NSW GPs Can Now Diagnose ADHD

If you've been waiting months, maybe years, for an ADHD assessment in NSW, something significant just changed. 

From March 2026, selected GPs in New South Wales can now formally diagnose ADHD and initiate treatment. Not just continue existing prescriptions. Diagnose. 

This is the second stage of reforms that the NSW Government has been rolling out since mid-2025, and for adults who've been stuck in the specialist waitlist system, it's worth understanding properly, because the headlines have been patchy and the details matter. 

How we got here 

For most of the last decade, getting an ADHD diagnosis in NSW meant one thing: seeing a psychiatrist or paediatrician. Specialists only. The waitlists stretched to 12–18 months in many parts of the state. Private assessments ran into the hundreds or thousands of dollars. For a lot of people, that cost and wait was enough to give up entirely.  

Stage 1 of the NSW reforms, which came into effect in September 2025, took the first step. Trained GPs were given the ability to continue prescribing ADHD medication for patients who already had an existing diagnosis from a specialist. No more returning to your psychiatrist every year just for a repeat script. More than 800 GPs completed the required training, and within months, thousands of NSW patients had accessed care they couldn't before. 

Stage 2 goes further. From March 2026, a smaller group of GPs who complete additional specialised training can now conduct a full ADHD assessment, make a diagnosis, and where clinically appropriate, initiate medication. This has never been available in NSW before. 

What this does and doesn't mean 

It's worth being clear about what's changed, because there's a lot of confusion circulating. 

This is not blanket authorisation for every GP in NSW. Training is required. Participation varies by clinic. Not every GP has enrolled, and not every practice is set up for this yet. If you call your GP tomorrow and ask for an ADHD assessment, there's a reasonable chance they aren't yet in a position to provide one under Stage 2. 

What it does mean is that the system is moving, meaningfully and in the right direction. Primary care is becoming a legitimate pathway for ADHD assessment, not just a waiting room for the specialist queue. The barriers that have historically blocked people from getting answers about their own cognition and behaviour are coming down. 

Why this matters especially for adults 

ADHD in children has at least had some visibility. School systems flag it. Paediatricians see it. Adults have been significantly more underserved. 

The specialist system was never built to absorb the volume of adults who've reached their 20s, 30s, and 40s having managed (or mismanaged), undiagnosed ADHD for their whole lives. Burnout, relationship difficulties, career instability, anxiety that doesn't quite fit any other explanation. These are the people who've been told the wait is 14 months and the cost is $2,000+ and who've just... kept waiting. 

The GP pathway changes that calculus. 

So what should you do right now? 

If you've been wondering whether you might have ADHD, the practical advice is straightforward: don't wait for the system to fully settle before starting the conversation. 

Even before Stage 2 is fully operational across every clinic in NSW, a GP with experience in this area can help you get clarity on your symptoms, rule out other causes, and if needed, connect you with the right next steps quickly. A good assessment, whether from a GP or a specialist, isn't just about getting a diagnosis. It's about understanding how your brain works and what to do about it. 

At ADHD Simple, we've built a model around exactly this. GP-led, no referral required, fixed pricing, and access to a psychiatrist where needed. We assess adults across NSW via telehealth, so geography isn't the barrier it's been. 

If you're not sure where you sit, start with our free online ADHD test. It takes a few minutes and gives you a clearer picture of whether a formal assessment is worth pursuing. 

Take the free test →

A note on the national picture 

NSW isn't alone in this. Queensland has had GP prescribing rights since 2017. South Australia, Western Australia, and the ACT all have reforms underway. Victoria has committed to training GPs by late 2026. The direction nationally is clear: ADHD care is moving into primary care, and the old specialist-only model is being phased out. 

NSW is catching up quickly. For people who've been waiting, that's long overdue. 

ADHD Simple offers GP-led ADHD assessments for adults across NSW via telehealth. No referral needed. Fixed pricing. [Book here] or [take our free online test] to get started. 

Important: This article is for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment are made and supervised by a qualified clinician. If you feel affected, contact your GP.

References

• NSW Government announcement: Stage 2 reforms enabling GPs to diagnose ADHD from March 2026
  nsw.gov.au

• NSW Government original announcement: Stage 1 reforms and GP prescribing changes
  nsw.gov.au

• Stage 1 and Stage 2 reform detail: Stats on GPs trained, patients seen, scripts filled
  adhdmums.com.au

• NSW GP ADHD prescribing: What's changed, training requirements, patient eligibility
  clientforms.app

• State-by-state GP prescribing reforms across Australia
  clientforms.app

• Expert commentary on GP ADHD reforms: Murdoch Children's Research Institute
  mcri.edu.au

• ADHD assessment accessibility in Australia: wait times, costs, barriers (peer reviewed, 2026)
  pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41742378

• AusDoc — GP prescribing reforms across all states, March 2026
  ausdoc.com.au