In an Australian first, the state of Queensland has announced a landmark policy change allowing General Practitioners (GPs) to initiate and adjust prescriptions for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication for adult patients, effective December 1, 2025.
The regulatory shift is a direct response to a mounting healthcare crisis, where adults seeking an ADHD diagnosis and treatment face exorbitant costs and wait times of up to 18 months or more to see a specialist psychiatrist. This backlog has particularly impacted regional and remote communities with limited access to specialists.
The move, supported by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), is designed to establish a more accessible “shared care” model. While some health bodies are calling for mandatory additional training, the policy change in Queensland is proceeding to allow GPs, who have a patient’s full clinical history, to provide faster and more localised care. This change comes amidst a background of persistent national shortages of key ADHD stimulant medications, which have been a major source of disruption and distress for Australian patients trying to fill their prescriptions.