My Specialist GP

myspecialistgp.com.au

Find a GP
Buy GP-Ready ADHD Pack

ADHD Assessment · New South Wales

ADHD Assessment
in New South Wales

NSW has 800+ trained GPs who can continue ADHD medication. GPs in the endorsed-prescriber program can now diagnose ADHD and start medication. The first cohort of about 300 completes the full program through late 2026.

Find an ADHD GP in New South Wales
How the assessment works
GPs can diagnoseYes
GPs can initiate medicationYes
GPs can continue prescriptionsYes

Rules last checked: 04 September 2026

Official sources: NSW Health: prescribe a psychostimulant medicineNSW ACI: ADHD care in general practiceNSW ADHD reforms update: 31 August 2026

New South Wales was one of the first states to begin training GPs to manage ADHD medication. Stage 1, active since September 2025, allows trained GPs to continue prescribing stimulant medication that a psychiatrist originally started. Stage 2 lets endorsed GPs diagnose ADHD and initiate stimulant medication. The first GPs in the program are already doing so.

In this article

  1. What changed in NSW
  2. Which GPs can prescribe in NSW
  3. Training requirements
  4. Medication and dosage rules
  5. How the assessment works
  6. Is this for you?
  7. GP continuation vs psychiatrist: a comparison
  8. Can you fill an interstate prescription in NSW?
  9. Telehealth across New South Wales
  10. What it costs
  11. ADHD GP prescribing in other states
  12. Frequently asked questions

The reform

What changed in NSW

Current pathway: Continuation pathway active since 1 September 2025; endorsed-GP pathway remains limited

What this means

Assessment and initiation: Only an endorsed GP with the required training and NSW Health authority may use the initiation pathway.

Ongoing care: A broader continuation pathway operates for eligible stable patients. Confirm the GP’s authority and availability before booking.

Requirements and safeguards

Continuation prescribers must complete NSW-endorsed training and obtain a general authority for eligible stable patients aged 6 and over with an existing diagnosis. Endorsed prescribers require additional accredited training or approved recognition of prior learning plus NSW authority. As at 31 August 2026, 1,570 continuation general authorities had been issued and 317 GPs were enrolled in endorsed training; enrolment does not mean every trainee is already an active endorsed prescriber.

Rules last checked: 04 September 2026

Official sources: NSW Health: prescribe a psychostimulant medicineNSW ACI: ADHD care in general practiceNSW ADHD reforms update: 31 August 2026

Find me an ADHD GP in New South Wales

Tell us what you need. The State-specific finder will show the current options or take you to the relevant waitlist.

Find me a GP

The process

How the assessment works

For patients with an existing diagnosis and stable medication, the continuation process is straightforward. Most patients are seen within 2 to 4 weeks.

1

Step 1

Book a telehealth appointment

Request an appointment online. If you have an existing ADHD diagnosis and medication, bring your specialist’s handover letter. Most patients are seen within 2 to 4 weeks.

2

Step 2

Complete your intake from home

Validated screening questionnaires (ASRS v1.1), developmental history, and an observer report. Done from your phone, one question at a time, before your appointment.

3

Step 3

Clinical review via telehealth

Your GP reviews the intake data, confirms the existing diagnosis, checks current medication and dose, screens for any changes, and decides whether to continue prescribing.

4

Step 4

Ongoing management

If continuing, your GP issues the prescription, sets up monitoring appointments, and manages your care going forward. Follow-up every 3 to 6 months.

Is this for you?

Who this service is designed for

This service is for adults (18+) in New South Wales who:

  • Have an existing ADHD diagnosis from a psychiatrist or paediatrician
  • Are on stable stimulant medication and need a GP to take over prescribing
  • Were diagnosed as a child and need to re-establish adult treatment
  • Want a first-time assessment from a GP in the endorsed-prescriber program
  • Have an interstate or overseas ADHD diagnosis that needs local management
  • Are on a psychiatrist waitlist and want continuation prescribing sooner

Comparison

GP continuation vs psychiatrist: a comparison

GP continuation (NSW)Psychiatrist
Wait time2 to 4 weeks12 to 18 months
Referral neededNo (but need specialist handover letter)Yes (GP referral)
Telehealth availableYes, all of NSWLimited availability
Medicare rebateYes (standard GP items)Yes (specialist items, higher rebate but often higher gap)
Can diagnose ADHDNot yet (Stage 2 expected mid-late 2026)Yes
Can initiate stimulantsNot yet (Stage 2 expected mid-late 2026)Yes
Can continue stimulantsYes (since Sep 2025)Yes
When to chooseStable patients needing ongoing managementNew diagnoses, complex presentations, dose above GP limits

Interstate prescribing

Can interstate GPs prescribe to NSW patients?

NSW has the strictest interstate prescribing rules in Australia. Every psychostimulant prescription dispensed at an NSW pharmacy must carry an NSW authority number. There is no pathway for an interstate GP to obtain one.

This means a prescription written by a QLD, SA, or VIC GP cannot be filled at an NSW pharmacy, regardless of whether the GP is AHPRA-registered and the prescription is otherwise valid.

If you are in NSW and need ADHD medication, your options are:

  • See a trained NSW continuation prescriber (1,570 continuation authorities issued as at 31 August 2026) if you have an existing diagnosis
  • See an endorsed-program GP, or a psychiatrist, for a first-time diagnosis
  • If moving from interstate, ask your current GP for a handover letter so an NSW continuation prescriber can take over

Sending Schedule 8 medication through Australia Post is a criminal offence under section 85W of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth). There is no pharmacy exemption. Courier delivery interstate has no regulatory endorsement.

The table below shows the interstate dispensing position for all states, so you can see how NSW compares.

Patient’s stateAccepts interstate GP S8 script?Key condition
QueenslandYesQLD GPs prescribe under S8 authority
New South WalesNoRequires NSW authority number on script. No interstate pathway.
VictoriaYesAccepts interstate S8 scripts from AHPRA-registered practitioners
South AustraliaYes (with verification)Pharmacist must verify script. ScriptCheckSA must be checked.
Western AustraliaUnclearInterstate GP position not settled. Check with local pharmacy or WA Health.
TasmaniaYes (from Feb 2026)Explicitly accepts interstate psychostimulant scripts
ACTNoPrescriber needs ACT Chief Health Officer approval, whichever state they work in. Scripts without it are not dispensed.
Northern TerritoryGrey area for GPsSpecialist scripts accepted. GP scripts ambiguous. Contact NT Poisons Control.

Sources: Crimes Act 1914 s85W. NSW Health psychostimulant prescribing authority requirements. State and territory drugs and poisons legislation. Correct as of 14 September 2026.

Telehealth

Telehealth across New South Wales

All continuation consultations are available via telehealth. You do not need to travel to a clinic. This makes the service accessible whether you are in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains, Canberra-adjacent border areas, Dubbo, Tamworth, Coffs Harbour, or anywhere in regional and remote NSW.

You need a stable internet connection, a device with a camera (phone, tablet, or computer), and a quiet, private space for your appointment. Scripts are sent electronically to your nominated pharmacy.

Pricing

What it costs

GP continuation consultations are billed as standard GP consultations. Medicare rebates apply for all Australian residents with a Medicare card. See the pricing page for current fees and out-of-pocket costs.

National comparison

ADHD GP prescribing in other states

Rules change by state. See the national guide for the current map, official sources and state-by-state details.

Compare ADHD GP prescribing by state

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a GP diagnose ADHD in New South Wales?

Yes, if the GP is in NSW’s endorsed-prescriber program. Those GPs can now assess, diagnose and start medication; the first cohort of about 300 completes the full program through late 2026. Other trained NSW GPs, the continuation prescribers under Stage 1 since September 2025, can continue medication a specialist originally prescribed but cannot diagnose.

Do I need a referral for ADHD medication continuation in NSW?

You do not need a GP referral to see a continuation prescriber. You do need a handover letter from your treating psychiatrist or paediatrician confirming the diagnosis and current treatment plan.

How many GPs in NSW can prescribe ADHD medication?

As at 31 August 2026, 1,570 continuation general authorities had been issued. This number is growing as more GPs complete the endorsed training program.

Can I fill an interstate ADHD prescription in NSW?

No. NSW requires its own authority number on every psychostimulant prescription. There is no pathway for an interstate GP to obtain an NSW authority number. A prescription from a QLD, VIC, or SA GP cannot be filled at an NSW pharmacy.

Can a Queensland GP prescribe ADHD medication to someone in NSW?

A QLD GP can conduct a telehealth consultation and write a prescription, but the prescription cannot be filled at an NSW pharmacy because NSW requires its own authority number. If you are in NSW, the best option is a local continuation prescriber or a psychiatrist.

Can a pharmacy post ADHD medication to NSW from another state?

No. Sending Schedule 8 medication through Australia Post is a criminal offence under section 85W of the Crimes Act 1914. There is no pharmacy exemption. Courier delivery interstate has no regulatory endorsement.

What training do NSW GPs need to prescribe ADHD medication?

NSW GPs must complete a 3 to 6 month RACGP-endorsed training program covering ADHD assessment, differential diagnosis, medication management, and monitoring. This is mandatory. Unlike Queensland, there is no exemption for experienced GPs.

What is the maximum dose a GP can prescribe in NSW?

NSW continuation prescribers can prescribe dexamfetamine up to 40 mg/day, lisdexamfetamine up to 70 mg/day, and methylphenidate up to 60 mg/day. Doses above these limits require specialist referral.

How long does it take to see a GP for ADHD in NSW?

Most continuation prescribers see patients within 2 to 4 weeks. Psychiatrist waitlists in NSW average 12 to 18 months, with longer waits in regional areas.

Does Medicare cover GP ADHD consultations in NSW?

Yes. GP continuation consultations are billed under standard Medicare consultation items. You receive the same Medicare rebate as any other GP appointment.

When will NSW GPs be able to diagnose ADHD independently?

Stage 2 training started in March 2026; the first cohort completes it through late 2026. Once Stage 2 is active, trained GPs will be able to conduct the full assessment, make a diagnosis, and initiate stimulant medication without a prior psychiatrist assessment.

I was diagnosed interstate. Can an NSW GP continue my medication?

Yes, if you have documentation from your interstate prescriber. Bring the handover letter, medication history, and any assessment reports. An NSW continuation prescriber can take over your care using this documentation.

ADHD articles for NSW patients

Browse all articles →

Can’t see a GP today?

We’ll text or email you when a GP we work with in New South Wales opens new slots. Two quick questions to start.

Find me a GP — quick start

New South Wales · Telehealth · Medicare rebates

Ready to continue your ADHD medication?

Find a trained NSW continuation prescriber. No psychiatrist referral needed. Most patients are seen within 2 to 4 weeks. Medicare rebates apply.

Find an ADHD GP in New South Wales

Or call to discuss your options first.