What the Vineland-3 measures
The Vineland-3 measures adaptive behaviour. That means what a person usually does day to day, not what they could do on their best day or in a test room. It covers people from birth to older adulthood, so it is used for young children, teenagers and adults.
Results are grouped into domains, which add up to an overall Adaptive Behavior Composite:
- Communication: understanding others, expressing yourself, and reading and writing
- Daily living skills: personal care, household tasks, and community skills such as using money or getting around
- Socialisation: relationships, play and leisure, and coping skills
- Motor skills (optional): gross and fine motor skills, mainly used for younger children
- Maladaptive behaviour (optional): behaviours that can get in the way of everyday life
How the assessment works
There is no task for the person to perform. Instead, someone who knows them well answers questions about what they do in everyday life. There are three formats: an interview with a trained assessor, a rating form completed by a parent or carer, and a rating form completed by a teacher. Each comes in a comprehensive version or a shorter domain level version.
Because it relies on reports from people who know the person, it helps to choose informants who see them across different settings. A parent and a teacher may notice very different things, and both views can be useful.
Understanding the scores
Each domain gets a standard score, where 100 is the average for that age and most people fall between about 85 and 115. Lower scores mean the person is using fewer of the everyday skills expected for their age.
Scores on their own do not tell the full story. A good report explains in plain words what the scores mean for daily life, for example needing prompting to shower, or not yet being able to use public transport alone, and links that to the support needed.
How the NDIS uses the Vineland-3
When you apply to the NDIS, the NDIA needs evidence that your disability substantially reduces your functional capacity. On its list of preferred evidence, the NDIA names the Vineland as a functional assessment for autism, intellectual disability, developmental delay and Down syndrome, alongside tools such as WHODAS 2.0 for adults and PEDI-CAT for children.
This matters most when a diagnosis alone is not enough. Autism assessed as level 2 or 3 under the current DSM criteria, and intellectual disability assessed as moderate, severe or profound, are on the NDIA's List A, so they are likely to meet the disability requirements. For other presentations, a Vineland showing how much everyday function is affected can be strong evidence.
Vineland results are also useful later on, as evidence at a plan reassessment or when asking for supports such as daily living skills training or home and living supports.
Who can do it and what it costs
Psychologists most often give the Vineland-3, frequently as part of an autism or intellectual disability assessment. Other trained professionals, such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists and paediatricians, also use it. Ask whether the assessor has experience with your age group and type of disability.
For people already in the NDIS, it is usually paid from the improved daily living skills part of the Capacity Building budget. The 2026/27 NDIS price limit for psychology is $252.99 an hour in most of Australia, and other therapists are paid at their own price limits. Since 1 October 2026 that budget is reduced by 10% when a plan is created, reassessed or renewed, so check what is left before booking. Before you are a participant, assessments are usually paid privately or through public services.
Tips for getting an accurate result
- Describe a typical week, including hard days, not only what the person can do with lots of help
- Mention the prompts, reminders and supervision you give without thinking about it
- Bring school reports, other therapy reports and NDIS goals to the appointment
- Ask for the report to explain scores in everyday language and to make clear recommendations
- Read the report before it is sent and ask for corrections if anything is wrong