What Victorian Families Need to Know About Changes to ADHD Diagnosis and Care

If you’re a Victorian family who’s ever wondered whether ADHD might be part of your child’s story (or your own), you’ll know the system hasn’t exactly made that curiosity easy to explore.

For a long time, the pathway has looked something like this: long waitlists, expensive specialist appointments, and a lot of uncertainty in between. Today, the Victorian Government announced a change that could shift how ADHD care works in practice.

Here’s what’s been shared, and what it may mean for families.

What’s been announced

Later this year, a group of Victorian GPs will begin training that allows them to diagnose and treat ADHD in both children and adults.

An initial 150 GPs will complete accredited training, with the first cohort expected to be ready by September. Once trained, these doctors will be able to assess ADHD, provide ongoing care, and prescribe medication where appropriate - alongside referrals and non-medication supports.

This doesn’t replace specialists entirely, but it does broaden who families can turn to first.

Why this matters for families

The news brings Victoria closer in line with several other states, where ADHD care already sits within primary health care for many families.

For many people, the biggest barrier to ADHD support hasn’t been willingness, it’s been access.

Until now, diagnosis has required a paediatrician or psychiatrist, often with wait times stretching many months, or years in some cases, and assessments costing thousands of dollars. For families already juggling school, work, therapy and everyday life, that barrier alone has been enough to pause or abandon the process altogether.

Being able to access ADHD care through a GP could mean:

• Earlier conversations, not years of waiting

• Lower ongoing costs, especially for families needing long-term support

• Fewer referrals and appointments, which matters more than it sounds

• Support that sits closer to daily life, not only in specialist clinics

• Less disruption to daily life. Fewer referrals and fewer hoops matter, particularly for ADHD people, where administrative barriers can be a major obstacle to staying engaged with care

It also recognises something many families already know: GPs are often the first place people raise concerns and the place they return to again and again.

This change doesn’t mean ADHD will be diagnosed casually or without safeguards.

GPs will need to complete accredited training, medication will still be monitored through SafeScript, and non-medication supports remain part of best-practice care.

The government has also acknowledged that consultation is still required. Details around training, scope, and rollout will be shaped over the coming months.

What happens next?

Targeted consultation with clinicians and stakeholders will begin ahead of legislative changes later this year. The initial GP cohort is expected to complete training by the end of the year, with access expanding over time.

There are still unanswered questions, including how evenly access will be distributed across metro, regional and rural areas, but this announcement signals a shift toward making ADHD care more accessible within everyday health settings.

For families, this is one of those “watch this space” moments, but it does suggest movement toward a system that’s easier to enter and easier to stay in.

A note for families reading this

This isn’t about pushing diagnosis or labels.

For many families, it’s about having options, reducing friction and being able to ask questions and access support without the process itself becoming overwhelming.

If you’re in Victoria and have been waiting, wondering, or stuck in the system, this is something to be aware of.

We’ll continue to share updates as clearer information becomes available.

This post is based on publicly available reporting and government information shared in February 2026.