Landmark day in ADHD treatment

Queenslanders living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can now access treatment through any GP in the state, as landmark reforms come into effect.
 
With the changes going live on Monday, Queensland is the first state or territory to allow every GP to initiate, modify, and continue medication for adults – meeting a need for around 400,000 people in the state.
 
While the reform requires no additional training, hundreds of GPs across Queensland have enrolled and completed additional educational modules to work towards the management of ADHD since the change was announced at GP25 two weeks ago.
 
RACGP Queensland Chair Dr Cath Hester said this sends a clear signal that GPs will be working hard to provide the best quality care for their patients.
 
‘For complex cases, specialist GPs will continue to seek the invaluable support and assistance of other healthcare providers such as paediatricians, psychiatrists, and psychologists,’ she said.
 
The RACGP estimates the reform will save patients between $500–$1400 annually in out-of-pocket costs, amounting to a collective saving of up to $500 million per year.
 
Many and varied ADHD reforms are now in play throughout most of Australia, with South Australia and Western Australia most recently announcing the progression of their GP training programs.
 
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright reiterated the college’s call for national consistency around ADHD rules.
 
‘Australia’s health ministers endorsed the need to harmonise state rules around ADHD diagnosis and prescribing in September, and Australia’s GPs and ADHD professionals urged them to reach consistency by June 2026,’ he said.
 
‘Patients need access to care, and safe ADHD management and accurate assessment is within specialist GPs’ scope and training.
 
‘ADHD doesn’t change at the state or territory line, and the rules shouldn’t either.’
 
Chair of RACGP Specific Interest ADHD, ASD, and Neurodiversity, Associate Professor John Kramer, said GPs are ‘well equipped’ to address the inequities in ADHD care across Australia.
 
‘Patients in Australia’s 20% most socioeconomically advantaged regions are prescribed medications for ADHD at more than twice the rate of those in the 20% least advantaged regions,’ he said.
 
‘Access to care has improved, but the disparity rural and remote patients experience has widened, not narrowed. It’s deeply unfair.
 
‘Safe and evidence-based care delivered by specialist GPs and multidisciplinary teams is the solution.’
 
Associate Professor Kramer encourages any GPs interested in extending their scope of practice to ADHD diagnosis and management to access the RACGP’s online ADHD training modules.
 
‘If ADHD will be a new area for you as a GP, I strongly encourage you to start there, and also make use of the excellent guidelines for GPs and other practitioners,’ he said.
 
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ADHD attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Queensland scope of practice specialist GP