- First group of GPs begin innovative ADHD training program
- Once trained, GPs will be able to diagnose and treat ADHD in patients aged 10 and older
- Regional and remote GPs amongst the first to be trained
- $1.3 million Cook Government investment to strengthen ADHD care and support the wellbeing of Western Australians
The Cook Government's major reforms to improve access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and treatment have reached another key milestone, with the first group of Western Australian general practitioners (GPs) set to begin training.
The training will help boost the wellbeing of Western Australians across the state by improving their access to care.
This week, 17 GPs from across the State will begin the new ADHD GP training program an initiative that will enable trained GPs to diagnose and prescribe treatment for ADHD in patients aged 10 years and older.
The training initiative will roll-out in three sequential cohorts, with a total of 65 GPs expected to complete the program by August 2026.
Developed by the WA branch of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in collaboration with the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA), and with input from the WA Department of Health, the program is tailored to meet the needs of local communities.
More than 400 GPs expressed interest in the program, underscoring the strong demand for enhanced ADHD care across WA.
To support equitable access to services, the first group includes GPs working in rural, remote and outer metropolitan communities, in areas of low socio-economic advantage and from the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
Future cohorts will aim to include GPs from across all regions of Western Australia to ensure statewide representation and improved access to ADHD care for all communities.
Once trained, participating GPs will be able to diagnose and treat ADHD and be authorised to initiate stimulant medications for patients aged 10 and older, helping reduce wait-times and expand access to care -particularly in regional and outer metropolitan areas.
To provide further support to patients and families managing ADHD, the Cook Government has complemented the GP training program with a commitment to fund ADHD WA to expand community-based services for patients and families, including counselling, peer support and non-medication options.
In addition, from today families across Western Australia also have access to a suite of new online resources for children and young people, designed to support common queries around attention, regulation, and concentration challenges, including ADHD.
These resources offer clinical insights and lived experiences, helping families better understand and manage ADHD, with many available in 10 different languages.
To access these new resources click this link .
As stated by Health and Mental Minister Meredith Hammat:
"This week marks a major milestone in transforming how ADHD care is delivered in Western Australia.
"Through this training program, GPs will be equipped with the skills and support needed to diagnose and manage ADHD safely and effectively - closer to where people live.
"We know there's an increasing demand to access ADHD care, and this program is about expanding the pool of qualified professionals who can provide that care to bring wait times down and improve access.
"Together with enhanced support for ADHD WA, and our additional online resources for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, we're making sure families across the State have better access to the care, information and services they need."
