GPs in NSW can apply for grants for extra funding to expand ADHD assessment capabilities.
New South Wales’ health minister has announced new funding to support GPs working in ADHD management, but exactly how the program will operate remains unclear.
NSW GPs who have completed endorsed prescriber training will be eligible to receive up to $600 per patient for diagnosing and managing ADHD as part of a $1.5 million initiative announced yesterday.
The announcement is the latest in a series of moves by the NSW government to expand access to ADHD care, with psychiatric assessments currently costing patients roughly $1500 out of pocket.
Endorsed GPs participating in the program can use the funding to support administration costs, pre-assessment tools, or input from other clinicians, including dietitians or psychologists.
GPs will be able to charge the MBS items for these consultations, with the $600 available as a separate grant.
RACGP NSW and ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman told The Medical Republic that, ideally, there would be flexibility for GPs to decide how the funding is spent.
“It goes to the GP’s practice. The practice will then distribute that funding as it deems fit, so it might go directly to the patient or the GP, or be used to undertake assessments with a psychologist,” she said.
The $600 per patient could cover one or multiple consultations, depending on whether a GP chooses one 90-minute assessment or three to four shorter consultations, Dr Hoffman said.
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GPs who complete endorsed prescriber training can apply for additional funding from the Ministry of Health, though allocation is not guaranteed and will prioritise practices in high-disadvantage and rural and remote areas, she said.
Successful applicants can then, at their own discretion, determine which of their patients are eligible for funding, she told TMR. GPs would be able to opt out at any time, she said.
Dr Hoffman said ADHD was a complex diagnosis, requiring time and mental capacity for training, and advised potential participants to assess their workload before committing.
“If it’s an area of interest of yours, then absolutely do it,” she said.
Dr Hoffman said the RACGP meets with the Ministry of Health fortnightly to co-design the reform, ensuring the proposals from NSW Health “actually reflect what an everyday GP would be able to do”.
“By investing in specialist GPs to provide ADHD assessments and diagnoses, particularly in Western Sydney, South Western Sydney and other high-need communities, more patients will be able to access high-quality, timely care closer to home,” Dr Hoffman said.
“Statistics on medication use show a patient’s postcode is still the biggest determining factor when it comes to accessing medication for ADHD. Patients in the most disadvantaged areas receive prescriptions for ADHD at around half the rate of patients in the most advantaged areas,” she said.
“We’re really hoping that it ends up a hub and spoke model, where patients can see a GP that’s completed tier two [endorsed prescriber] training, with a commute closer to home,” she said.
Dr Hoffman said the logistical details were still being finalised, with funding arrangements to be clarified over the next six months.
This investment is part of an $11.7 million state package, including $2.7 million for GPs to undertake endorsed prescriber training, $1.8 million for allied health assessments and diagnostics and $5.7 million for specialist paediatric and psychiatric services.
NSW Health will prioritise stage 2 training for GPs working in high-disadvantage and high-ADHD-diagnosis-rate areas, health minister Ryan Park said.
“We are hearing time and time again about the stress and anxiety many people and their families feel whilst waiting for an ADHD diagnosis. These free assessments will make a huge difference to reducing that for thousands of people in our state,” Mr Park said
Premier Chris Minns said free consultations meant families wouldn’t have to continue forgoing critical ADHD care.
“A waitlist of 12 to 18 months to see a psychiatrist can have a profound negative impact on a child’s educational attainment by the time they’ve finished Year 12,” he said.
Since September 2025, more than 15,000 NSW patients have accessed ADHD medications, with more than 70,000 scripts dispensed.
In April, 311 NSW GPs began training to diagnose and treat ADHD, joining 1100 GPs already able to prescribe repeat ADHD psychostimulant scripts, saving families an estimated $250-$670 per visit compared to specialists.
At the time, the NSW government reported that 10,000 fewer people required specialist care for routine needs, freeing up appointments for more complex cases.
The announcement follows Victoria’s similar move earlier this month, calling for GPs’ expressions of interest in training to diagnose, treat, and prescribe for ADHD in adults and children aged six and over.
Free ADHD assessments at select GP clinics are expected to be available from early 2027.
