The Australian Government has just released their Response to the Senate Inquiry into assessment and support services for people with ADHD.
The Response comes more than 13 months after the Community Affairs References Committee published its report ‘Assessment and support services for people with ADHD’.
The Committee’s report detailed 15 recommendations, ranging from the funding of a National Framework for ADHD, improving access to healthcare and support, and improving specialised health services in institutionalised settings.
Of the 15 recommendations:
- 1 has been supported
- 9 have been supported in principle
- 5 have been noted.
ADHD Australia supports the 15 recommendations as representative of a ‘community consensus’ on the key issues, opportunities, and requirements of the ADHD community.
“Overall, this response signals a policy of maintaining the status quo rather than holistic reform, as outlined in the recommendations, with the one notable exception of support for uniform prescribing rules across jurisdictions in Australia (Recommendation 3)”, says ADHD Australia Chair, Matt Tice.
“This is a direction already in progress and could be diluted by the position stated in the response to Recommendation 13 despite broad clinical alignment on the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association prescribing standards issued in 2022. This position will likely delay the implementation of these uniform prescribing standards and could create additional access barriers for people with ADHD”.
Most recommendations that were ‘Supported in Principle’ do not signal additional support for people with ADHD other than to the extent that individuals with ADHD will receive some collateral benefit from pre-existing programs and funding. The 15 recommendations strongly illustrated that the ADHD community is chronically underfunded, needs additional access to diagnosis and treatment, and requires additional research. This response does little to address these key issues other than provide additional justification for existing programs and funding.
One significant opportunity for holistic reform, ‘Funding and co-designing a National Framework for ADHD’ (Recommendation 1), received only qualified support in the response. ADHD Australia strongly supports the need for a National Framework for ADHD that is holistic and multidisciplinary in nature. The response indicates a narrower interpretation of the National Framework to be primarily clinical and diagnostic only. This interpretation and the response are inadequate.
ADHD Australia calls on the Federal Government, including the Department of Health and Aged Care, to establish a mechanism for ongoing dialogue with the ADHD community on these recommendations.
ADHD Australia reiterates its support for the Inquiry process in general and thanks the Federal Government and the ADHD community for the thousands of hours that led to the 15 recommendations and the eventual Federal Government response. In order that this effort is not wasted, ADHD Australia calls upon the Federal Government to provide a blueprint for action on these recommendations where consensus can be reached.
ADHD Australia is currently undertaking a more thorough review of the Federal Government’s response. As the leading lived experience ADHD organisation in Australia, ADHD Australia remains dedicated to advocating for the needs, rights, and well-being of our community, seeking to ensure that effective support and services are accessible to all individuals living with ADHD and their families.
We call upon all stakeholders to prioritise the recommendations from the Senate Inquiry and work collaboratively to drive the necessary changes that will create a more inclusive and supportive environment for people with ADHD.
Contact: media@adhdaustralia.org.au
