NSW Aims to Disrupt the Pattern of Diagnosing and Treating ADHD

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General practitioners in NSW will soon be able to diagnose and treat people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) under reforms announced by the state government.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and ADHD advocates have backed the reforms, unveiled on Monday, making NSW the third state to move on implementing changes to improve treatment access.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect both children and adults. Over one million, or an estimated one in 20, Australians live with ADHD.

A recent Senate inquiry found factors such as where people live, cost, stigma, gender and cultural and linguistic background, along with different prescribing regulations across states and territories, was impacting access to assessment and support.

Currently, most people seeking a diagnosis, management and ongoing prescription for ADHD must see a specialist — a psychiatrist for adults and a paediatrician for children.

This is often extremely expensive and many patients wait months or years for a diagnosis, or can’t access treatment at all, the NSW government said.

‘Hoping to break the cycle’

Under the reforms, up to 1,000 GPs will be able to provide ongoing ADHD prescriptions for children and adults who are on stable doses of medication.

A smaller number of GPs will be able to diagnose and initiate medication where appropriate.

Under both scenarios, GPs will need to undertake accredited training and will receive support, the government said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government is “hoping to break the cycle of people having to wait years for, what can be, a life-altering diagnosis”.

Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson said the reforms are the “much-needed relief” families have been hoping for.

“This is about fairness — saving families hundreds of dollars and giving them quicker access to the help they need, without the long, expensive wait for a specialist,” she said.

“Too many families are stuck waiting, paying, and struggling to access basic ADHD support — especially in the regions. That’s not just frustrating, it’s fundamentally unfair.”

For children and families managing ADHD, she said the difference between getting help now and waiting years “can be life-changing”.

NSW follows Queensland, Western Australia

Under Queensland legislation, GPs can prescribe certain medications for children under the age of 18 to treat ADHD without approval.

Ahead of the WA state election in March, the government reportedly proposed reforms allowing specialist GPs to diagnose and treat patients, along with additional training in ADHD diagnosis and management.

Last December, the federal government adopted one of the Senate inquiry report’s recommendations, to expedite the development of uniform prescribing rules to ensure consistency across state and territory jurisdictions.

This was one of 15 recommendations made by the committee. The government gave “in principle” support to nine others.

‘Life-changing impacts’

RACGP NSW & ACT chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman said she has heard about families in rural areas travelling more than seven hours to see a paediatrician, and families in Sydney spending more than $5,000 on assessments and diagnosis.

“This announcement will have life-changing impacts when it comes to accessing timely and affordable ADHD care for families across the state,” she said.

She said early intervention is vital, and enabling GPs with specific skills to start prescriptions for ADHD medications “will stop many children from languishing on outpatient waiting lists”.

“GPs in many parts of Australia, and around the world, are already diagnosing ADHD and prescribing medications. Our colleagues in Queensland, for example, have been safely prescribing ADHD medications since 2017.”

The Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) welcomed NSW’s reforms, which it says will improve access to care, cut waiting times and bring down costs.

However, it stressed that education and accuracy must remain central to the rollout.

“The expansion of GP roles in ADHD care is a positive and necessary step — but it’s essential that we keep accurate diagnosis at the heart of this process. Getting it right matters for every child, every adult, and every family involved,” said AADPA president, professor David Coghill.

The NSW government will seek expressions of interest from GPs to undertake education and training, funded by NSW Health, in the coming months.

The reforms will be introduced in stages, with GPs expected to be able to provide ongoing prescriptions for children early next year.