How to get an ADHD diagnosis
in Australia

Who can diagnose ADHD in Australia?

In Australia, ADHD can only be diagnosed by a specialist medical practitioner — not a GP alone. The specialists who can diagnose ADHD are:

• Psychiatrists — the most common diagnostic pathway for adults
• Paediatricians — the most common diagnostic pathway for children
• Neurologists — less common, but can assess for ADHD
• Clinical psychologists — can assess and recommend diagnosis, but in most Australian states cannot prescribe medication independently; a medical specialist must make the formal diagnosis for prescribing purposes

Your GP cannot diagnose ADHD, but they play an important role: they provide the referral, rule out other conditions, and in some states can prescribe certain ADHD medications after a specialist has diagnosed you.

Step-by-step: getting an ADHD diagnosis as an adult

• 1
  Start with your GP. Book a long appointment (30 min). Tell your GP you're concerned about ADHD and want to be assessed. Your GP will ask about your symptoms, take a history, rule out other conditions (thyroid issues, anxiety, sleep disorders can mimic ADHD), and write a referral to a psychiatrist or appropriate specialist. Bring notes — list specific examples of how symptoms affect your daily life.
• 2
  Use a screening tool before your appointment. The ASRS (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale) and our ADHD screener are good starting points — not diagnostic, but they help you articulate your symptoms to your GP. Take our free ADHD screener and print the result.
• 3
  Find a psychiatrist who specialises in ADHD. Ask your GP for a recommendation, or use the RANZCP (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists) find-a-psychiatrist service. Many psychiatrists have long waitlists — expect 3–12 months in major cities, sometimes longer in regional areas.
• 4
  The psychiatric assessment. A comprehensive adult ADHD assessment typically takes 60–120 minutes. The psychiatrist will review your history (including childhood symptoms — ADHD must have onset before age 12), conduct structured interviews, review any questionnaire data, and may ask you to provide corroborating information from a family member who knew you in childhood.
• 5
  Receive a diagnosis and treatment plan. If ADHD is confirmed, the psychiatrist will discuss treatment options and may initiate medication. They will write to your GP with the diagnosis and recommendations.
• 6
  Ongoing care returns to your GP. Once a specialist has diagnosed you and initiated treatment, your GP can continue to prescribe your medication under a shared-care arrangement in most states.

Step-by-step: ADHD diagnosis for children

The process for children is similar but involves a paediatrician rather than a psychiatrist, and requires corroborating information from school and family.

• 1
  GP referral to a paediatrician. Your child's GP will write a referral. They may first request reports from the child's school (teacher questionnaires such as the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale are commonly used).
• 2
  Collect school reports and observations. Teachers who know your child well can provide important information. Many paediatricians will send questionnaires to the school as part of the assessment process.
• 3
  Paediatric assessment. The paediatrician will conduct a comprehensive assessment including medical history, developmental history, direct observations, and standardised rating scales. For complex presentations, they may also refer for neuropsychological testing.
• 4
  Diagnosis and treatment plan. If ADHD is diagnosed, the paediatrician will discuss medication options (if appropriate), school support strategies, and behavioural interventions. They will provide the school with a letter for adjustments where needed.

Costs and Medicare rebates

ADHD assessment in Australia involves out-of-pocket costs. A 2026 secret-shopper study that contacted 700+ clinicians found the average initial appointment cost over $530 without rebates, and a full assessment averaged almost $1,400 — reaching close to $4,000 in some cases, with no national cap on what a clinician can charge.

Waiting times

A 2026 secret-shopper study (700+ clinicians contacted nationally) found the average wait for an adult's first appointment was just over 10 weeks — but some waits reached a year, psychiatrists had significantly longer waits than psychologists, and access was especially limited in remote and very remote areas. That's a national private-system average across both psychiatrists and psychologists, not a per-city breakdown, and it doesn't cover public-system waits specifically — if you're relying on a public service, ask it directly for its current wait, since that can run considerably longer than the private average above.

Strategies while waiting: Ask your GP to manage symptoms in the interim if appropriate. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and ADHD coaching can be accessed through a Mental Health Treatment Plan while waiting for specialist assessment. Online ADHD support communities can also be helpful.

What happens after diagnosis

Once you have a formal ADHD diagnosis:

• Your specialist will write to your GP with the diagnosis and treatment recommendations
• Your GP can apply for a Mental Health Treatment Plan if psychological support is needed (up to 10 subsidised sessions per year)
• For children, schools can implement a Learning Support Plan and reasonable adjustments
• Adults can access workplace reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• ADHD Australia (adhdaustralia.org.au) provides peer support, education, and community resources

ADHD medication in Australia

ADHD medications in Australia are scheduled differently from other countries. Stimulant medications (methylphenidate, dexamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine) are Schedule 8 controlled substances in Australia, meaning:

• They can only be initiated by a specialist (psychiatrist, paediatrician, or neurologist) — not a GP alone
• Once initiated by a specialist, GPs can continue prescribing under a shared-care arrangement in most states
• Prescriptions have specific requirements (quantity limits, some states require special permits)
• Non-stimulant options (atomoxetine, guanfacine) are also available and can sometimes be prescribed by GPs alone after specialist diagnosis

Your specialist will explain the medication options and work out the right starting dose. Most people require dose titration over several weeks before finding the optimal dose.