Tasmanian GPs are being trained to diagnose and treat ADHD for the first time, in a move the state government says will slash wait times and cut costs for families.
Around 48 doctors attended the first training workshop in Devonport over the weekend, learning how to assess, diagnose and prescribe medication for children and adults with ADHD.
Until now, Tasmanian GPs could only continue prescriptions for patients already diagnosed by a paediatrician or psychiatrist.
They couldn’t make the diagnosis or start medication themselves.
Health Minister Bridget Archer said the change was long overdue.
“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, which can be life-changing for individuals and families,” she said.
“We expect the first Tasmanian GPs to be practicing under this expanded scope and providing high-quality ADHD care in the next month.”
Archer said the initiative would be “a game changer for Tasmanian families, slashing wait times for assessments, cutting medical costs, and ensuring lifelong ADHD care that’s easier to access right across the State.”
Toby Gardner, a GP involved in the rollout, said the training brings Tasmania into line with other states that have allowed GP-led ADHD care since 2017.
He said many patients were currently forced to use expensive telehealth psychiatrists for a one-off assessment, which fragmented their care.
“There is no better care than the care that you get from the GP who knows you, knows your history and knows your medical background,” Gardner said.
He said GPs would typically conduct at least two one-hour sessions before making a diagnosis, compared to the single-hour assessments offered by some online services.
“It provides continuity of care, and that’s what this is all about, continuity of care with a GP who knows you and your history,” he said.
Gardner acknowledged not all GPs would take up the training, noting only about three in 10 nationally were interested in working in the ADHD space.
The training involves five to six hours of online learning through the RACGP or ACRRM, plus six hours of teaching from psychiatrists and paediatricians.
GPs who complete the course can then apply to the health department for authorisation to prescribe Schedule 8 medications for ADHD.
The training modules will also be made available online so more GPs can complete them remotely.
The initiative was an election commitment taken to the 2025 state election.
