In a significant reform, the New South Wales (NSW) government has announced that general practitioners (GPs) will be able to diagnose and prescribe medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in both children and adults. This change positions NSW as a leader in Australia regarding ADHD management, as traditionally, individuals seeking treatment have had to rely on specialist paediatricians or psychiatrists, leading to high costs and lengthy wait times.
Currently, individuals must often wait months or even years for an appointment with a specialist, which can be particularly challenging for families in regional areas. Suzanne Grobke, a mother from the mid-north coast, shared her experience of traveling eight hours round trip every three months to secure ADHD medication for her 12-year-old daughter.
The NSW government plans to train up to 1,000 GPs to provide ongoing prescriptions for patients already on stable doses of ADHD medication. Additionally, up to 100 GPs will receive training to diagnose ADHD and initiate treatment. Premier Chris Minns emphasized that this initiative aims to reduce the waiting period for a diagnosis, which can significantly affect individuals’ daily lives and development.
Dr. Rebekah Hoffman, chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in NSW, praised the reforms, stating they would greatly improve access to timely and affordable ADHD care across the state. She noted that families in rural areas often travel over seven hours to see a specialist and spend upwards of $5,000 on assessments and diagnoses.
Hoffman remarked on the importance of early intervention, highlighting that timely access to therapy and medication can greatly benefit children’s performance in school and their overall wellbeing.
The NSW government will issue calls for GPs to express interest in receiving additional training funded by NSW Health in the upcoming months. The reform will be implemented in stages, with a focus on securing prescriptions for children first, as delays in treatment can have profound effects on their development. Ongoing prescriptions for children are anticipated to start in early 2026.
In Queensland, GPs have been able to diagnose and prescribe ADHD medication for children since 2017, while Western Australia announced in February its intention to allow GPs to diagnose and prescribe stimulant medications for patients over ten years old. Dr. Ramya Raman, chair of RACGP in WA, mentioned that GPs in her state will soon begin a structured educational program featuring online modules and workshops led by specialists.
A 2023 Senate inquiry into ADHD in Australia recommended the establishment of consistent national guidelines for prescribing ADHD medication, a proposal that received support from the federal government, though formal national reforms are yet to be enacted.
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