ADHD prescribing rules in South Australia

Since 28 February 2026, specially trained South Australian GPs can assess, diagnose, treat and prescribe for ADHD in children aged 8 and above and in adults, without a referral to a psychiatrist or paediatrician.

South Australia opened the widest GP diagnosis pathway of any jurisdiction that attached a training requirement, because it covers children as well as adults. Queensland's is broader by prescriber but stops at adults.

Who grants approval: SA Health, Drugs of Dependence Unit
Governing law: Controlled Substances Act 1984
Prescription monitoring: ScriptCheckSA

The rules at a glance

ADHD stimulant prescribing in South Australia, as published by SA Health, Drugs of Dependence Unit
Rule	Position	Detail
Specialists who can start	Yes Paediatricians, psychiatrists, neurologists	Specialist diagnosis remains the other route into treatment, alongside the trained GP pathway that opened on 28 February 2026.
Can a GP start it	With training Specially trained GPs, ages 8 and up	From 28 February 2026, specially trained South Australian GPs can assess, diagnose, treat and prescribe medication for ADHD in children 8 years old and above, as well as adults where clinically appropriate, without needing to make a referral to a psychiatrist or paediatrician.
Can a GP continue it	With approval Authority beyond two months	An authority from the Minister is needed to prescribe a drug of dependence for a patient's regular use beyond two months, and treatment provided by other prescribers counts toward that two-month period.
Government approval	With approval Ministerial authority past two months	It is an offence to prescribe or supply drugs of dependence for a patient's regular use for a period exceeding two months without an authority from the Minister. Applications are made through ScriptCheckSA.
Nurse practitioners	With approval Same authority rule	The two-month authority rule is written around the prescriber and the drug rather than a specialty, so the same threshold applies.
Age rules	Yes GP pathway starts at age 8	The trained GP pathway covers children 8 years old and above, and adults where clinically appropriate.

Changed: 28 February 2026. Specially trained SA GPs can assess, diagnose, treat and prescribe for ADHD in children aged 8 and above and in adults, with no specialist referral required.

What the trained GP pathway covers

SA Health states that from 28 February 2026, specially trained South Australian GPs can assess, diagnose, treat and prescribe medication for ADHD in children 8 years old and above, as well as adults where clinically appropriate, without needing to make a referral to a psychiatrist or paediatrician.

That wording matters in two places. It covers assessment and diagnosis, not only prescribing, and it covers children from age 8, which the Queensland and ACT stage 1 pathways do not.

Finding a trained GP

SA Health directs people to check their regular practice website or speak to their regular GP, and notes that the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners lists GPs who have completed the training on its website. SA Health also states plainly that GP consultation fees may apply and to ask about fees when booking.

The two month authority threshold

Separately from who may diagnose, South Australia controls duration. It is an offence to prescribe or supply a drug of dependence for a patient's regular use during a period exceeding two months without an authority from the Minister, and treatment provided by other prescribers has to be counted when working out that two months. Applications for the authority are made through ScriptCheckSA.

Treating drug dependence itself requires an authority from the first instance, with no equivalent grace period.

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Common questions about prescribing in SA

Can a GP diagnose ADHD in South Australia?

A specially trained GP can, since 28 February 2026, for children aged 8 and above and for adults where clinically appropriate, with no referral to a psychiatrist or paediatrician needed. A GP who has not completed that training cannot.

How do I find a trained GP in South Australia?

SA Health suggests checking your regular practice website or asking your regular GP, and notes that the RACGP lists the GPs who have completed the training on its website.

Is treatment past two months a problem in SA?

It is not a problem, but it is a step. Prescribing a drug of dependence for regular use beyond two months requires an authority from the Minister, applied for through ScriptCheckSA, and time on treatment with other prescribers counts toward that two months.

Sources

SA Health: Access ADHD care through a GP Read 8 September 2026. Source states last updated 3 March 2026.
SA Health: Prescribing drugs of dependence Read 8 September 2026.
SA legislation: Controlled Substances Act 1984 Read 8 September 2026.

Compare with other jurisdictions

See all eight jurisdictions side by side, or open one directly.

Looking for assessment cost and wait times rather than prescribing rules? See the Adelaide pathway page.

ADHD Pathways Australia is an independent, editorially-run information resource. It is not a clinic and does not diagnose, treat or provide medical advice. Content here is general information only, sourced and cited where a figure is stated, and is not a substitute for a formal assessment by a registered psychologist, psychiatrist or paediatrician. Always seek individual advice from a qualified professional about your own situation.