessments to understand the learning and behavioural needs of their children.

These assessments can assist with planning for educational and behavioural needs, and can be used to apply for funding for literacy, numeracy and special learning support for students.

Assessments available include:

  • Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (WISC-V and WPPSI-IV)
  • Adaptive assessment using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (Vineland-3) when appropriate

Other investigative tools such as the Child Behaviour Checklist can be offered if required to screen for behavioural concerns.

CatholicCare Victoria's assessments are conducted by trained and qualified Educational Psychologists with decades of experience working in schools. 

Our assessments are not only academically rigorous, but also consider the emotional and social contexts of each student's life within schools and educational settings. A comprehensive report of the assessment outcomes will be provided as part of this service. 


Telehealth IQ Assessments 

CatholicCare Victoria now offers Telehealth IQ Assessments for students, to help provide personalised learning recommendations and an understanding of cognitive strengths and weaknesses.

IQ Assessments can help with identifying both giftedness or special needs, and are a great tool to help schools and parents/guardians advocate for their children’s needs in an educational setting.

CatholicCare Victoria's Telehealth IQ Assessments are designed for:

  • Rural or remote families
  • Busy or working families 
  • Students with physical limitations or chronic illnesses
  • Students with anxiety or special needs 
  • Families seeking convenience and comfort 
  • Families needing rapid assessments and interventions 


How do I access this service?

Parents and schools within Greater Melbourne, Geelong, Gippsland, and some other regional areas of Victoria can request a cognitive assessment for a child by contacting our East Melbourne office.


Fees

A fee is charged for this service.
Assessment cost is dependent on whether schools have a School Counselling contract with CatholicCare Victoria. Please contact us for a quote.


FAQs
Who benefits from cognitive/ educational / IQ assessments? 
  • Students with development needs: Unlock a deeper understanding of their unique abilities, and ensure they receive the right support to shine and succeed academically. 
  • Advanced students: Discover the full spectrum of their talents, and ensure they’re both challenged and supported in ways that propel them to excel even further. 
  • Parents: Cognitive assessments offer parents peace of mind knowing their child's unique learning needs are identified and addressed proactively. 
  • Teachers: Cognitive assessments can reduce teacher and counsellor workloads by providing detailed insights into students’ learning needs, allowing more effective and targeted teaching strategies. 
  • Schools: Improve educational outcomes, inclusivity, and overall student wellbeing at your school. Cognitive assessments can also lead to improved school performance metrics.
What steps are involved in an assessment? 
  1. Initial Identification and Referral: a teacher or school counsellor identifies a student who may benefit from an IQ Assessment, or a parent/guardian may raise a concern/need for their child. The student’s academic history, along with any relevant behavioural or social information, is reviewed to support the referral. 
  2. Pre-Assessment Consultation: The Student Services or Wellbeing, Special Education, or Counselling/Psychology team schedules a consultation with the student’s parents/guardians to discuss the rationale behind the proposed IQ assessment, what it entails, and how it could benefit the student. 
  3. Consent and Documentation: Written consent is obtained from parents/guardians for the IQ assessment, and the Student Services or Wellbeing, Special Education, or Counselling/Psychology team completes a referral form. 
  4. Scheduling the Assessment: The referral form and consent are submitted to the CatholicCare Victoria Telehealth IQ assessment team. We then schedule the assessment at a convenient time for you. 
  5. Technical Setup (for Telehealth IQ Assessments): Prior to the assessment, a technical check is conducted to ensure a stable internet connection, adequate webcam setup, and appropriate software installation. 
  6. Conducting the Assessment: On the day of the assessment, the Student Services or Wellbeing, Special Education, or Counselling/Psychology team may provide an introductory session to ease the student into the process. A professionally trained CCV IQ Assessor conducts the assessment. 
  7. Post-Assessment: The CCV IQ Assessor reviews and scores the assessment, preparing a detailed report of the findings. A follow-up meeting is scheduled with the Student Services or Wellbeing, Special Education, or Counselling/Psychology team, student, and parents/guardians to discuss the results, recommendations, and any further action or referrals needed. 
  8. Continued Support and Intervention Planning: Based on the assessment results, the wellbeing leader may coordinate with teachers and other professionals to develop an individualised support or educational plan. Ongoing support and monitoring are arranged to track the student’s progress and adjust plans as needed.
Are children made to feel safe and secure during the process? 

Yes, our team uses a range of strategies to ensure students feel safe and supported. Assessments are conducted in a place familiar to your child, on site at school or at home via telehealth, to ensure they feel at ease.

What outcomes can I expect after an IQ Assessment? 
  • An understanding of cognitive strengths and weaknesses 
  • Insights for educational planning 
  • Identification of giftedness or special needs 
  • Personalised learning recommendations 
  • A baseline for future assessments 
  • Emotional and social development insights 
  • Guidance on parenting and home learning environments 
  • Early detection of possible learning difficulties 
  • Clarification and peace of mind 
  • A tool to advocate for children’s needs 
  • Confidence and self-awareness in children 

IQ Assessments are just one snapshot of a child’s abilities and do not define their potential or worth. Results will be interpreted by a CCV qualified professional who can provide a comprehensive view, taking into account the child’s overall development, environment, and background.


What is the difference between a cognitive, educational, and IQ assessment? 

IQ (Intelligence Quotient) Assessments:
IQ Assessments gauge intellectual capabilities and potential for learning and problem-solving. They focus on general cognitive abilities like reasoning, problem-solving, and understanding complex ideas.

Cognitive Assessments:
Cognitive Assessments diagnose cognitive deficits, developmental delays, and inform treatment/educational strategies. They focus on specific cognitive domains including memory, attention, executive functions, language, and visuospatial skills.

Educational Assessments:
Educational Assessments assess the academic strengths and weaknesses of a student, guiding support and intervention strategies. They’re focused on individual academic skills such as reading comprehension, decoding, mathematical problem-solving, written expression, and oral language abilities.

Not sure which assessment is right for your student/child?
Don’t worry, our team will work with you to identify the most suitable assessment based on the student’s academic history and relevant behavioural or social information.


More information

Download the IQ Assessments flyer 

We work with Monash University. 

Monash University logo,

Client Rights and ResponsibilitiesChild Safety at CatholicCare 


Contact us

Cognitive & Educational Assessments are managed from our East Melbourne office.
To make a booking or enquire about this service, please contact us:

(03) 9287 5555

East Melbourne

Phone.



Other services

You might also be interested in some of the following services offered at CatholicCare Victoria:

Donate