October 2025 — Australia is in the midst of dual crises concerning Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) care: a persistent nationwide medication shortage and a struggle for patients to access timely diagnosis and treatment due to exorbitant costs and long waitlists for specialists.
In a move to alleviate pressure on paediatricians and psychiatrists, several Australian state governments, including New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA), have announced or begun rolling out landmark reforms.
Expanded GP Role: NSW is phasing in changes to allow trained General Practitioners (GPs) to diagnose ADHD and prescribe stimulant medication for both children and adults, with the first phase allowing GPs to resupply prescriptions from September 2025. Similarly, WA has committed to a program that will enable trained GPs to assess and prescribe for patients aged 10 and older. These changes are designed to cut down years-long waiting times and reduce the significant out-of-pocket costs currently required to see a specialist.
Persistent Medication Shortages: Despite the expanding role of GPs, the reforms come against a backdrop of ongoing, severe shortages of key ADHD medications. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has warned that supply disruptions for several brands of methylphenidate (including extended-release products like Concerta and Ritalin LA) are expected to continue well into late 2026 due to global manufacturing and supply chain issues. The TGA is working to approve overseas-registered substitutes and has advised prescribers and patients to discuss alternative treatment plans, as the lack of consistent supply forces many to change medications.
The expansion of GP involvement is being welcomed by groups like the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) as a crucial step toward equitable care, but the continued drug shortages mean that access to effective pharmacological treatment remains a major challenge for the estimated one million Australians with ADHD.