Getting ADHD treatment sorted in Australia is not always straightforward, and that goes for both patients trying to access care and ADHD medication or clinicians trying to prescribe it correctly. Patients often don’t know who they need to see, how long it will take, or whether their GP can help them with medication. Clinicians, especially GPs, are often unsure about what approvals they need, which system to use in their state, and whether their prescribing authority covers a particular patient.
This guide covers both sides. Whether you’re a patient trying to understand the process or a GP and specialist who needs a quick, reliable reference for each state, this is written for you.
How ADHD Treatment Works in Australia
Before going state by state, here’s the overall framework that applies across Australia.
For patients
You start with your GP. Your GP refers you to a psychiatrist (for adults) or a pediatrician (for children). The specialist assesses you, confirms the diagnosis, and starts treatment if appropriate.
Once things are stable, your GP often takes over repeat prescribing under what’s called a shared care arrangement.
For clinicians
ADHD stimulant medications are Schedule 8 (S8) controlled substances. Prescribing them requires either a standing authority, a class authority, or individual patient approval, depending on your state and your specialty. GPs have more limited prescribing rights than psychiatrists and pediatricians, though these rights are expanding in several states.
The key things that differ by state are:
- What type of approval or authority is needed
- Which real-time prescription monitoring (RTPM) system is used
- Whether and how GPs can prescribe
Quick Reference: All States at a Glance
| State | Specialist Authority Needed | GP Prescribing | RTPM System | RTPM Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Class Authority CA2023 (write on script) | Continuation from Sep 2025 | SafeScript NSW | Mandatory for GPs, recommended for specialists |
| VIC | No permit needed (specialist exemption) | Yes: SafeScript S8 permit required | SafeScript VIC | Yes |
| QLD | Approval via QScript | Yes: initiation for adults from Dec 2025 | QScript | Yes |
| WA | No SPN needed for routine cases (from Dec 2024) | GP training program launching in 2026 | ScriptCheckWA | Yes (from Jun 2025) |
| SA | Authority via ScriptCheckSA (from Jan 2026) | Yes: Shared Care Program | ScriptCheckSA | Yes |
| TAS | Section 59E authority | Yes: with Section 59E authority | TasScript | Yes |
| ACT | Standing CHO approval: one-off notification | Yes: continuation from Feb 2026 | Canberra Script | Voluntary |
| NT | Individual CHO approval per patient | Limited: under specialist supervision | NTScript | Yes |
State-by-State Guide
New South Wales
For patients in NSW:
Your first step is to see your GP. Ask for a referral to a psychiatrist and be clear about how your symptoms are affecting your day-to-day life. Once you see your psychiatrist, they’ll do a full assessment, usually one to two appointments for adults. If ADHD is confirmed, they can start treatment straight away.
Public wait times in NSW are long, often 12 to 24 months. Private psychiatrists are much faster. HelloDoc typically sees new patients via telehealth within a week.
Medicare rebates apply with a valid GP referral. Telehealth is fully available across NSW.
For clinicians in NSW:
Psychiatrists, pediatricians, and neurologists are covered by Class Authority CA2023 (issued November 2023). Write “CA2023” on every stimulant prescription; pharmacists cannot legally dispense without an approval reference on the script.
No individual patient application is needed for routine cases, provided:
- The patient is not drug-dependent
- The indication is ADHD
For non-routine cases, drug-dependent patients, doses above limits, or non-ADHD indications, apply via SafeScript NSW or use the paper application form.
GPs:
From September 2025, GPs who complete accredited training can continue prescribing for stable patients aged 6 and over. Apply for a general authority via SafeScript NSW. Checking SafeScript is mandatory as a condition of this authority.
Paper prescriptions note:
Computer-generated paper scripts in NSW require confirmatory handwriting. eScripts do not.
Victoria (VIC)
For patients in VIC:
See your GP for a referral. Melbourne has some of the longest public wait times in Australia, often over a year. Private and telehealth options are significantly faster. Medicare rebates apply with a GP referral. HelloDoc covers all of Victoria, including regional areas.
For clinicians in VIC:
Victoria is one of the simpler states for specialists. No permit is required for psychiatrists and pediatricians, as you prescribe under the specialist exemption. The only requirement is that you check SafeScript before every prescription. That’s non-negotiable and mandatory.
GPs need a SafeScript S8 permit. Apply via SafeScript. They’ll need documented evidence of a specialist ADHD diagnosis before the permit is granted. Once approved, checking SafeScript before every prescription is mandatory.
Paper prescriptions note: Computer-generated paper scripts in VIC require confirmatory handwriting. eScripts do not.
Queensland (QLD)
For patients in QLD:
Book a GP appointment and ask for a referral. Queensland made a significant change in December 2025; it is now the first state to allow specialist GPs to initiate ADHD stimulant treatment for adults. This is expanding access meaningfully. Public wait times remain long. Private and telehealth options are faster. Medicare rebates apply.
For clinicians in QLD:
All stimulant prescribing in Queensland goes through QScript. Register and apply for prescribing approval via QScript. Checking QScript before every prescription is mandatory.
- Psychiatrists can prescribe for patients of any age
- Pediatricians can prescribe for patients aged 4–24 (expanded from 4–17 in December 2025)
- Specialist GPs can now initiate and continue prescribing for adults (from December 2025) via QScript approval
Interstate note: QScript is only accessible to QLD-based practitioners. If you’re an interstate specialist with patients in QLD, consider arranging shared care with a QLD-based GP for ongoing prescribing.
Western Australia (WA)
For patients in WA:
Start with your GP and get a referral. Perth has reasonable private access, but regional and remote WA is very underserved; telehealth is often the only realistic option outside the city. If you are 16 or older, a urine drug screen will be required before starting stimulant treatment. Medicare rebates apply with a GP referral.
For clinicians in WA:
Good news from December 2024: no Stimulant Prescriber Number (SPN) is needed for routine ADHD prescribing anymore. The process for standard cases is now:
- Conduct your clinical assessment per the Prescribing Code criteria
- Check Script Check WA before prescribing, mandatory from June 2025
- Prescribe
Non-routine cases still need a formal application (submitted to the WA Department) when:
- The patient has had comorbid substance misuse in the last 5 years
- History of stimulant-induced psychosis or bipolar disorder
- Prescribing above the maximum dose range
- Patient is below the minimum age thresholds (under 4, or under 6 for lisdexamfetamine)
Non-routine applications go to the Stimulant Assessment Panel, which meets monthly.
Urine drug screening: Required for all patients aged 16+ before commencing S8 stimulant treatment (from December 2024).
GPs: A new training program is launching in 2026. Trained GPs will be able to assess and prescribe for patients aged 10+. The first cohort is expected to complete training by the end of 2026.
South Australia (SA)
For patients in SA:
See your GP for a referral. SA has one of the better-organised ongoing care systems in Australia. The GP Shared Care Program means that once your treatment is stable, your GP can take over regular prescribing with your specialist in a support role. Adelaide’s public system has long waits; private and telehealth options are faster. Medicare rebates apply.
For clinicians in SA:
From January 2026, all authority applications in SA will go through ScriptCheckSA; paper forms will no longer be accepted. Register at ScriptCheckSA and submit applications online. See the ScriptCheckSA authorities help page for step-by-step instructions. Checking ScriptCheckSA before every prescription is mandatory.
GPs: SA has a formal GP ADHD Shared Care Program. To prescribe, GPs must submit a Section 18A Authority application via ScriptCheckSA, accompanied by a written specialist report supporting the authority. The DDU assesses, on a case-by-case basis, whether specialist support is required.
Tasmania (TAS)
For patients in TAS:
Outside Hobart, specialist access in Tasmania is very limited. The February 2026 change is significant; Tasmanian pharmacies can now fill valid interstate prescriptions for ADHD stimulants.
This means if your psychiatrist is based in another state (like a HelloDoc specialist), you can still get your medication at your local pharmacy. You no longer need to find a Tasmania-based specialist. Medicare rebates apply with a GP referral.
For clinicians in TAS:
Tasmania-based specialists: Download and complete the Section 59E authority application and submit it to the Pharmaceutical Services Branch. Wait for assessment before prescribing. Check TasScript before every prescription; mandatory.
Interstate specialists (from February 2026): You do not need a Section 59E authority. Your valid interstate prescription can be dispensed at Tasmanian pharmacies provided you are AHPRA-registered, and your script meets Tasmanian requirements. You must check TasScript for the patient’s prescription history. See TAS Health interstate prescribing for full details.
GPs: Apply for Section 59E authority with evidence of specialist diagnosis. Co-prescriber arrangements are available where a specialist and a GP share responsibility.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
For patients in ACT:
See your GP for a referral to a psychiatrist. The ACT updated its rules in February 2026, which has made the process smoother for specialists and opened the door for GP continuation prescribing. Wait times in the public system still apply; private and telehealth options are faster.
All prescriptions under this pathway must be electronic; handwritten scripts are not valid. Medicare rebates apply.
For clinicians in ACT:
From February 2026, psychiatrists and paediatricians operate under the Standing CHO Approval (NI2026-8). Individual patient approval is not required for routine cases.
Steps for specialists:
- Submit the one-off notification form to Health Protection Services (hps@act.gov.au); this is a once-only step advising the CHO of your intention to prescribe under the standing approval
- Check Canberra Script before prescribing; voluntary but strongly recommended
- Prescribe electronically within dose limits
Individual CHO approval is still required for drug-dependent patients, doses above limits, non-ADHD indications, or other non-routine circumstances. Apply to hps@act.gov.au.
GPs: From February 2026, trained GPs can continue stimulant prescriptions under the Standing CHO Approval without individual patient approval for each case. Electronic prescribing is mandatory.
Northern Territory (NT)
For patients in NT:
The NT has the most limited access to specialists in Australia. Darwin and Alice Springs have some services; most of the Territory has very little. Telehealth is genuinely the most practical option for the majority of NT residents. Medicare rebates apply with a GP referral.
For clinicians in NT:
The NT has the most involved process of any state. Individual CHO approval is required for each patient before prescribing stimulants.
Steps:
- Download the Application for Authority to Prescribe Restricted S8 Psychostimulant Medication
- Complete and email to poisonscontrol@nt.gov.au with supporting documents
- Wait for CHO approval before prescribing
- Check NTScript before every prescription; mandatory
Who can initiate treatment: Only psychiatrists, paediatricians, physicians, neurologists, and registrars training in those specialties. Other practitioners may continue to supply after specialist initiation.
GPs: Limited continuation prescribing only, and must remain under specialist supervision. Contact NT Medicines & Poisons Control directly for case-specific guidance.
Notification triggers: You must notify the CHO if treatment exceeds 8 cumulative weeks in 12 months, certain dose thresholds are reached, or misuse is suspected.
Real-Time Prescription Monitoring: A Quick Summary
Every state runs its own prescription monitoring system. Here’s the full picture:
| State | RTPM System | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | Canberra Script | Voluntary |
| NSW | SafeScript NSW | Mandatory for GPs; strongly recommended for specialists |
| NT | NTScript | Mandatory |
| QLD | QScript | Mandatory |
| SA | ScriptCheckSA | Mandatory |
| TAS | TasScript | Mandatory |
| VIC | SafeScript | Mandatory |
| WA | ScriptCheckWA | Mandatory (from June 2025) |
GP Shared Care: Where Things Stand in 2026
| State | GP continuation? | GP initiation? | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | Yes (from Feb 2026) | No | Training + CHO notification + eScript only |
| NSW | Yes (from Sep 2025) | Stage 2 expected 2026 | Accredited training + SafeScript authority + stable patients aged 6+ |
| NT | Limited | No | Under specialist supervision only |
| QLD | Yes | Yes: adults only (from Dec 2025) | First state to allow GP initiation. Via QScript. |
| SA | Yes | Case by case (RACGP-trained GPs) | Formal Shared Care Program. Specialist written support required. |
| TAS | Yes | No | Section 59E authority + specialist diagnosis required |
| VIC | Yes | No | SafeScript S8 permit + evidence of specialist diagnosis |
| WA | Yes | From 2026: trained GPs, patients 10+ | New training program. The first cohort will be completed by the end of 2026. |
A Few Things Worth Knowing: For Everyone
Non-stimulant medications don’t need any special authority. Atomoxetine and guanfacine are non-stimulant ADHD medications. Any registered medical practitioner can prescribe them without a permit, authority, or RTPM check. If stimulants aren’t suitable for a patient, these are always worth discussing.
Interstate prescriptions are now accepted everywhere. As of early 2026, all Australian states and territories accept interstate S8 prescriptions for ADHD stimulants, provided the prescriber is AHPRA-registered, and the script meets the requirements of the dispensing state. Tasmania was the last to come on board, from February 2026.
Electronic prescriptions are the cleaner option. In NSW and VIC, computer-generated paper prescriptions for S8 medicines require the prescriber to add handwritten confirmation. Electronic prescriptions (eScripts) don’t have this requirement; they’re authenticated digitally. In the ACT, eScripts are mandatory for this prescribing pathway.
For Patients: Your Next Step
If you’ve read through this and you’re ready to take action, here’s the simple version of what to do:
- See your GP and ask for a psychiatry referral
- If you’d rather not wait weeks or months, book with HelloDoc; most new patients are seen within a week via telehealth
- Your HelloDoc psychiatrist will do a thorough assessment via video from your home
- If ADHD is confirmed, they’ll discuss treatment options with you and prescribe if appropriate
- Your GP stays in the loop, and shared care is set up for ongoing management
HelloDoc’s psychiatrists are FRANZCP-accredited and cover every state and territory in Australia.
For Clinicians
If you’re a GP looking to refer a patient for an ADHD assessment, HelloDoc makes the referral process simple. We work with GPs across Australia on shared care arrangements and are happy to support ongoing management once a diagnosis and treatment have been established.
Contact our team or visit our referrals page: HelloDoc Referrals
HelloDoc is not an emergency service. For mental health emergencies, call 000 or contact your local mental health triage service.
Important note: This guide is for general information only. Prescribing rules change regularly across all states and territories. If you are a clinician, always confirm requirements directly with your state health authority before prescribing. If you are a patient, always speak with your doctor before making any decisions about your treatment. Official government links are included throughout this guide.
Further States Information
For further information, visit our state pages for specific information about each state:
ADHD in Western Australia
ADHD in Victoria
ADHD in the Northern Territory
ADHD in Tasmania
ADHD in the Australian Capital Territory
ADHD in South Australia
ADHD in Queensland
ADHD in New South Wales
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