Almost 300 general practitioners across the state have completed training to be able to diagnose and treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as part of the Minns Labor Government's reforms to make essential healthcare more accessible, potentially saving thousands for families.
GPs who have completed the NSW endorsed prescriber training program are able to assess and diagnose ADHD, and start prescribing medication. In addition to this, a further 300 GPs are expected to begin endorsed prescriber training next month.
GPs will continue to make specialist referrals, and escalate care, as required to ensure patients are receiving the treatment they need, when and where they need it.
To ensure patients receive comprehensive and high-quality care, GP endorsed prescribers will be supported by a network of specialist psychiatrists and paediatricians via the Virtual Psychiatry Hub and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network.
The second stage of the Minns Government's landmark reforms follows the highly successful first stage which has seen more than 1,675 GPs trained to continue ADHD medication, saving patients and their families a costly trip to see a psychiatrist or paediatrician.
Since our reforms began:
- Nearly 1,700 GPs have signed up as continuation prescribers
- More than 25,000 people have accessed ADHD medications more easily, filling more than 130,000 scripts
Previously, people seeking ADHD care had to navigate a costly and overloaded non-GP specialist system, experiencing long wait times and high fees which could delay treatment, particularly for children, which can impact development and academic progress.
These reforms to make ADHD care more accessible, convenient, and affordable were supported by an $11.7 million package in the 2026-27 NSW Budget, which includes:
- $2.7 million to support GPs to complete endorsed prescriber training
- $1.5 million to support up to 2,500 free GP ADHD assessments, potentially saving up patients to $1,500 a year in out-of-pocket costs
- $5.7 million to fund specialist paediatric and psychiatry services to provide clinical support for GPs; and
- $1.8 million to encourage ongoing uptake of the reforms and give GPs access to allied health assessments and support to aid in diagnosis.
Patients are encouraged to discuss a potential diagnosis with their GP. From next month the locations for GP endorsed prescribers will be available on the Healthdirect website.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"We are doing everything we can to make ADHD treatment and diagnosis cheaper, with more than 300 GPs across the state about to be able to assess, diagnose and medically treat the condition.
"This is a significant milestone which is adding capacity our system and making it easier for people, many of them young families, to access the care they need, no matter where they live.
"We know accessing ADHD diagnosis services in rural and regional communities is a challenge so we've prioritised the first 300 GPs to complete endorsed prescriber training in these locations."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:
"Getting an ADHD diagnosis shouldn't depend on how much money your family has or where you live.
"Families have been calling for action in this space for years and it's great to deliver better access to ADHD diagnosis services across the state.
"By giving more GPs the ability to diagnose and treat ADHD, we're making it easier for thousands of people to get help closer to home."
Quotes attributable to Royal Australian College of GPs NSW&ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman:
"ADHD is a common condition that benefits from the kinds of holistic care and lifestyle interventions GPs specialise in, alongside medication where appropriate.
"This is often-lifechanging care GPs are perfectly placed to provide for our patients.
"Three hundred GPs who can now make assessment and treatment for ADHD accessible and affordable is a fantastic milestone, and that another 300 will join them after training is great news for the future of accessible ADHD care in NSW."
