Families and individuals across the Clarence Valley may soon see meaningful relief when it comes to accessing ADHD diagnosis and treatment, as general practitioners prepare to begin training to diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder under the next phase of the Minns Labor Government’s reforms.
For many in the Clarence Valley, the current pathway to an ADHD diagnosis has been long, expensive and exhausting.
For families with children, the challenges are significant. In the public system, wait lists for children can stretch up to two years. There are no private paediatricians diagnosing ADHD within the Clarence Valley, leaving families with little choice but to travel outside the region for assessment and treatment. Appointments can cost up to $600 per visit, placing substantial financial pressure on households already balancing work, school and everyday expenses. When fuel, travel time and lost income are factored in, the burden grows even heavier.
For many parents, the delay is not just inconvenient. It can mean years of uncertainty while a child struggles at school or at home without formal assessment or access to appropriate supports.
For adults, the situation is equally complex. There is no local public diagnostic pathway for adult ADHD, meaning individuals must turn to private psychiatrists. Adults also need to travel outside the Clarence Valley for in person appointments, or rely on telehealth where available. Wait times in the private system can extend 12 months or more, with comprehensive assessments costing up to $3,000 and follow up appointments reaching $600. For some, those costs and delays have placed diagnosis and treatment out of reach entirely.
The new reforms aim to bring care closer to home.
From next month, GPs across New South Wales can enrol in specialised training to diagnose ADHD, building on earlier changes that already allow trained GPs to prescribe ongoing medication. Nearly 600 doctors have expressed interest in the diagnostic training, with priority given to regional, rural and remote communities where specialist shortages are most acute.
More than 800 GPs have already completed training to provide repeat ADHD prescriptions. Since 1 September 2025, more than 5,000 patients have benefited from these earlier changes, with over 18,000 scripts filled through GP clinics. For regional communities, this has reduced unnecessary specialist appointments simply to maintain medication.
The next stage is expected to have an even greater impact.
By enabling appropriately trained GPs to diagnose and manage ADHD, families and individuals may no longer need to rely solely on costly private psychiatrists or travel long distances for assessment. Local GPs, who already understand a patient’s broader medical history and community context, will be able to provide assessment and ongoing care in many cases, while still referring to specialists where complex or additional support is required.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has welcomed the reforms, noting ADHD is a common condition affecting up to 10 percent of children and 6 percent of adults. With proper training, specialist GPs are well placed to deliver comprehensive, whole of person care.
Applications remain open for GPs wishing to undertake the diagnostic training, with costs covered by NSW Health and remuneration available for those who complete the program. A waiting list will be maintained for future training opportunities, and GPs can also apply to become continuation prescribers.
For the Clarence Valley, where long public wait lists and high private costs have left many without timely support, this reform represents more than a policy shift. It offers the potential for earlier answers, more affordable care and support delivered within the community rather than hours away.
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