New South Wales trains more GPs to diagnose ADHD, with 300 more due to start in November

More family doctors in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, can now diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication for it. Another 300 GPs across the state are expected to start training this month, the Illawarra Mercury reports.

The paper says 35 GPs in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region have completed the training since the state government announced the second stage of its ADHD reforms in February. GPs who finish the training become “endorsed prescribers”, which means they can both diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication.

How the system worked before

Before the reforms, an ADHD diagnosis in NSW meant seeing a psychologist, psychiatrist or paediatrician, and only psychiatrists and paediatricians could prescribe medication. In February, the Mercury reported that Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson described specialist waits of three, six or 12 months, and costs that could run to hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

The reforms have come in two stages. The first, introduced in September 2025, trained GPs to write repeat prescriptions for people already taking ADHD medication. According to the Mercury, 1,675 doctors took up that training. The second stage goes further and lets trained GPs make the diagnosis themselves.

The NSW government says more than 25,000 people now find it easier to get medication because of the changes.

Support and safeguards

The Mercury says trained GPs are expected to refer people to specialists and escalate care when needed. They are supported by psychiatrists and paediatricians through the state’s Virtual Psychiatry Hub and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.

In February, the paper reported that the government would pay for the training and offer a payment package to GPs who complete it. Places were limited, and GPs working in the areas of greatest need were to be prioritised. Health Minister Ryan Park said the government was prioritising training for GPs in rural areas so families could get care closer to home.

Dr Rebekah Hoffman chairs the Royal Australian College of GPs for NSW and the ACT. She told the Mercury:

“ADHD is a common condition that benefits from the kinds of holistic care and lifestyle interventions GPs specialise in, alongside medication where appropriate.”

The NSW branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists welcomed the reforms for closing a gap in access to ADHD care. It also warned that careful implementation was vital.

Ms Jackson said getting a diagnosis “shouldn’t depend on how much money your family has or where you live”.

What it has meant for one person

The Mercury spoke to one ADHD adult who was diagnosed as a child. He said each psychiatrist visit for a repeat prescription had cost him $400 to $500, and the government’s Medicare scheme paid back only around 40 to 50 per cent. With his psychiatrist’s agreement, he now sees a GP instead, which he said was cheaper and more convenient.

He said he was a little wary of new diagnoses being made by GPs. But he supported GPs handling care for people whose medication was already settled.

In August, a Wollongong GP told the Mercury that patients had driven down from as far away as western Sydney to use the new service. She said the demand was a sign of how great the need was.

Why UK readers might watch this

The NSW model is one example of moving ADHD diagnosis from specialists to trained family doctors, backed by specialist support. For UK readers waiting for an assessment, it shows how one health system has tried to cut both cost and waiting time. The psychiatrists’ warning about careful roll-out is part of the picture too.

According to the Mercury, GPs who can diagnose ADHD are now listed on the Australian government’s healthdirect service finder. Individual practices are responsible for keeping their own entries up to date.

This piece summarises reporting by the Illawarra Mercury. Read the original articles for the full story.