Wednesday 15th November 2023: ADHD Australia commends the report released by the Senate Inquiry into the barriers to consistent, timely and best practice assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and support services for people with ADHD, as it prepares to co-design the National Framework for ADHD.
ADHD Australia is the nation’s leading not-for-profit ADHD advocacy organisation, established in 2014 and was instrumental in supporting the national community: people with ADHD, parents, carers, educators, researchers, and allied health professionals to amplify their stories and insights to deliver urgent reforms within the Senate Inquiry into ADHD.
ADHD Australia commends this historic report to examine ADHD at a national level and applauds the unanimous 15 recommendations as clear guiding principles to better effect change for the ADHD community. Bringing these recommendations to life will require significant resources and funding at the national level and sustained government support.
As the country awaits the Government’s response, ADHD Australia has already begun developing a national framework to support the implementation of the recommendations, including work to shape the required investment from public and private sources. This builds on work already in progress at ADHD Australia to develop ADHD workplace programs aimed at employers to address workplace barriers for employees with ADHD and continued research into improving education and training resources in the classroom for primary and secondary students in partnership with Macquarie University.
ADHD Australia’s CEO, Melissa Webster recognises the historical turning point for national change in making access, diagnosis, and ongoing support cheaper, more consistent, timely and more effective for the more than 1 million ADHDers across the country.
“The Australian ADHD community told us directly about the impact of the barriers under inquiry from the Senate. Cost, access, stigma, education, training, medication, and the flow-on effects impacting individuals, families, workplaces, and the broader community were raised consistently by over 650 people who shared their lived experiences,” Mrs. Webster said.
“The report validates our strategic direction, and we are already at work building the foundations of the national framework for ADHD in the workplace, at school, in clinical settings, and at home with parents and carers in tandem with our many community partners, volunteers, and our Board and executive leadership team. We sincerely hope that the recommendations are given appropriate weight in the coming months and that the Australian Government, led by Senator Jordon Steele-John’s tireless advocacy for the ADHD community, steps up to bring these recommendations to life.”
ADHD Australia’s Board Chair, Matthew Tice said that they are well placed to help address gaps in the report including, enabling the ADHD community to participate and lead further research.
“The ADHD community is vital to the successful implementation of future frameworks and reforms, and that is at the heart of the ADHD Australia ethos, we will continue to give the community a voice” Mr. Tice said.
ADHD Australia is looking forward to representing the Australian community in the co-design phase of this further national reform.
