The government has today finally responded to the Senate inquiry into attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and support services in Australia.
Senator Jordon Steele-John proposed the ADHD inquiry, which was established by the Senate in March 2023. The inquiry received over 700 submissions from individuals, community organisations, and medical professionals.
The committee made 15 recommendations for addressing access barriers to ADHD services, with the chief recommendation being the development and implementation of a national ADHD framework.
The inquiry recommended a suite of reforms, including changes to ADHD medication prescribing rules, the development of a neurodiversity-affirming public health campaign, investment in ADHD support and advocacy; and further research into ADHD.
Of the 15 recommendations:
- 1 has been supported
- 9 have been supported in principle
- 5 have been noted
The Greens, alongside the ADHD Community, will continue to push for immediate action to improve the lives of people with ADHD.
As stated by Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson on Disability Services, Health and Mental Health:
"The ADHD inquiry was a historic acknowledgement of the reality of life for the one million Australians with ADHD.
"I was deeply moved by the personal experiences and openness of the people all across Australia who participated in the inquiry.
"In 2023, we heard clearly that there are significant barriers to ADHD care in this country - like lengthy wait times, high costs and poor experiences with medical professionals. Healthcare professionals described it as a public health emergency.
"It has taken the Australian government over a year to respond to this report. This delay is disappointing, and in that time, the situation has got worse for so many people.
"The Australian Government was given a roadmap of tangible and implementable recommendations that would improve the lives of ADHDers, including tangible ways to reduce the day-to-day costs of ADHDers during this cost of living crisis.
"While it's pleasing that some of the recommendations have been supported by the government, it is disappointing that, in my view the government's response does not reflect the urgency of the situation, nor commit to the scale of changes needed to improve the lives of ADHDers.
"I am really proud of what the Greens and the incredible ADHD community have achieved together, and I urge the Albanese Government to do the right thing and work across governments, and across departments, to enact the recommendations urgently."
