National average total ADHD assessment cost (not Perth-specific)
$530–$1,400
typical range, up to $4,000 in some cases
University of Wollongong, 2026 reporting on Australia-wide ADHD assessment costs.
ADHD Assessment in Perth
In Perth, the psychologist and psychiatrist pathways both start the same way as the rest of Australia, but Western Australia keeps stimulant medication tightly specialist-led once a diagnosis is made. Approved specialists, mainly psychiatrists and paediatricians or paediatric neurologists, are the only prescribers who do not need individual state authorisation.
Who can prescribe ADHD medication in WA
In Western Australia, approved specialists, psychiatrists, paediatricians and paediatric neurologists, can prescribe Schedule 8 stimulant medication for ADHD without CEO authorisation. Other prescribers, including GPs and nurse practitioners, may continue an existing treatment under a shared-care arrangement once a specialist has written the initial prescription, but they cannot start stimulant treatment themselves. Only one Schedule 8 prescriber is permitted per patient at a time, checked against the ScriptCheckWA monitoring system, and stimulant treatment is not permitted at all for a patient under 2 years old.
Source: WA Department of Health, S8 stimulant medicines.
What it costs and how long you wait
There is no Perth-specific published cost or wait survey, so the national figures are the fairest available comparison: total ADHD assessment costs average close to $1,400 across Australia, with adults waiting just over 10 weeks on average for a first appointment, per 2026 University of Wollongong reporting. Because WA keeps the initial prescription with a specialist, most Perth patients pursuing the medication pathway will see a psychiatrist consultation billed under Medicare item 291 or 296 as part of that first step, alongside any psychologist-led assessment sessions.
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Common questions about Perth
Can a Perth GP start me on ADHD medication?
No. In Western Australia, only an approved specialist, typically a psychiatrist or paediatrician, can write the first Schedule 8 stimulant prescription. A GP can continue that prescription under shared care once a specialist has started treatment.
Is there an age limit on ADHD medication in WA?
Yes, a firm one at the youngest end: Schedule 8 stimulant medication is not permitted for a patient under 2 years of age under any circumstances in Western Australia.
Sources
- WA Department of Health: S8 stimulant medicines
- University of Wollongong: A 12-month wait and a $1,400 bill
See the full national cost and wait-time comparison, what ADHD medication costs under the PBS, or browse all guides.