ADHD care in the ACT

We are making changes to help Canberrans have more choice and support in their treatment and ongoing care for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

We are using a staged approach to the changes we are making. These stages are described below.

Stage 1 – General practitioners (GPs) prescribing ADHD medicines

GPs who complete specific training can:

• continue prescribing ADHD medicines
• make some changes to medicine doses without you needing to go back to the specialist for review.

This may be available to you if you:

• are aged 6 years or older
• have an existing ADHD diagnosis, and
• are stable on your ADHD medicine.

You and your GP will decide how often your care may need review by a relevant specialist (psychiatrist, paediatrician or neurologist).

Talk to your GP to see if this is an option for you or someone you care for, and whether they can offer this to you.

GPs who do not complete the training will continue prescribing in the current shared care arrangements with support from a relevant specialist.

Your GP will continue to prescribe ADHD medicine with support from a relevant specialist if you:

• are not yet stable on your ADHD medicines
• require a change of medicine type
• are on a higher dose.

Changes also mean your doctors will discuss with you how often your care may need review by a relevant specialist.

All doctors who prescribe ADHD medicines under these changes will be required to review Canberra Script prior to prescribing your ADHD medicines. Canberra Script is the ACT's real-time prescription monitoring system and supports clinical decision making for doctors to reduce the incidence of harms from combinations of medicines.

Stage 2 – General practitioners (GPs) diagnosing ADHD and starting ADHD medicines

GPs who complete further additional training will be able to diagnose ADHD and start ADHD medicines for patients with ADHD in the ACT later this year.

You may not be suitable for a diagnosis by a GP if you have complex clinical conditions. GPs will continue to work to their own scope of practice and will refer on to other doctors or allied health professionals as required.

More information on stage 2 will be available later in 2026.

Summary of changes

• All GPs who prescribe ADHD medicines will continue to make sure they are safe and effective.
• All GPs who prescribe ADHD medicines under these changes will be required to use the real time prescription monitoring system Canberra Script.
• GPs will continue to work with other specialists (e.g. Psychiatrists, Paediatricians and Neurologists) and allied health professionals (e.g. Psychologists, Speech Pathologists) when necessary to make sure patients receive the care they need.
• You can ask your GP if they have completed the additional training to continue to prescribe your ADHD medicines without the need for you to see a psychiatrist, paediatrician or neurologist.
• For more information about ADHD, talk to your GP or other health care provider.