Tuesday, 3 February 2026

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence) (17:51): Today I joined the Premier and the Minister for Health to announce that the Allan Labor government will make it easier and cheaper for Victorians to get the care they need for ADHD. We know that for too many Victorians accessing a diagnosis and treatment for ADHD is challenging, with long wait times and high out-of-pocket costs. We were joined today by two mothers, Bronwyn and Justine, who shared their experiences of the impact that delays to diagnosis and treatment can have on families and in particular on children. Undiagnosed or untreated ADHD can have a significant effect on a person’s life, whether it is at school, at work or in the home. Without diagnosis, patients are unable to receive mental health care treatment or the education and support required for them to thrive in their everyday lives. Our announcement today will change that, and we are getting on with this work immediately. This week we will kick off a targeted consultation process with key stakeholders to guide regulatory amendments to allow more GPs to prescribe ADHD medication. To support GPs to diagnose we will work with experts across the medical and mental health sectors to roll out accredited training to expand the scope of practice of GPs. An initial investment of $750,000 will support training for 150 GPs by September. These changes will help people get the critical ADHD care they need to support their mental health and tackle the challenges of living with ADHD. No child or family should be left behind because the system is too complex, too hard or too expensive. This is all part of Labor’s plan to make health care work better for families, and I am very proud to get on with that work.