Medicolegal assessments and reports in the criminal setting
Susan is primarily based in Brisbane and the South-East Queensland areas. Other Queensland and interstate assessments available upon enquiry.
The waitlist for assessments currently 2-4 weeks.
Neuropsychological assessments must be face-to-face, with rare exceptions (please enquire).
Non-custodial assessments can be conducted at lawyers' offices, Susan's rooms in Brisbane, or alternative office arrangements (please enquire).
Report turnarounds are typically 2-3 weeks. Shorter report turnarounds are also available by mutual agreement.
Susan's reports are succinct, free from unnecessary jargon, logically structured, and include numbered paragraphs for ease of reference.
The provision of relevant documentation prior to the assessment is preferred. Relevant documentation may include: discharge summaries; reports and letters from psychologists, psychiatrists, and other medical specialists; neuroimaging results; ambulance records; etc.
Types of criminal medicolegal assessments
Adolescent to older adult populations.
Diagnosis of neuropsychological disorders (e.g., brain injury, dementia, developmental disorders) for non-medicolegal purposes.
Expert in alcohol and substance related brain injury.
Addressing Verdins principles (Victoria) and other sentencing considerations.
Fitness to plead and mental impairment due to suspected cognitive impairment.
Doli incapax assessments.
Capacity assessments (e.g., for guardianship and financial administration orders, testamentary capacity).
Intellectual disability, learning disorder assessments (e.g., dyslexia), personality assessments (e.g., borderline personality disorder).
Mental health assessments.
Interpreter assessments.
Fees
Susan accepts referrals for Legal Aid funded neuropsychological assessments. Please contact her at susan@susancarey.com.au for a copy of her 2025 schedule of fees.
Assessments are conducted at the Australian Psychological Society's recommended rate of $330 (GST inclusive). It typically takes 8-12 hours to complete an in-person assessment and to prepare a medicolegal report for a standard case. Please speak with Susan regarding your matter for more information regarding the approximate fee for the assessment.
Interpreter assessments, more complicated cases, excessive documentation, and the complexity or number of referral questions may attract a higher fee.
Reports for privately funded assessments will be released following receipt of the full fee payment (Legal Aid funded assessments excepted).
A fail to attend fee and/or short cancellation fee (less than 24 hours' notice) of $440 (GST inclusive) may apply .