ADHD services
David HODGETT (Croydon) (09:39): I rise today to speak on the inadequacies that many adults in our community are currently facing when it comes to accessing both an ADHD assessment and treatment following diagnosis. The public mental health system is unable to provide ADHD assessments for most people. This means that, for those seeking assessments, their only option is to access this service through private clinics. With many private clinics already at capacity, many psychiatrists are unable to accept new ADHD referrals. On the rare occasion there may be an available appointment for an assessment, people are forced to wait around eight months for that appointment. The financial barrier is also a hurdle – with the cost-of-living crisis affecting so many, many simply cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with an assessment, medication or the ongoing psychiatric appointments required to access repeated scripts.
I recognise that the 2023 Senate inquiry into the assessment and support services for people with ADHD was a great first step and highlighted in depth much of what I have spoken about today. The recommendations from that report offer a way forward to address the inadequacies to make access easier and remove barriers many are facing. I urge the state government to continue to work with the federal government to make improvements within this space.