In Victoria, general practitioners are being prepared to diagnose and manage ADHD in both adults and children, a reform the state government says will ease wait times and reduce costs. The plan would enable ADHD diagnosis by GPs in appropriate cases and aims to shift routine care away from crowded specialist clinics toward primary care.
Health authorities emphasise that the move is not about replacing specialist oversight, but about expanding the tools available to frontline clinicians. With targeted training, GPs would be able to assess symptoms, initiate treatment where appropriate, and coordinate care with mental health teams when extra support is needed.
Advocates say the reform could streamline access for families and adults who previously faced months-long waits for an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychologist. By bringing evidence-based assessment and management into primary care, the system could reduce pressure on specialist services while maintaining safety and consistency of care.
Official briefings describe a phased rollout, underpinned by clinical guidelines, a shared care plan framework, and ongoing clinical supervision. The exact timetable and funding details remain to be confirmed, and officials stress that safeguards will be required to ensure appropriate patient selection and ongoing monitoring.
What we know
- The initiative is targeted at Victoria and forms part of a broader push to shift certain ADHD services into primary care.
- GPs will be empowered to diagnose and treat ADHD in both adults and children under a new framework.
- Training modules and decision-support tools are expected to accompany the rollout to support primary care clinicians.
- The aim is to relieve demand on specialist psychiatry and reduce wait times for patients seeking an ADHD assessment.
- Care pathways will include a shared care plan and referrals to specialists when complexity or safety concerns arise.
What we don’t know
- Exact start dates, funding arrangements, and how quickly clinics will implement the new model.
- The degree of supervision and ongoing oversight for GPs diagnosing ADHD in routine practice.
- Which patient groups will be prioritised first and how records and privacy will be managed across settings.
- How the program will interact with existing school-based supports and child health programs.
- Measures of success and how patient outcomes will be tracked over time.
As Victoria tests this approach, health officials emphasise that patient safety, informed consent, and continuity of care remain central. If successful, the model could reshape how ADHD is diagnosed and treated in primary care—not just in Victoria but as a potential reference for similar reforms elsewhere in Australia. Critics, meanwhile, warn that proper funding, training quality, and access to specialist backup will determine whether the plan delivers on its promises.
