Who can diagnose ARFID in Australia?

Nicole Cipri
Written by Nicole Cipri Accredited Practising Dietitian
Updated 3 November 2026

ARFID diagnosis in Australia

The short answer

A GP, paediatrician, psychiatrist or registered psychologist can diagnose ARFID. A dietitian can't, even one who works only with eating disorders. We recognise it, screen for it and treat it, and we'll tell you who to see for the diagnosis. You don't need one to start care.

GP Paediatrician Psychiatrist Psychologist Dietitian
  • Clinically reviewed by Nicole Cipri, Accredited Practising DietitianLast reviewed 3 November 2026
  • No diagnosis or referral needed to startBook a dietitian or psychologist privately, by video, anywhere in Australia.
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Maybe a teacher used the word. Maybe a GP mentioned it on the way out the door. Or you described your own eating to a search bar late one night, and the same four letters kept coming back. Then comes the practical question: who actually decides whether this is ARFID?

It matters for two reasons. It decides who you book first, and it decides what Medicare will help pay for. It doesn't decide whether you can get help now. For what treatment involves, see our ARFID dietitian page.

Who can make a formal diagnosis

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID, has been in the DSM-5 since 2013. The World Health Organization added it to the ICD-11 in 2018, as code 6B83 [1] [2]. Diagnosing a mental health condition is a regulated activity. In Australia it sits with medical practitioners and registered psychologists [3].

  • Can diagnose

    GP

    Rules out medical causes, orders blood tests, prepares Medicare plans and refers on.

    Book directly

  • Can diagnose

    Paediatrician

    Leads the medical side for children and teenagers, often alongside an autism or ADHD assessment.

    GP referral

  • Can diagnose

    Psychiatrist

    Assesses when anxiety, low mood or another condition sits alongside the eating.

    GP referral

  • Can diagnose

    Psychologist

    Structured assessment and diagnosis, then therapy such as CBT-AR.

    Book directly or with a GP plan

  • Can't diagnose

    Dietitian

    Assesses eating, nutrition and growth, screens, treats the eating side and refers for diagnosis.

    Book directly or with a GP plan

At a glance: who does what

Clinician Can diagnose ARFID? Referral needed? Medicare help By video?
GP Yes No Standard GP appointment items Often
Paediatrician Yes GP referral for a rebate Specialist items, with a referral Sometimes
Psychiatrist Yes GP referral for a rebate Specialist items, with a referral Sometimes
Psychologist Yes Not to book privately Mental Health Treatment Plan, up to 10 a year Yes
Dietitian No Not to book privately Chronic Condition Management Plan, up to 5 a year (shared) Yes

Who should you see first?

The usual first steps, by age. All of these can run alongside each other.

A child under 12

  1. GP, for a medical check and referral
  2. Often a paediatrician
  3. A psychologist and dietitian who see young children

With us: psychology with Eliza or Felicity. Dietetics with Samantha, Sarah or Gabriela.

A teenager

  1. GP, for a medical check and plans
  2. A paediatrician if growth is a worry
  3. Psychology and dietetics together

With us: under 16s see Tess (12 and over), Eliza or Felicity. Under 18s see Samantha, Sarah or Gabriela.

An adult

  1. GP, or book a psychologist directly
  2. Blood tests through the GP
  3. A dietitian at the same time if you like

With us: any of our psychologists or dietitians, by video, Australia wide.

Can a GP diagnose ARFID?

Yes. For most people the GP is the right first appointment, even if you expect to end up with a psychologist. A GP can do things a dietitian or psychologist can't. They can check bloods for iron, B12 and other gaps. They can look for a physical cause of pain or reflux. And they can decide whether anything needs medical attention first. ARFID is only diagnosed once a medical condition has been ruled out as the main explanation.

Some GPs will make the diagnosis themselves. Others prefer to refer to a paediatrician, psychiatrist or psychologist for a fuller assessment. An Australian review written for GPs called ARFID often undetected and overlooked [1]. So it's reasonable to name it yourself and ask.

Can a dietitian diagnose ARFID?

No. The Australian and New Zealand practice standards for eating disorder dietitians are clear: a medical or psychiatric diagnosis is outside a dietitian's scope [4]. That includes our dietitians.

What we do sits right next to it, and often comes first. In an initial session we look at which foods are reliably eaten and in what form. The one brand of chicken nuggets. The pasta with nothing on it. The apple, but only cut into wedges. We ask what happens when something different lands on the plate. We look at which nutrients are likely to be missing, and what eating is costing in energy, school, work or time with friends.

We use screening questions too. If the picture looks like ARFID, we'll say so and explain why. With your consent, we'll write to your GP. That way the diagnosis and any blood tests can happen while dietetic care gets started.

What a psychologist's assessment involves

A psychologist assessing for ARFID asks how eating has developed over time. They ask what happens in the body and mind around feared or disliked foods, and how daily life has narrowed around food. Many use a structured interview built for feeding and eating disorders, such as the PARDI [5].

The aim is to separate ARFID from things that can look similar. In anorexia nervosa, restriction is driven by weight or shape. An anxiety disorder, or emetophobia (a fear of vomiting), can exist without a feeding problem. Some people have strong sensory preferences that never reach a diagnostic threshold. The overlap with autism is real too: in a 2025 review, about one in six people with ARFID were autistic [6]. A good assessment works with that, rather than around it.

Psychologists can assess and diagnose by telehealth. Ours see adults and young people, and work alongside our dietitians. For under 16s, book psychology with Tess (12 and over), Eliza or Felicity. If a formal diagnosis is what you're after, mention it when you book. More on our ARFID psychologist page.

Online ARFID tests are screeners, not a diagnosis

Most online ARFID tests are versions of two clinical questionnaires, the NIAS and the PARDI-AR-Q. They help decide whether to look further. They can't give an answer on their own.

Screening questionnaireNIAS, PARDI-AR-Q, online tests

Who uses it
Anyone, often online or in a waiting room
How long
A few minutes
What it tells you
Whether ARFID is worth assessing

Diagnostic assessmentGP, paediatrician, psychiatrist, psychologist

Who does it
A clinician who can diagnose
How long
One or more appointments
What it tells you
Whether it's ARFID, something else, or both

A 2025 study compared the two questionnaires in adults [7]. Of the adults who screened positive, only about half or fewer had ARFID when fully assessed. A high score means "worth assessing", and nothing more.

Can adults be diagnosed with ARFID?

Yes. There's no upper age limit. Some adults have eaten a short list of foods their whole lives and were told they were fussy. Others stopped eating certain textures after a choking or vomiting episode in their twenties or thirties. In the adult research, fear of choking, vomiting or stomach pain is the most commonly described pattern [8]. Adults are assessed against the same criteria. The questions just move to work lunches, travel, dating and family dinners.

Illustrative example, not a real person

Sam is 34. For as long as they can remember, Sam has eaten the same cereal, the same toasted cheese sandwich and one brand of frozen dumplings. Work lunches get skipped with an excuse about a meeting. A recent blood test showed low iron, and the GP asked about diet for the first time. Sam has never had a word for any of it. A sensible next step would be a GP review for medical causes. Then a referral for psychological assessment, and to a dietitian, at the same time.

The usual path in Australia

  1. 1A pattern gets noticedThe food list shrinks, new foods cause real distress, or plans start bending around eating.
  2. 2GP appointmentBlood tests, medical causes ruled out, Medicare plans and referrals discussed.
  3. 3Side by side
    DiagnosisGP, paediatrician, psychiatrist or psychologist
    Care startsDietitian and psychologist working together

A diagnosis isn't needed to book privately, so care can start while the assessment is still under way.

Is ARFID covered by Medicare?

Partly, but not through the plan most people have heard of. ARFID isn't eligible for the Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan [9]. That plan covers anorexia nervosa. It also covers bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and OSFED when set criteria are met [10]. Two other GP plans aren't limited to that list.

Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan

Not available for ARFID

40 + 20

psychology + dietetic sessions

For anorexia nervosa, and bulimia, binge eating disorder and OSFED when criteria are met.

Mental Health Treatment Plan

Can apply to ARFID

Up to 10

psychology sessions a calendar year

Under Better Access. Must come from your usual GP or MyMedicare practice [11].

GP Chronic Condition Management Plan

Can apply to ARFID

Up to 5

allied health sessions a calendar year

Shared across everyone you see, dietitians included [12].

Rebated allied health sessions can be held by video or phone [13]. NDIS funding for an eating disorder on its own is often declined. People with a co-occurring disability, such as autism, are more likely to have a plan that can cover support [14]. Current fees and rebates are on our fees and rebates page.

General information, not individual advice. Medicare rules change, and only your GP can confirm which plan you're eligible for.

What to take to your GP

A standard GP appointment is short, and notes make it count. Screenshot this card, fill it in on your phone, and bring it along.

GP appointment checklist: ARFIDScreenshot it, fill it in, bring it along

  • The foods that are reliably eaten, including the brands, textures or temperatures that matter
  • What happens when a new or different food is offered
  • What eating gets in the way of: school, work, sport, travel, social plans
  • Any change in energy, growth or weight, described in words
  • When it started, and anything that seemed to set it off
  • Whether autism, ADHD or anxiety are already part of the picture

Questions to ask

Could this be ARFID? Will you assess for it, or refer me to someone who can?

Can we check my bloods?

Am I eligible for a Mental Health Treatment Plan or a Chronic Condition Management Plan?

Bite Into Freedom · biteintofreedom.com.auGeneral information, not medical advice

ARFID diagnosis: common questions

Who can diagnose ARFID in Australia?

A GP, paediatrician, psychiatrist or registered psychologist can make a formal diagnosis of ARFID. A dietitian who works with eating disorders is often the first to recognise it and assesses how it's affecting nutrition, but diagnosis sits outside a dietitian's scope. For most people the GP is the first step.

Can a dietitian diagnose ARFID?

No. Australian practice standards for eating disorder dietitians say a medical or psychiatric diagnosis is outside a dietitian's scope. A dietitian can recognise ARFID, screen for it, assess its effect on nutrition and growth, treat the eating side, and refer you for the formal diagnosis.

Can a GP diagnose ARFID?

Yes. A GP can make the diagnosis, order blood tests, rule out medical causes and prepare the Medicare plans that help pay for treatment. Some GPs refer on to a paediatrician, psychiatrist or psychologist for a fuller assessment.

Can a psychologist diagnose ARFID?

Yes. Diagnosis is within a registered psychologist's scope in Australia. A psychologist will usually take a detailed history and may use a structured interview built for feeding and eating disorders. A GP still checks physical health alongside.

Can a paediatrician diagnose ARFID in children?

Yes. For children and teenagers a paediatrician often leads the medical assessment, particularly when growth or nutrition is a worry, or when autism or ADHD is also being assessed. You'll usually need a GP referral to see one.

Can a speech pathologist or occupational therapist diagnose ARFID?

No. Speech pathologists and occupational therapists can assess feeding, swallowing and sensory skills, and may be part of the treatment team, but they don't make the ARFID diagnosis. That comes from a GP, paediatrician, psychiatrist or psychologist.

Is there a test for ARFID?

There are screening questionnaires, such as the NIAS and the PARDI-AR-Q, but no single test gives a diagnosis. A positive screen means it's worth a proper assessment. In one 2025 study, about half or fewer of the adults who screened positive had ARFID when fully assessed.

Can ARFID be diagnosed by telehealth?

Yes. A psychologist can assess and diagnose ARFID by video, and many GPs offer telehealth. Blood tests and any physical examination still happen in person.

Can adults be diagnosed with ARFID?

Yes. There's no upper age limit. Some adults have eaten a short list of foods since childhood. Others develop ARFID later, sometimes after a choking or vomiting episode. Adults are assessed against the same criteria.

Is ARFID the same as autism?

No. ARFID is a separate eating disorder diagnosis, but the two often occur together. In a 2025 review, about one in six people with ARFID were autistic. An assessment should take sensory needs into account either way.

Is ARFID covered by Medicare?

Partly. ARFID isn't eligible for the Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan. A Mental Health Treatment Plan (up to 10 psychology sessions a calendar year) and a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (up to 5 allied health sessions a year) aren't limited to that plan's list. Your GP decides which applies.

Do I need a diagnosis to see a dietitian for ARFID?

No. You can book a dietitian privately without a diagnosis or referral. A GP plan and referral are only needed to claim a Medicare rebate, and the referral must be dated before your first session.

Not sure where to start? Start with the checklist and a GP appointment. If you'd like a dietitian or psychologist involved at the same time, our admin team can explain how that works before you book anything.

References and sources (14)
  1. Medicine Today. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: an undetected and overlooked eating disorder. October 2023. medicinetoday.com.au
  2. World Health Organization. ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, 6B83 Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder. icd.who.int
  3. Australian Psychological Society. Making a diagnosis. InPsych, Spring 2023. psychology.org.au
  4. Heruc G, et al. ANZAED practice and training standards for dietitians providing eating disorder treatment. Journal of Eating Disorders, 2020. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. NovoPsych. PARDI-AR-Q ARFID questionnaire. novopsych.com
  6. Sader M, et al. Prevalence of autism in ARFID and ARFID in autism: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  7. Ortiz S, et al. Comparing the NIAS and PARDI-AR-Q as screening tools for ARFID. 2025. discovery.ucl.ac.uk
  8. Nicholls-Clow R, et al. ARFID in adults: a systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 2024. eprints.whiterose.ac.uk
  9. Butterfly Foundation. Understanding Medicare eating disorder plans: FAQs. butterfly.org.au
  10. National Eating Disorders Collaboration. Medicare items for eating disorders. nedc.com.au
  11. Eastern Melbourne PHN. Better Access MBS item reform and MyMedicare. emphn.org.au
  12. Australian Government. Changes to the chronic disease management framework: allied health providers. MBS Online, 2025. mbsonline.gov.au
  13. Services Australia. Telehealth billing codes for MBS items. servicesaustralia.gov.au
  14. National Eating Disorders Collaboration. Eating disorders and the NDIS. 2023. nedc.com.au
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