ADHD care in Australia increasingly falls to general practice. Specialist services cannot keep up with demand, so GPs now support patients through long assessment waits, manage ongoing treatment and coordinate fragmented care.
An AusDoc survey of 213 GPs shows they are willing to take on this role. What they lack is the structural support to do it safely: fit-for-purpose Medicare items, embedded training, shared-care models and guidance that fits their workflow.
Key findings at a glance
- ADHD prescribing in Australia has risen by approximately 300% over the past decade, and adult treatment by around 450%.¹
- GPs are broadly comfortable coordinating and monitoring ADHD care, but are more cautious about diagnosis and treatment initiation.
- 60% of GPs were unaware of the AADPA guidelines. Only 16% use them in practice.²
- GPs report holding clinical responsibility without matching authority or support.
- GPs name four enablers: Medicare items that reflect complexity, accredited training, funded shared care, and nationally consistent guidance.
- Source: AusDoc ADHD Assessment and Management Survey, January 2026 (n=213 GPs)
Why is ADHD care shifting to general practice in Australia?
Demand for ADHD assessment and management has grown rapidly, and specialist capacity has not kept pace. Australian prescribing data show an increase of approximately 300% over the past decade, with adult ADHD treatment up by around 450%.¹
General practice has absorbed most of this pressure. GPs routinely support patients waiting months for specialist assessment, manage ongoing treatment and help families work through pathways that vary by state and service.
How confident are GPs in managing ADHD?
GPs describe ADHD care as complex and a poor fit for standard consultation models. Many are comfortable with care coordination and ongoing monitoring. They are far more cautious about diagnosis and initiating treatment.
“ADHD assessments are complex and not suited to short consultations.“
GP respondent, AusDoc ADHD Survey, January 2026
This gap between clinical complexity and system design drives caution, delay and variation in care.
What does “responsibility without authority” mean for GPs?
As access to specialists tightens, GPs increasingly carry clinical responsibility without the authority, funding or support that should come with it.
“GPs are left holding responsibility without adequate authority or support.“
GP respondent, AusDoc ADHD Survey, January 2026
This is not a failure of individual clinicians. It is a system design issue. Risk is being shifted onto GPs rather than managed structurally.
Are GPs aware of Australia’s ADHD guidelines?
Australia already has evidence-based ADHD guidelines, developed by the Australian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA). The AusDoc survey found, however, that [60%] of GPs were not aware of them.²
The problem is how guidance reaches practice, not the quality of the guidance itself.
“I usually rely on RACGP resources or specialist advice rather than external guidelines.“
GP respondent, AusDoc ADHD Survey, January 2026
When guidelines sit outside trusted, embedded GP pathways, they have little influence on day-to-day care, however good they are.
Why aren’t ADHD guidelines changing GP practice?
The evidence already exists. What is missing is support for putting it into practice, because awareness alone rarely changes behaviour in high-pressure clinical settings.
Effective implementation requires:
- Distribution through GP-aligned channels
- Translation into consult-level tools
- Clear role delineation between GPs and specialists
- Alignment with Medicare and regulatory frameworks
- Ongoing access to specialist advice
Without these elements, guidance stays aspirational rather than operational.
Can ADHD care rely on GP goodwill?
No. GPs are clear that sustainable ADHD care needs more than individual effort.
“This work requires significant support. It’s not straightforward.“
GP respondent, AusDoc ADHD Survey, January 2026
Relying on goodwill and workarounds increases variation, delays care and contributes to clinician burnout.
What would help GPs deliver safe ADHD care?
GPs consistently identify four practical enablers:
- Medicare items that reflect the time and complexity of ADHD care
- Accredited ADHD training embedded in general practice
- Funded shared-care models with specialist support
- Nationally consistent, workflow-aligned guidance
These are not calls for expanded scope. GPs are asking for the conditions to participate safely in a system that already depends heavily on them.
What does this mean for ADHD care in Australia?
General practice is already carrying ADHD care in Australia, largely by default rather than by design. GPs are willing to do more, and the evidence to guide them exists. What’s missing is the structure that makes their participation safe and sustainable.
Until policy catches up with clinical reality, patients will keep facing long waits and uneven care, and GPs will keep carrying risk the system should be managing. Getting this right doesn’t mean asking general practice to do more. It means supporting the work it’s already doing.
Need to understand how GPs are responding to clinical and policy change?
Looking to run a campaign and engage doctors with confidence? For further information, contact us to discuss how AusDoc can support you with the reassurance you need.
Explore Clinical Education solutions → | Talk to our team →
Sources
- Hollingworth S, et al. Trends in prescribing of stimulant medicines for ADHD in Australia, 2013–2023. Medical Journal of Australia. 2024.
- AusDoc Survey: ADHD Assessment and Management in Australia, January 2026 (n=213).