Less waiting, more affordable care for ADHD in NSW
Reforms in NSW introduced today will reduce wait times and deliver more affordable care for people with ADHD.
Getting help for ADHD can sometimes feel like running a marathon with no finish line. Families often start at their local GP, only to find themselves stuck on long waitlists for specialists. In the meantime, they’re left wondering: What do we do now?
The good news is that today, NSW Health is officially launching the first stage of its ADHD Care in General Practice project. This initiative will give GPs more scope to support people with ADHD, reducing delays and taking some of the pressure off specialist services.
Two Stages of Change
Stage One: GP continuation prescribers (launching today)
From today, trained GPs will be able to:
- provide psychostimulant prescriptions for patients who already have a diagnosis and are stable on medication
- make minor dose adjustments
- switch between drugs of the same type (for example, from an immediate-release to a slow-release medication).
This is a huge step forward. Instead of having to return to a psychiatrist or paediatrician for every script, families and adults can now work with their local GP to manage ongoing treatment. That means more convenience, lower costs, and less waiting.
Stage Two: GP endorsed prescribers (early 2026)
The next stage, scheduled for early 2026, will expand GP prescribing further. Endorsed GPs will be able to provide the first prescription for ADHD medications for newly diagnosed patients.
This change will be a game-changer — making it much easier for people to begin treatment after diagnosis, without long waits for a specialist appointment.
A Welcome Step Towards National Change
ADHD Australia has long called for more frontline support in primary care. This project shows what’s possible when health services listen to the community and act on evidence.
Imagine if every GP across the country had access to these resources. Families could get help faster, stigma in the health system would shrink, and people with ADHD could spend less time waiting — and more time thriving.
✅ Learn more about the ADHD Care in General Practice project here:
