20 June 2025
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) stands ready to collaborate and advise the South Australian Government on models of expanded care for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment.
South Australian (SA) Committee Chair, Associate Professor Andrew Lee, says the RACP is keen to continue early discussions with the SA Government, and to collaborate with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) to develop the education, training and support needed to equip SA GPs appropriately.
“The RACP will continue our conversations with the Health Minister’s office to make the implementation of this policy successful, safe and responsive to community need,” says Associate Professor Lee. “It cannot be rushed, and the Government must take advice from specialist experts, particularly paediatricians.”
The RACP’s Paediatric and Child Health Division President, Dr Niroshini Kennedy, says this proposal brings opportunities but also raises some concerns.
“We acknowledge the Government’s objective to address waiting times and other barriers to timely assessment and, where appropriate, treatment.
“We support the development and implementation of innovative models of care that involve paediatricians working with, and mentoring, primary care health professionals.
“We need to increase efficiency and reduce waiting times for ADHD assessments, as well as the provision of support services following diagnosis.
“ADHD assessment is complex and requires specialised knowledge and formal training. It’s important to look at many medical, developmental and learning causes of symptoms.
“Developing an appropriate treatment plan that addresses these contributing factors whilst considering the need for medication is an important role for paediatricians and psychiatrists. If medication is needed it must be prescribed carefully as it could have the capacity to harm a child’s development if incorrectly prescribed.
“Safe shared care between specialists and GPs is important to ensure children get the right treatment and ongoing supports,” says Dr Kennedy.
The RACP is willing to explore an expanded role for suitably trained and qualified GPs, however, the assessment and diagnosis of ADHD should remain the responsibility primarily of paediatricians and other trained specialists, such as psychiatrists, who have the specialised training and established care models in place to conduct the comprehensive assessments that are needed for an accurate ADHD diagnosis.
“As Health Ministers foreshadowed last week, we need to review the regulations of prescribing medication for ADHD across the country to ensure consistency and safety.
“The aim is for health professionals to work together to find an agreed approach that can be implemented safely across Australia,” says Dr Kennedy.