WA’s ADHD training program sees surge in GP participation
07 Oct 2025
More than 400 doctors in Western Australia have applied for just 65 state-funded training places that will allow them to diagnose and treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Dr Sean Stevens, Chair of the RACGP WA ADHD Working Group, said the level of interest had exceeded all expectations.
“We’re blown away by the response,” he told newsGP. “It’s an involved undertaking, and it shows how willing GPs are to do six months of training to better help their patients. There’s such a need.”
The $1.3 million program, announced in June, was developed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). It includes online training modules and mentorship from psychiatrists and paediatricians.
Once trained, participating GPs will be able to assess patients aged 10 and over for ADHD and prescribe stimulant medications.
Training is being delivered in stages — first to a group of 15 GPs, followed by two larger cohorts of 25. The first group will begin before the end of this month, with priority given to doctors working in rural, remote, or socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, as well as those serving culturally and linguistically diverse populations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Dr Stevens said the high demand reflects the current challenges faced by patients seeking ADHD care in Western Australia.
“There’s no public adult psychiatric service for ADHD, so people have to go privately,” he said.
“Wait times to see a specialist can range from two-and-a-half to four years, and private care can cost several thousand dollars. Even then, many psychiatrists and paediatricians have closed their books.”
He added that the surge in demand for ADHD assessments is not unique to WA, noting similar trends across Australia and internationally.
It is estimated that one in 20 Australians has ADHD.
Reforms spreading nationwide
WA joins several other states introducing reforms to expand GPs’ roles in ADHD diagnosis and treatment. Queensland led the way in 2017, allowing GPs to prescribe stimulant medication for children. Since then, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT have implemented or announced similar initiatives.
South Australia plans to begin GP-led ADHD diagnosis and treatment by 2026, while New South Wales already has more than 60 GPs authorised to continue prescribing psychostimulants for existing ADHD patients.
Victoria and the Northern Territory remain the only jurisdictions yet to announce reforms.
RACGP representatives, including Associate Professor John Kramer, have called for national consistency in ADHD care so patients and GPs can expect the same standards and prescribing rules across all states and territories.
Dr Stevens said RACGP WA would welcome additional government funding to expand the training program further.
“There’s clearly demand and a real appetite among GPs to take this on,” he said. “If there’s an opportunity for more training in future, we’d be all ears.”
Source: newsGP, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
