Specially trained GPs across Western Australia can now assess, diagnose and start treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in patients aged 10 and older.
It’s a big shift in how ADHD care works in this state. Here’s what it actually means for your family, answered as the questions you’re probably already asking.
At a glance
- Trained GPs in WA can now assess, diagnose and prescribe ADHD stimulant medicine for patients aged 10 and up.
- This is part of the WA ADHD GP Program, developed with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA).
- Patients must be aged 10 years and considered "low risk".
- A list of approved GP stimulant prescribers is now published by WA Health.
- GPs still refer complex cases to a paediatrician or psychiatrist.
- Specialists are still needed for children under 10 and for more complicated presentations.
- Each participating GP can only be the primary prescriber for 50 patients to start with, though that number can grow.
Until now, an ADHD diagnosis in WA has almost always meant a referral to a paediatrician or psychiatrist. With specialist waitlists blowing out, particularly outside the metro area, that’s left a lot of families stuck for months [or years 😩] just waiting for a first appointment.
Under the new WA program, GPs who complete additional training can now assess and diagnose ADHD in patients 10 years and older, and prescribe ADHD stimulant medicine within legislative and clinical requirements.
It doesn’t replace specialist care. It adds another properly trained option, particularly for straightforward, lower-risk presentations.
Why is WA making this change now?
The short answer is demand has outstripped supply. ADHD assessment and treatment can make a real difference to a child’s schooling, confidence and day-to-day life, but access has been the sticking point for years, especially for regional and rural families.
There simply aren’t enough paediatricians and psychiatrists to meet demand across WA. Training GPs to safely manage suitable cases is a practical way to open up capacity in the community, while keeping specialists available for the families who need that higher level of care.
What will a trained GP actually be able to do?
Once a GP has completed the required training, they can assess and diagnose ADHD in patients aged 10 and over, and prescribe stimulant medicine in line with WA’s legislative and clinical requirements.
If a case looks more complex, whether that’s a tricky diagnostic picture or significant co-occurring conditions, the GP will refer on to a psychiatrist, paediatrician or another appropriate specialist.
The idea is that your GP becomes another genuine entry point into the system, not a shortcut around specialist expertise where it’s actually needed.
Will this be a faster pathway for ADHD diagnosis?
For now, most approved GPs are likely to be at capacity with existing patients wanting ADHD assessment. This is likely why only half of the approved GPs have consented to their names being published on the WA ADHD GP list.
Each approved GP can be the primary prescriber for an authorised caseload of 50 patients when they start out. That cap doesn’t include patients being co-managed with a paediatrician or psychiatrist under a shared-care arrangement.
This isn’t meant to be a hard ceiling on access. GPs can apply to increase their patient load over time, with approval based on demonstrated clinical safety and their capacity to manage more patients well. It’s a cautious, staged rollout rather than a permanent limit.
As more GPs complete specialised training, eligible patients may be able to access ADHD (Healthy WA) assessment, diagnosis and treatment closer to home through participating general practices. It is hoed this will reduce waiting times for assessment and treatment.
Will my child still need to see a specialist?
For some children, yes. Anyone under 10 will still need a paediatrician or psychiatrist. So will kids with complex diagnostic presentations, significant co-occurring mental health or developmental conditions, or anything requiring more specialised assessment than a GP is trained to provide.
Your GP is there to work out the right pathway for your child, not to push everyone down the same road. If your situation calls for specialist input, they’ll refer you on. If it doesn’t, you may now be able to get started closer to home.
How do GPs get trained and approved for this?
Participating GPs complete a dedicated ADHD training program built by the RACGP in partnership with the AADPA, covering accurate assessment and diagnosis, safe prescribing under WA regulations, non-drug management options, and how to recognise when a case needs specialist referral.
GPs also take part in ongoing mentorship, professional development and quality checks once they’re approved. WA Health oversees the whole program, working alongside the RACGP and a dedicated oversight committee focused on safety, quality and fair access across the state.
How will this change help WA families?
For a lot of families, the biggest win here is time. Being able to see your regular GP for an ADHD assessment, rather than joining a specialist waitlist that can stretch well over a year, could mean getting answers and support much sooner.
It may also mean more coordinated care through a GP you already know and trust, and better access for families in regional and rural WA, where specialist appointments have often meant long drives or long waits, sometimes both.
How do I find a GP who offers ADHD assessments?
A small number of WA GPs have completed the training and been approved as stimulant prescribers so far, and that number is expected to grow.
WA Health has now published a list of approved GP prescribers on their ADHD GP Program page, which is the best place to check.
You can also ask your regular GP directly whether they’ve completed the training, or whether anyone else in their practice has.
What should I ask when I book or attend an appointment?
It’s worth calling ahead and asking the practice outright whether the GP is an approved ADHD stimulant prescriber and whether they’re taking new patients for assessment. Given the 50-patient cap on primary prescribing, books may fill up faster than you’d expect.
Also ask for appointment costs and expected Medicare rebates so there are no surprises.
At the appointment itself, it’s reasonable to ask how the assessment process works, what happens if your child’s presentation turns out to be more complex than expected, and what the referral pathway looks like if a specialist is needed after all.
What if my child is under 10, or waiting isn't an option?
If your child is under 10, this particular pathway isn’t available to you yet, and a paediatrician or psychiatrist referral is still the way forward. The same applies if there’s a more complex picture at play.
While you wait, it’s worth keeping in mind that public and private options both exist in WA, and availability shifts often. Checking in periodically, rather than assuming nothing has changed since you last called, can make a real difference.
Where Perth Kids Hub fits into all this
Perth Kids Hub is not a clinic and can’t diagnose or treat anyone. What I can do is help you find the right people faster. I keep an updated, free list of Western Australian developmental and behavioural paediatricians and child and adolescent psychiatrists, along with regular availability updates so you’re not stuck ringing clinics one by one.
You can see current openings on the Perth paediatricians and psychiatrists availability page, or download the full specialist list here. Both are free, no membership required.
A note for approved GPs reading this
If you’re one of the GPs who has completed the ADHD training and been approved as a stimulant prescriber, I’d genuinely love to add you to my specialist list so families searching for help can find you. There’s no cost and no membership needed. Just get in touch at hello@perthkidshub.com.au and I’ll get you added.
Next steps: support for Perth families
If you’re a parent in Perth or elsewhere in Western Australia and you’re unsure where to start:
- Talk to your GP, paediatrician or school about your concerns
- Find therapists who support kids with ADHD here
- Perth paediatricians and psychiatrists availability page
- Download the Perth paediatrician and psychiatrist list here
References
- Government of Western Australia. (2026, August 13). More ADHD care available as WA doctors complete specialist training [Media statement]. https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/More-ADHD-care-available-as-WA-doctors-complete-specialist-training-20260813
- Government of Western Australia. (2025, October 28). GP training to help more Western Australians access care for ADHD [Media statement]. https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/GP-training-to-help-more-Western-Australians-access-care-for-ADHD--20251028
- RACGP, ADHD management and diagnosis by GPs: https://www.racgp.org.au/advocacy/advocacy-resources/adhd-management-and-diagnosis-by-gps
- Healthy WA, ADHD overview: https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-ADHD
DISCLAIMER:
This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for personalised medical advice. Speak with your GP about what’s right for your child.
