Tasmanian GPs are being trained to diagnose and treat ADHD as the State Government moves to widen access to care and reduce pressure on specialist services.
The first round of training began this week in Devonport during the Tasmanian Rural Health Conference, where close to 50 GPs registered to attend workshops focused on assessing, diagnosing and prescribing medication for children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Under the current system, Tasmanian GPs can continue prescriptions for patients already diagnosed by a paediatrician or psychiatrist, though they have not been authorised to carry out diagnoses or begin medication themselves.
Health Minister Bridget Archer said the changes were aimed at improving access to support as demand for ADHD services continues to rise across the state and nationally.
“We know demand for ADHD support has risen across Tasmania and throughout Australia and this important step will make it easier to be diagnosed and treated,” she said.
The government said GPs who complete the training will be able to apply for approval through the Department of Health’s Pharmaceutical Services Branch to prescribe Schedule 8 medications for patients they have assessed and diagnosed with ADHD.
An online version of the training will also be introduced following the conference, allowing more doctors in regional and remote areas to complete the program remotely.
The policy formed part of the Tasmanian Government’s commitments during the 2025 state election campaign, with the first GPs expected to begin practising under the expanded arrangements within weeks.
The government argues the changes will help cut wait times and lower costs for families seeking assessments and ongoing care. Access to ADHD diagnosis has become a growing issue across Australia, with long delays and high specialist fees regularly raised by patients and advocacy groups.
At the same time, some medical professionals have called for careful oversight as prescribing responsibilities broaden beyond specialist settings. Concerns raised nationally have included the need for consistent clinical standards, ongoing training and safeguards around stimulant medications.
The Tasmanian Government said it had worked with psychiatrists, paediatricians, pharmacists and GPs to develop the training and implementation process.
Ms Archer said the goal was to make ADHD care easier to access through general practice while maintaining clinical quality across the system.
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