ADHD Assessment · South Australia
ADHD Assessment
in South Australia
Since 28 February 2026, trained South Australian GPs can diagnose ADHD and initiate stimulant medication for patients aged 8 and over. SA is the second state after Queensland to allow full GP-led ADHD care.
Rules last checked: 04 September 2026
Official sources: SA Health: access ADHD care through a GPSouth Australia 2026-27 State Budget: health
South Australia became the second state in Australia to allow GPs to diagnose ADHD and prescribe stimulant medication. The pathway opened on 28 February 2026, covering patients aged 8 and over. Unlike Queensland (where no specific training course is required), SA mandates a structured training program for participating GPs.
In this article
The reform
What changed in South Australia
Current pathway: Trained-GP pathway active from 28 February 2026
What this means
Assessment and initiation: Specially trained GPs may assess, diagnose and initiate for eligible patients aged 8 and over.
Ongoing care: Available within the trained-GP pathway. Confirm the individual GP’s service and capacity.
Requirements and safeguards
Specially trained GPs may assess, diagnose and prescribe for eligible patients aged 8 and over. The inaugural cohort included up to 100 GPs. The 2026-27 State Budget funds a further 100 GP training places over two years, with training delivered in partnership with the RACGP.
Rules last checked: 04 September 2026
Official sources: SA Health: access ADHD care through a GPSouth Australia 2026-27 State Budget: health
Find me an ADHD GP in South Australia
Tell us what you need. The State-specific finder will show the current options or take you to the relevant waitlist.
Is this for you?
Who this assessment is designed for
The SA GP pathway covers patients aged 8 and over. This means both adults and older children qualify. You do not need a psychiatrist referral to access a trained GP.
- You suspect ADHD and have not been assessed (no prior psychiatrist visit needed)
- You were diagnosed by a psychologist and need a GP to prescribe medication
- Your child (aged 8+) shows signs of ADHD and you want a GP assessment
- You have an existing diagnosis from interstate or overseas and need local prescribing
- You are on a psychiatrist waitlist in Adelaide and want an earlier assessment
- You live in regional SA (Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Murray Bridge) and specialist access is limited
Telehealth makes the service accessible from anywhere in South Australia. Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula, or the far north. If you are in SA, you are covered.
The process
How the assessment works
You do most of the preparation at home, at your own pace. Your GP gets a structured clinical summary before the appointment, so consultation time is spent on assessment, not paperwork. No referral needed. Medicare rebates on eligible items.
1
Step 1
Book online and complete your intake at home
Validated questionnaires (ASRS v1.1, WFIRS), personal and family history, childhood documents, and an observer nomination. All completed online at your own pace before the appointment.
No charge
2
Step 2
GP reviews your clinical summary
Your GP receives a structured summary of your questionnaire results, developmental history, and observer input before the consultation. This means the appointment time is focused on clinical assessment.
3
Step 3
Consultation (telehealth or in person)
Your GP discusses the findings, makes a clinical determination, and explains next steps. If ADHD is confirmed and medication is indicated, treatment starts here.
4
Step 4
Ongoing care and monitoring
Short check-ins to adjust dosage, monitor side effects, and renew scripts. The SA model includes peer group learning for your GP, which means your care is continuously supported by specialist oversight.
Interstate prescribing
Can SA patients fill interstate GP scripts?
Yes. South Australian pharmacies can dispense Schedule 8 prescriptions written by interstate AHPRA-registered practitioners. The pharmacist must verify the script before dispensing. Verification means the pharmacist either knows the patient, recognises the prescriber’s signature, or contacts the prescriber to confirm. The pharmacist must also check ScriptCheckSA (the state’s real-time prescription monitoring system).
This means patients in SA can access GPs from states where ADHD prescribing is already active (such as Queensland) via telehealth and fill the script at a local SA pharmacy.
SA also has its own GP prescribing pathway active since February 2026. Trained SA GPs can diagnose ADHD and initiate stimulant medication for patients aged 8 and over. So SA patients now have both local and interstate options.
The table below shows the interstate dispensing position for all states.
| Patient’s state | Accepts interstate GP S8 script? | Key condition |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland | Yes | QLD GPs prescribe under S8 authority |
| New South Wales | No | Requires NSW authority number on script. No interstate pathway. |
| Victoria | Yes | Accepts interstate S8 scripts from AHPRA-registered practitioners |
| South Australia | Yes (with verification) | Pharmacist must verify script. ScriptCheckSA must be checked. |
| Western Australia | Unclear | Interstate GP position not settled. Check with local pharmacy or WA Health. |
| Tasmania | Yes (from Feb 2026) | Explicitly accepts interstate psychostimulant scripts |
| ACT | No | Prescriber needs ACT Chief Health Officer approval, whichever state they work in. Scripts without it are not dispensed. |
| Northern Territory | Grey area for GPs | Specialist scripts accepted. GP scripts ambiguous. Contact NT Poisons Control. |
Based on SA Controlled Substances Act 1984, ScriptCheckSA requirements, and state health department guidance. Correct as of April 2026.
Comparison
GP pathway vs psychiatrist: a comparison
| GP pathway (SA) | Psychiatrist | |
|---|---|---|
| Wait time | Shorter than psychiatrist | 12 to 24 months |
| Cost | ~$600 across 3 appointments | $2,000 or more |
| Referral needed | No | Yes (GP referral) |
| Telehealth available | Yes, all of SA | Limited availability |
| Medicare rebate | Yes (standard GP items) | Yes (specialist items) |
| Can diagnose ADHD | Yes (since Feb 2026) | Yes |
| Can initiate stimulants | Yes (since Feb 2026) | Yes |
| Can continue stimulants | Yes | Yes |
| Patient age | 8 and over | Any age |
Your GP
No ADHD GP in South Australia yet
Walk in with your ADHD evidence done.
From your couch, one question at a time. One file any clinician can work from, sent securely to your GP, psychiatrist or psychologist.
- ADHD questionnaire
- Observer report
- Childhood evidence
- Cover page for your doctor
It sort of gamified the intake process and wasn’t so complex that it would discourage me from giving a proper answer.
Frank · early user
