Victorian GPs to start diagnosing and treating ADHD
03 Feb 2026
The Victorian Government will fund accredited training for an initial 150 GPs, with the program expected to start by September. Once trained, GPs will be able to continue prescriptions for patients with an ADHD diagnosis. The government has allocated $750,000 to support the program.
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz said the move is “keenly welcomed” by GPs and will improve access and equity of care for ADHD across the state. She highlighted the importance of early intervention for children, helping them succeed at school and home, and said a diagnosis and treatment for adults can be life-changing.
Dr Muñoz added that regional and rural areas will be a focus for the training, with more details for GPs expected in the coming weeks. The RACGP and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists are preparing for the launch of the training program.
Up to 163,000 children and 320,000 adults in Victoria may be living with ADHD, with around one in 20 Australians affected. Patients currently face wait times of up to 12 months and assessments costing more than $2000.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the changes aim to make care more affordable and easier to access for families.“No child or family should miss out just because the system is complicated, difficult to navigate, or too costly,” she said.
ADHD reforms are underway across Australia. Queensland GPs have been diagnosing and treating ADHD since 2017, New South Wales GPs prescribed more than 6000 ADHD scripts within two months of reforms last year, and South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the ACT are rolling out training programs for GPs this year and early 2026.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: newsGP
