Assessment and support services for people with ADHD

In 2023 the Senate held an inquiry into assessment and support services for people with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). It looked at how easy it is to get a diagnosis, what support is available afterwards, access to and cost of medication, the role of the NDIS, and how governments work together.

See also our pre-Budget submission on funding needs for mental health and our submission to the NSW inquiry into mental health care.

• Make assessment affordable. An ADHD assessment costs too much for many people. Medicare should cover it, and more university places should train more psychologists.
• Make ongoing support affordable. Increase Medicare psychology sessions from 10 to 20 a year, raise the rebate for registered psychologists to $150, and add a rebate for provisional psychologists.
• Close the gender gap. ADHD is under-diagnosed in women and girls. Fund research, training and awareness on how it presents differently.
• Make medication easier to get. GPs should prescribe stimulant medication in partnership with a psychologist who can diagnose ADHD.
• Clarify the NDIS. The NDIS should recognise ADHD as a primary disability, with clear eligibility guidelines.
• Join up services. An intergovernmental taskforce should help people get consistent support through every stage of life.

The committee’s report, Assessment and support services for people with ADHD, was tabled on 6 November 2023. It lists our submission (Submission 573) among those it received. It doesn’t otherwise refer to it.

The report’s recommendations included a review of the Medicare Benefits Schedule to improve access to ADHD assessment, diagnosis and support (Recommendation 3). The Government responded on 12 December 2024 and supported that recommendation in principle.