Health ministers agree on the need to standardise ADHD regulations
12 Sep 2025
GPs have proposed a ‘commonsense pathway’ to provide nationally consistent and accessible ADHD care through primary care.
Australia’s health ministers have agreed on the need to create nationally consistent rules for diagnosing and treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The announcement was made at a meeting in Perth on Friday, following calls from GPs and ADHD specialists for reforms to improve access and care.
The move aims to allow GPs to play a larger role in ADHD management, helping patients and families avoid delays in accessing specialist care and easing pressure on the healthcare system.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), and the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) jointly urged health ministers to allow GPs to fully use their training to diagnose and treat ADHD. They recommended that nationally consistent prescribing rules be set by 30 June 2026, enabling GPs to initiate, adjust, and continue ADHD medications for adults and children.
Health ministers were also asked to align criteria such as age limits and review periods, and to provide funding for GP training, mentorship, and support tools—similar to programs already in place in New South Wales and Western Australia.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright described the proposal as a “commonsense pathway” to ensure GPs’ skills are fully recognised and patients receive consistent, high-quality ADHD care regardless of where they live.
Currently, access varies across states:
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NSW GPs can continue ADHD medications, with training to diagnose and prescribe available by the end of 2025.
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South Australia and WA will allow GPs to diagnose and prescribe for both adults and children in 2026 after completing training.
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Queensland GPs can diagnose and prescribe for children aged 4–18, with expansion to adults under consideration.
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The ACT is developing a pilot program to expand GP ADHD care starting next year.
This inconsistency is particularly challenging for rural patients. ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin said access to ADHD care should not depend on location, and harmonised national rules are needed to ensure equitable care for rural, remote, and First Nations communities.
AADPA President Professor David Coghill emphasised that giving GPs the right tools, training, and support will improve access, reduce inequality and costs, and allow safe, evidence-based ADHD care for both children and adults.
Health ministers noted they had already commissioned work to develop consistent rules and will provide a progress report at the next meeting.
Source: RACGP; ACRRM; Australasian ADHD Professionals Association; Australian Government Department of Health
