Why ADHD reform is needed
Many people living with ADHD and their families face significant, systemic barriers to timely diagnosis and care and specialist general practitioners (GPs) are well-placed to improve access.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioner (RACGP) member feedback shows that GPs want to be able to do more for their patients living with ADHD.
ADHD management is within the scope of general practice:
- Specialist GPs are well-supported by appropriate prescribing guidelines.
- ADHD is part of the current curriculum for RACGP GP training and GPs can access ADHD modules in our training platform.
- GPs have been successfully supporting children with ADHD in Queensland since 2017. Queensland GPs have been able to diagnose and treat adults since 1 December 2025.
- GPs already manage a diverse range of chronic conditions throughout patients’ lives.
- GPs are trained to identify when a case may be complex and requires referral to an appropriate non-GP specialist.
Their role as providers of continuing, holistic care positions GPs to support patients with ADHD.
Not every GP will want to prescribe medicine for ADHD, but GPs with an interest and the appropriate skills and training can provide this care independently.
The RACGP’s position statement on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Initiation, modification and continuation of psychostimulants by specialist general practitioners (GPs) can be found here.
RACGP advocacy priorities for ADHD care
The RACGP has been calling for reform to ADHD care in all states and territories and for health ministers to implement a nationally consistent approach to GP diagnosis and management of ADHD.
In September 2025, through joint advocacy from RACGP, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA), Australia’s health ministers endorsed the need for national harmonisation of ADHD diagnosis and prescribing practices.
Through the newly established National Advisory Group on Harmonisation of Drugs and Poisons Legislation Reform the RACGP and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) have demonstrated a unified, collaborative approach, including joint presentations, executive-level consultations and ongoing written engagement. The RACGP will continue working with RANZCP, government and other key stakeholders to support nationally consistent legislation.
To enhance ADHD healthcare in Australia, RACGP is calling on the government to:
- Facilitate nationally consistent legislation through amendment and harmonisation of state and territory legislations to enable specialist GPs to initiate, modify and continue psychostimulant medications for adults and children with ADHD.
- the ongoing professional development, training and mentorship to ensure GPs have the tools to effectively diagnose and manage ADHD
- increased Medicare rebates for longer consultations and increased flexibility for case conferencing to facilitate shared care discussions as well as multidisciplinary approach to treatment
- more research into ADHD including screening tools, shared care models, effective non-pharmacological therapies, longitudinal studies, development of culturally appropriate assessment tools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those from culturally and linguistically diverse groups
Currently, the reforms vary by jurisdiction, including when they will come into effect and what GPs are required to do to participate. See State and Territory announcements below for more information.
RACGP members interested in supporting ongoing advocacy are encouraged to join the GP Advocate Network, or can contact healthreform@racgp.org.au .
RACGP advocacy has been successful in several states and territories, with many state and territory governments announcing reforms to enable GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Psychostimulant medications are Schedule 8 (controlled) medicines and each state and territory in Australia has their own laws and regulations surrounding the prescription of psychostimulants.
This is a rapidly changing landscape, with state and territory governments recently announcing reforms to these regulations.
NSW has commenced a staged rollout of reforms to expand GP involvement in ADHD diagnosis and management. Once fully implemented, GPs will have a choice between two tiers.
Tier 1: Continuation prescribers – since September 2025, trained GPs can continue psychostimulant prescriptions for people aged 6 years and older who have been previously diagnosed with ADHD (by a non-GP specialist) and are stable on their medication. GPs are also enabled to make minor dose adjustments, as required.
Tier 2: Endorsed prescribers – from March 2026, Fellows of the RACGP and ACRRM may undertake further accredited training and mentoring to enable GP-led assessment, diagnosis and initiation of treatment for ADHD as well as ongoing management.
Co-management or transfer of care arrangements have not changed, and GPs can continue to prescribe psychostimulants in this way.
For more information and to register your interest, see the NSW Government information for health professionals page.
We recommend interested GPs reach out to the NSW Ministry of Health for more information, via moh-adhdreforms@health.nsw.gov.au.
The ACT has commenced a staged rollout of reforms to expand GP involvement in ADHD diagnosis and management.
Stage 1: Continuation – Since February 2026, specifically trained GPs who notify the Chief Health Officer (CHO) can continue prescribing ADHD psychostimulant medicines without requiring a CHO approval for each patient and without ongoing non-GP specialist review to patients who are stable, aged 6 years and older and have an existing ADHD diagnosis from a relevant specialist.
Stage 2: GPs who have undertaken further training will be authorised to diagnose ADHD and initiate medication in non-complex patients over 6 years of age and who are not drug dependent.
More information on stage 2 will be available later in 2026.
Further information can be found at: ACT ADHD prescribing information
From March 2026, trained specialist GPs will be able to diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication from ages 8 and above.
We recommend interested GPs reach out to RACGP South Australia faculty for more information via sa.faculty@racgp.org.au.
The WA ADHD GP Training Program has been developed to improve access to timely, equitable diagnosis and treatment of ADHD across Western Australia.
The Program will upskill an initial 65 specialist GPs across the State by June 2026.
Interested GPs are encouraged to contact the RACGP WA team via wa@racgp.org.au.
From May 2026, Tasmanian GPs can undertake training to expand their scope of practice in ADHD care to assess, diagnose, and initiate the prescription of medication for children (six years and older) and adults with ADHD.
Following completion of the required training, GPs can apply to the Department of Health’s Pharmaceutical Services Branch for approval to initiate Schedule 8 medicines for patients they have assessed and diagnosed with ADHD.
The ADHD training module will soon be made available online to allow more Tasmanian GPs to complete their learning remotely.
Interested GPs can reach out to RACGP Tasmania faculty for more information via RACGPTasmania@racgp.org.au
GPs have been successfully supporting children with ADHD in Queensland since 2017.
Since 1 December 2025, all specialist GPs in Queensland have been able to initiate, modify, and continue psychostimulants for adults with ADHD.
We recommend interested GPs reach out to the RACGP Queensland faculty via qld@racgp.org.au.
In Victoria, 150 GPs will soon be able to undertake training to expand their scope of practice, so they can safely diagnose, treat and prescribe medication for ADHD in both adults and children 6 years and over.
We recommend interested GPs reach out to the RACGP Victoria faculty for more information via vic.faculty@racgp.org.au
Advocacy in the Northern Territory is ongoing and no formal announcement on reforms has been made yet.
Resources
Specialist GPs should seek individual advice from their medical indemnity insurer when making significant changes to the nature of their practice.