Tuesday, 16 June 2026

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Health, Minister for Water) (12:22): When we are talking about Victorians with ADHD, we are talking about hundreds of thousands of people across our state – young adults, children and adults. All too frequently we are talking about symptoms and experiences that can really significantly impact daily life. Part of living well with ADHD is about having access to a diagnosis and to appropriate treatments and supports. That is why Labor is taking action to ensure that Victorians living with ADHD are not locked out of accessing this care, treatment or diagnosis pathway by time or cost.

Expressions of interest are now open to enable an initial 150 GPs interested in training to diagnose and treat ADHD in both adults and children aged six years and over. Currently, adults and children can only be diagnosed by specialists. This can cost families up to $2000, and waitlists can range from six to 12 months. GPs are highly trained practitioners; they work in whole-person, continuous care pathways, and this new training will ensure that from September this year they can safely diagnose and manage patients with ADHD in their communities. That is often underpinned by longstanding relationships with patients and their families, and this change is expected to save Victorian families up to $1400.

Through Thriving Kids, which the Minister for Children is leading, we are making two new development assessments done by professionals available for every child – one before kinder and one before school. This is what real health equity looks like. It is affordable, it is safe and it is quality care closer to home, unlike the kind of thought bubble which some others have been proposing. That is why occupational therapists and speech pathologists, who do really important work in our community, being qualified to screen children in prep for autism and ADHD is a thought bubble. People deserve better than a 15-minute observation. We are going to continue to do the work to make sure that that is delivered.