- Since September 2025, trained GPs can already continue ADHD prescriptions – no specialist visit needed.
- From March 2026, a select group of endorsed GPs will commence their training to formally diagnose ADHD and start medication.
- Not every GP qualifies – look for one with ADHD-specific training or a special interest.
- Adult ADHD is still significantly under-diagnosed, especially in women.
- The best move right now: book with an ADHD-experienced GP and start the conversation.
If you’ve been waiting months – or years – to see an ADHD GP in NSW, you’ve probably heard about new reforms that let ADHD GPs diagnose and treat ADHD. The headlines have been confusing. The details matter enormously. Here’s a clear, honest picture of what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what it means for you practically.
The Short Version
NSW is rolling out reforms in two stages. Stage 1 (since September 2025) lets trained ADHD GPs continue prescriptions for patients already diagnosed and stable on medication. Stage 2 will allow a smaller group of specially trained GPs to actually diagnose ADHD and start medication for new patients.
This is genuinely significant. But it doesn’t mean every GP can diagnose ADHD tomorrow, and understanding the difference will save you a lot of wasted time and appointments.
Stage 1: Repeat Prescriptions Through Your ADHD GP
Since 1 September 2025, ADHD GPs who have completed accredited training and applied for authorisation can issue repeat prescriptions for stimulant medications – Ritalin, Vyvanse, Concerta, and others – without you needing to go back to a psychiatrist or paediatrician every time.
Stage 2: GPs Who Can Now Diagnose ADHD
This is the reform generating the most excitement – and the most confusion. From March 2026, a select group of GPs will commence additional specialised training will be able to conduct a formal ADHD assessment, make a diagnosis, and initiate stimulant medication where appropriate.
What This Means If You’re Waiting for a Diagnosis
The waitlist to see a psychiatrist or paediatrician for ADHD in NSW can stretch to 12–18 months, sometimes longer. Private assessments typically run into the hundreds to thousands of dollars. These reforms are designed to take pressure off that system – but it will take time.
Talk to an ADHD GP now. Even before Stage 2 is fully operational, a good ADHD GP with experience in this area can help you understand whether your symptoms align with ADHD, rule out other causes like anxiety, sleep disorders or thyroid issues, and refer you more effectively. A thorough referral also speeds up the specialist process considerably.
Don’t wait for the “perfect” pathway. The best assessment is one you can actually access. Ask your GP directly whether they have a special interest in ADHD – or look specifically for an ADHD GP in NSW.
What a Good ADHD GP Assessment Actually Involves
A proper ADHD GP assessment isn’t just a questionnaire. It involves:
- A detailed clinical interview covering your history across multiple settings – school, work, relationships, daily functioning
- Establishing when symptoms started (ADHD is neurodevelopmental – it begins in childhood even if unrecognised)
- Ruling out overlapping conditions: anxiety, depression, autism, sleep disorders
- Working out what’s primary and what’s secondary
This is why ADHD assessment requires specific training. It’s not difficult – but it is nuanced, and getting it right matters both to avoid missed diagnoses and to avoid over-diagnosing.
A Note on Adult ADHD
Most public conversation focuses on children, but adult ADHD is where the greatest unmet need exists. Around 6% of adults have ADHD – the majority remain undiagnosed. Many spent years being treated for anxiety or depression that was, in whole or in part, driven by unrecognised ADHD.
If you’ve struggled with focus, organisation, time management, emotional regulation, or a persistent sense of underperforming relative to your ability – and have never been properly evaluated – now is a very good time to raise it.
The Bottom Line
The NSW ADHD reforms are a genuine step forward for access and affordability. The system is still stretched, and not every GP will be doing assessments from March. But the direction is clear: ADHD care is moving into primary care, and the barriers are lower than they’ve ever been.
If you’re in NSW and wondering whether you might have ADHD, the best thing you can do right now is book with an ADHD GP who has a genuine interest in this area and start the conversation. Don’t wait for the perfect moment – it won’t come. Start now.
Or book online – Mon–Fri 8am–6pm · Sat 8am–1pm