General practitioners in Victoria will be able to diagnose and treat ADHD for the first time under changes to be introduced by the Allan government this year.
Premier Jacinta Allan will announce the changes on Tuesday, initially starting with 150 GPs who will receive accredited training by September at a cost to taxpayers of $750,000.
In Victoria, diagnosis and management generally requires a specialist. For adults, a psychiatrist can diagnose ADHD and provide an initial prescription for stimulant medication, while children need to be diagnosed and prescribed medication by a paediatrician.
The state government estimates average comprehensive assessment can cost more than $2000 in out-of-pocket expenses and includes waiting times of between six and 12 months.
In a bid to reduce waiting times and make diagnosis more affordable, the new model will allow GPs to undertake training that expands the scope of their practice and permits them to diagnose, treat and prescribe ADHD medication.
“Undiagnosed or untreated ADHD can have a significant effect on a person’s life – whether it’s at school, work or in the home,” Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said.
“That’s why these changes are so important, giving more Victorians a chance to thrive.”
The changes come after Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Western Australia announced similar plans last year.
In May, NSW announced it would pay for GPs to undergo accredited training required for them to diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication for it.
In November, the Queensland government announced all fully qualified GPs would be able to diagnose ADHD in adults – the first and only state to open up the process without requiring further training. GPs in Queensland can already diagnose and treat children.
ADHD diagnoses have become more common in Australia in recent years, with more than 800,000 people diagnosed nationally. But according to the ADHD Foundation Australia, as many as 1 million people may be living with the disorder.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, which has advocated nationally for the diagnostic changes, estimates 163,000 children and 320,000 adults in Victoria may have ADHD. According to the Murdoch Institute, one in every 20 children has it.
People diagnosed in adulthood have long argued the current process is too complex and say that, with poor focus and difficulty finishing tasks being a common symptom, it acts as a barrier to those who need help.
However, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has previously warned that specialist involvement is crucial for ADHD care, arguing the complexity of the condition makes it a high-risk area for diagnosis.
President Dr Astha Tomar said any move to grant GPs expanded prescribing powers must be anchored by specialist training and oversight from expert psychiatrists.
“Once the treating psychiatrist has established a diagnosis and initiated treatment, particularly medication, a shared care model can often be implemented with GPs,” she said last year.
“This is to ensure people receive the right diagnosis, the right treatment, and the right support at all times.”
Tomar said there were significant risks with potential misdiagnosis of the condition. Some clinicians have raised alarms that ADHD is being overdiagnosed and overmedicated, while a smaller group of doctors has even questioned the validity of the condition itself.
Professor Jon Jureidini, a child psychiatrist and spokesman for the Critical Psychiatry Network Australasia, argues the rush to label patients may overlook the true root of their distress.
“As an independent neurodevelopmental disorder that can be treated by specific medications – it does not exist,” said Jureidini, who also heads the University of Adelaide’s Critical and Ethical Mental Health research group.
The Allan government’s changes will be introduced after a consultation process. Non-medical treatments, which will also be considered by GPs, can include behavioural therapy, psychology and education to manage treatment.
The government will also argue on Tuesday that the reforms will ease pressure on psychiatrists and paediatricians – specialist services with high demand.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data released in 2024 showed the number of adults using ADHD medications rose by 450 per cent in the decade between 2012-13 and 2022-23.
According to Associate Professor John Kramer, from the RACGP, prescription rates in Australia’s most advantaged areas were more than double the rate in the most disadvantaged areas.
The college has called for nationally consistent rules around ADHD diagnosis and prescribing.
“ADHD doesn’t change at the state or territory line, and the rules shouldn’t either,” president Dr Michael Wright has said.
The premier said: “Labor is making healthcare work better for busy families by making ADHD care easier and cheaper to access.
“No child or family should be left behind because the system is too complex, too hard or too expensive.”
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Daniella White is a state political reporter for The Age. Contact her at da.white@nine.com.auConnect via X or email.
