ADHD Assessment in Melbourne
In Melbourne, ADHD diagnosis runs through the same two pathways as everywhere else in Australia: a registered psychologist for assessment and diagnosis, or a psychiatrist or paediatrician if you also need medication. Victoria keeps prescribing tighter than most states: only paediatricians and psychiatrists can prescribe stimulant medication without a state permit.
Who can prescribe ADHD medication in Victoria
Paediatricians (for patients under 18) and psychiatrists (any age) can prescribe dexamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine or methylphenidate for ADHD without a permit, provided the patient is not drug-dependent. Every other practitioner, GPs included, needs a Victorian Department of Health permit, and permits are generally only issued where a specialist diagnosis and a recent specialist review are already documented. Victoria does not allow a specialist and a GP to hold a permit for the same patient at the same time; instead the permit can be transferred from the specialist to the GP for ongoing prescribing, with a further specialist review required after up to two years.
Source: Victorian Department of Health, Stimulants for ADHD or narcolepsy: permit requirements.
What it costs and how long you wait
There is no Melbourne-specific published cost or wait survey, so the closest honest benchmark is the national figure: total ADHD assessment costs average close to $1,400 across Australia, and adults wait just over 10 weeks on average for a first appointment, per 2026 University of Wollongong reporting. Because Victoria's permit system keeps initiating specialists (psychiatrists and paediatricians) at the centre of the pathway, the psychiatrist consultation items (MBS 291 and 296) are the ones most Melbourne patients will actually claim a rebate against.
National average total ADHD assessment cost (not Melbourne-specific)
$530–$1,400 typical range, up to $4,000 in some cases
University of Wollongong, 2026 reporting on Australia-wide ADHD assessment costs. No Melbourne-specific published cost survey exists.
Get matched with a provider in Melbourne
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Common questions about Melbourne
Can a GP prescribe ADHD medication in Melbourne?
Not to start treatment. Only paediatricians and psychiatrists can prescribe ADHD stimulant medication in Victoria without a state permit. A GP can take over prescribing later under a transferred permit, once a specialist has diagnosed and stabilised the patient.
Source: Victorian Department of Health, permit requirements.
What Medicare rebate applies to a psychiatrist assessment in Melbourne?
A referred first attendance longer than 45 minutes (item 296) carries an 85 percent rebate of $268.90 on the $316.30 schedule fee. Where the attendance is specifically for assessment and a 12-month mental health management plan (item 291), the rebate is $467.45 on a $549.90 schedule fee.
Source: Medicare Benefits Schedule, item 296.
Sources
- Victorian Department of Health: Stimulants for ADHD or narcolepsy, permit requirements
- University of Wollongong: A 12-month wait and a $1,400 bill
See the full national cost and wait-time comparison or browse all guides.