Can a GP diagnose ADHD in QLD? The Australian ADHD Guideline says a thorough assessment by an appropriately trained and credentialled clinician is needed. Whether your GP can do this depends on their training, and many GPs refer on to a paediatrician, psychiatrist or psychologist.
This guide covers who assesses ADHD in Queensland and what an ADHD GP assessment involves. It also compares the rules in other states. For the full pathway, see our guide to the ADHD diagnosis process in Australia.
Your GP can talk through your concerns and discuss referral options. Whether your own GP can complete the diagnosis depends on their training and how they work.
The answer is different for adults and children, so choose the row that matches you or the person you support.
The Royal Children’s Hospital also notes that children usually must be at least about five years old for an assessment.
TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.
Make a referral →Queensland Health has widened who can prescribe, which is separate from who can diagnose. Check the current rules on the Queensland Health ADHD psychostimulants page.
Our guide to who can prescribe ADHD medication explains how this works in more detail.
The steps below are a general guide to an ADHD GP assessment; your GP will tell you how their practice works.
Online quizzes cannot diagnose ADHD, because a thorough assessment by a trained clinician is needed. Our ADHD diagnostic criteria guide explains what clinicians look for.
Each state sets its own rules for prescribing, so the answer changes at the border. The table covers prescribing rules, which are separate from who can diagnose, so always confirm with your own GP.
NSW is training a smaller number of endorsed GP prescribers to diagnose ADHD and start medicines for people aged 6 years and above. About 300 spots were offered in the first round, with a second round expected from November 2026. From early 2027, NSW Health will fund up to 2,500 assessments by these GPs, with no gap payments for patients.
Victoria’s recent changes concern permits for prescribing stimulants. Ask your GP whether they work under a valid ADHD treatment instruction, and check the Department of Health page above.
A few direct questions can save time and money.
Many people also compare other routes. Our guides explain who can diagnose ADHD in Australia, how ADHD is diagnosed in adults and whether an online ADHD assessment is suitable.
If you are in immediate danger, call 000. If you need emotional support, Lifeline is on 13 11 14.
TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.
Make a referral →If you are exploring an assessment, start by booking a long GP appointment and writing down your examples first. While you wait, practical help can ease daily routines. At TQN Care, our support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home, and we are always happy to talk through your needs. See our NDIS services or make a referral. Some people also ask whether a GP can diagnose ADHD in Australia generally; as shown above, it depends on your state and your GP.
Some can, depending on training and state rules. The Australian ADHD Guideline requires a thorough assessment by an appropriately trained and credentialled clinician. If your GP does not assess ADHD, they can refer you to a paediatrician, psychiatrist or psychologist who does.
The arrangements differ from state to state and change over time. Ask your GP whether they assess ADHD themselves or refer on, and check with SA Health. Either way, the assessment should be thorough and carried out by a suitably trained clinician.
In Western Australia, GPs who complete additional training and receive individual designation from the Department can initiate stimulant treatment for eligible patients aged 10 years and over. Only one stimulant prescriber may prescribe for each patient at a time. This rule is about starting medicine, so ask your GP whether they hold this designation and whether they also assess ADHD or refer on.
Tasmanian arrangements may differ from Queensland, so ask your GP what they offer. If they refer you, bring any school reports and past assessments, because adults need evidence that symptoms began in childhood. You can also call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a registered nurse.