Australian Resources
ADHD Australia has collated a number of helpful links to Australian resources which may be of interest to you and are listed below.
Building Brighter Pathways: ADHD Australia Education Survey Preliminary Report (2021)
A spotlight on our ADHD Education Preliminary Report
Our national survey of 1,000+ primary, secondary and tertiary educators reveals that while there's an estimated 1 child with ADHD in every classroom, institutions aren't preparing our next generation of educators to accommodate ADHD student learning styles.
ADHD Australia National Survey Report: the voice of the ADHD community (2020)
Highlighting the Gaps and Priorities of ADHD within Australia
The ‘ADHD Australia National Survey Report: the voice of the ADHD community’ survey and report (The Survey) was launched on 24 October 2020. Its aim is to identify and clarify the key issues faced by people living with ADHD at all levels, geographically and demographically, and their carers, to provide ADHD Australia with the foundation on which to build a strategic work plan and guide engagement.
The Survey was designed to establish community need and priority in the areas of overall challenges and gaps for the ADHD community, carers, school, finding the right medications and therapies, managing ADHD, adults with ADHD. It also explored the financial burden of ADHD and the impact of COVID-19 for families with a child with ADHD.
Among many priorities, three key areas of concern stood out in The Survey results.
These are:
- The cost of life of living with ADHD.
- The need for schools to truly accommodate, empathise with and understand children with ADHD, to help them meet the unique challenges they face.
- The need for awareness and understanding of the challenges people at all ages with ADHD face in day-to-day aspects of work, social and family life.
It is our hope that the information brought to light through The Survey will be of continual benefit to the ADHD community, by highlighting the need for greater support, research, acceptance and understanding from the general public, parents and teachers, the healthcare professional community, and the Australian Government.
Parent and carer experiences of ADHD in Australian schools: Critical Gaps report
In August 2018, PAAA undertook an extensive national quantitative study focusing on the performance of Australian schools in meeting the needs of ADHD students. This study collected brand new, previously unavailable data from over one thousand Australian families who have one or more children living with ADHD.
The findings have now been published in a report which highlights critical gaps in the capacity of schools to include and support students with ADHD, with 1 in 3 students with ADHD changing schools as a result of ADHD-related issues.
This report confirms that children with ADHD are at risk in the education system and are experiencing inequitable access to education, reflecting the lack of recognition of ADHD within the Australian education system as a serious impairment to learning. This is at odds with obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and the Disability Standards for Education (DSE), whose purpose is to ensure students with disability such as ADHD, can access education on the same basis as their peers.
This resource can be requested from the Parents for ADHD Advocacy's website.
Australian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA)
The social and economic costs of ADHD in Australia (2019) report
Produced by Deloitte Access Economics for AADPA, The report found that ADHD imposes a significant economic and wellbeing cost onto the Australian population.
Key findings of their report include:
- ADHD Effects All Ages
- ADHD affects approximately 281,200 children and adolescents (0-19 years old) and 533,300 adults in Australia (20+ years old).
- There is Significant Financial Impact to those with ADHD.
- The total cost of ADHD in Australia is estimated to be $20.42 billion, which includes financial costs of $12.83 billion and wellbeing losses of $7.59 billion
Download the report by CLICKING HERE and go to the AADPA website to download the full report.
ADDults with ADHD
ADDults with ADHD is an Australian ADHD support group based in NSW which is dedicated to improving the lives of adults dealing with ADHD in themselves, their family, their friends and their clients. They have written a number of guides and have numerous books they have sourced which can be of help and can be purchased from the ADDults with ADHD book store on their website.
They also have a number of factsheets on ADHD and Adults which can be downloaded free from their website at:
The author, Lou Brown, is an passionate and dedicated ADHD Coach, Consultant, Educator & Advocate from Perth in WA, who is committed to helping kids & adults with ADHD truly thrive. She has written a number of helpful guides which can be found and downloaded from her website. The one we are profiling here is the one titled, 'ADHD in Primary School'.
This is a comprehensive guide which will assist teachers to better understand and support students with ADHD in the classroom.
There are two licences - $10 for Individual/Personal use or $25 for Schools/Organisations.
This resource can be purchased from the 'Thriving with ADHD' website.
Her website, "Thriving with ADHD" has a number of freely downloadable content on a variety of ADHD topics such as 'Understanding ADHD', 'ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment', 'Parental Resources' and 'Adult Resources'.
This book is a go-to guide for parents and teachers, providing up-to-date knowledge in a simple, easy-to-read format. It is filled with information your doctor would like to provide but is often unable to do so in the limited appointment times available. This book also gives a framework and practical tips for how you can manage and advocate for your child in different settings, with or without medication. It summarises evidence to date for medication and alternative therapies, examines commonly held beliefs about ADHD and debunks myths.
This book has been written by a developmental paediatrician (Desiree Silva) and an ADHD coach (Michele Toner), both of whom are passionate about improving the lives of children with ADHD and their families. They both have over 20 years of experience in the field and recognise the need for this practical guide.
Allied health workers, general practitioners and others who have contact with these wonderful children will also benefit from the information in this guide.
The book can be purchased as a paperback, eBook or as an audiobook.
This resource can be purchased from the University of Western Australia Publishing website.
FREE ONLINE ADHD COURSE – produced by OLT Australia in partnership with Parents for ADHD Advocacy Australia (PAAA).
The PAAA in partnership with OnLine Training (Ltd), are thrilled to announce the launch of a free online short course on ADHD, available for Australian parents, teachers & the general public.
The free short course on ADHD is available to everyone and was borne out of a desire from PAAA to increase awareness & knowledge of ADHD in the general community, to help reduce stigma and to provide valuable support to parents and carers of children with ADHD.
The course provides an overview of ADHD presentations, prevalence, identification, comorbidities, strengths and how to support individuals with ADHD at home and at school. Importantly, the course also represents the lived ADHD experience, with appearances from two amazing children with ADHD. A range of parents, teachers and doctors also contribute authentic video perspectives on a range of topics.
Neurodiversity Media's Resource Library is a one-stop shop for news, views, resources and information in different formats about neurodiversity in the workplace, including ADHD.
By becoming a free member of the Resource Library, you get access to a unique filtering system that allows you to filter resources according to employment status, career stage and job position.
You can sign up for free membership of the Resource Library by clicking here to get full access to the Resource Library, a member profile and ability to connect with like-minded professionals in the workplace.
Dr Alison Poulton is a Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics Sydney Medical School Nepean and a paediatrician specialising in treating children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She has written a number of helpful factsheets which are free to download on topics including, 'What is ADHD?', 'Behaviour strategies for ADHD' and Medications used in ADHD'.
"Money & Mental Health - Practical Financial Skills to Manage Money" is a a website resource which provides some helpful tips on how money pressures affect mental health, and it explores practical skills to better manage finances and debt. There are also additional links to other financial information resources within this website page.
This website resource is provided by Finty at the following website - https://finty.com/resources/managing-money-pressures/
Paula Burgess is the founder of Beyond the Maze which is an organisation that provides information resources, conducts workshops and seminars in Brisbane, as well as online, throughout the year.
Her goal is to offer a supportive environment for other parents with ADHD children who are finding challenges with their children but also to encourage you to find the good side of ADHD.
Paula has a blog post and has written a number of factsheets and other information which are free to download from her website which you may find both interesting and helpful.
Child without an Off Switch is a beautiful and touching story of living with ADHD. At times gut-wrenching, at times hilarious, and always insightful. This book is a frank and unfiltered account that will reward you with a better understanding of ADHD as told by the child, the parent and the teacher.
It reveals how simple strategies and a focus on the positive side of living with ADHD, can shape a bright future.
Written by James Frey
You can find this eBook to purchase from the 'Child without an Off Switch' website.
Elise is and Australian author who has recently written a book, ADHD: Not Just Naughty, which is an uplifting guide for parents and caregivers of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as they navigate the rocky road of challenging behaviours. These include hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattention and defiance. Practical parenting strategies are intertwined with real-life experiences—the good, the bad and the ugly, with a dash of humour thrown in.
by E.H. Bourke
This book can be purchased online from suppliers such as Booktopia, Plunge Publishing and Amazon.
In this easy-to-read, informative guide, Grace da Camara of 'SafeZone Counselling' draws upon her many years of experience with children, teens and their families. Her work with those affected by ADHD, in Western Australia, has given her insight into the particular challenges faced by families both before and after diagnosis.
Grace introduces Tristan and his mentor, Xavier, who will guide you through the process of dealing with ADHD. Filled with information and tips, presented in an accessible fun format, Fridays With Tristan explores the good and the bad of an ADHD diagnosis. If you are lost and don’t know where to turn, this guide will help you on your way and give you some clear directions.
Written by Grace da Camara
This book can be purchase online from Grace's website at SafeZone Counselling.
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