The Victorian government will move to let GPs diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication, citing cost-of-living pressures and long specialist wait times.
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, announced the reform at a press conference at state parliament, describing it as part of a broader push to support families facing mounting time and financial pressures.
The change would allow trained general practitioners to diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and prescribe medication, a role currently limited largely to specialists.
Allan said the proposal was aimed at reducing delays and out-of-pocket costs for families already under strain from rising living expenses, arguing faster access to care was increasingly critical.
The announcement follows remarks made by the premier to Labor MPs a day earlier, where she tested a pre-election message focused on “new solutions” to modern family pressures.
The proposal was welcomed by Aadhil Aziz, speaking on behalf of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, who said expanding GP involvement could improve access while maintaining safeguards.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists also backed the plan, noting risks of over-diagnosis and medication misuse but arguing collaboration and training could strike an appropriate balance between access and safety.
