The Australian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA), authors of the Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline for ADHD, welcomes and supports the 15 key recommendations contained in the Senate Report released on Monday.
AADPA President, Professor Dave Coghill applauded the Committee’s recognition of the challenges that people with ADHD face in Australia.
“ADHD affects nearly a million Australians and has a significant impact on their lives, “ said Professor Coghill. “The report is very detailed and while it will take a lot of hard work from everyone, with the proper support from the government the recommendations are very achievable.”
AADPA Lived Experience Director, Lou Brown said the Report was a watershed for people living with ADHD because it places lived experience at the heart of shaping future policy and services.
“It’s very reassuring to know that the voices of people with ADHD are reflected throughout the Senate Enquiry report and the recommendations,” said Ms Brown. “I’m particularly happy there’s an emphasis on lived-experience co-design of ADHD advocacy and education resources, and that the report acknowledges the value of participatory research practices. It all feels very positive.”
The Report which examines Assessment and Support Services for people with ADHD received over 700 submissions in less than six months.
In particular, AADPA strongly supports the Committee’s recommendations calling for:
- Establishment of a co-designed National Framework for ADHD;
- Funding for collaborative models of care that include GPs and nurses
- Ensuring that people with lived experience are part of plans to improve ADHD information and resources
- Expediting uniform national prescribing rules to ensure consistency across the country
- Funding to implement AADPA’s Clinical Practice Guideline for ADHD
- Funding research to address, stigma, ADHD in First Nations and LGBTQIA+ communities, as well as ADHD presenting in women and girls
AADPA Clinical Guideline Lead, Professor Mark Bellgrove said that fully implementing the Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for ADHD would go a long way toward achieving the goals of the Senate Report.
“The Australian ADHD Guideline is a roadmap to address many of the issues highlighted by the Senate Report, especially around people’s ability to get a diagnosis and treatment from a trained health care professional.”
Professor Coghill, a strong advocate of collaborative care models, especially those involving nurses and GPs in diagnostic pathways and whose work in this space was highlighted by the inquiry, said that improving training and education for primary health providers would help relieve pressure in the health system.
“Getting more capacity in the system is critical. At AADPA we’re currently creating resources and models that will help overcome barriers to access and improve the quality of care.” said Professor Coghill.
“This includes models of care that take a holistic approach to the patient journey and other initiatives such as a detailed ADHD-specific prescribing manual. We’ve advocated for national standards for a long time and I’m very pleased to see that it is one of the recommendations.”
“By providing high quality evidence-based information we can not only support professionals, but empower people to take an active role in decision-making about their ADHD.”
AADPA looks forward to working with the Senate Committee and the Government to ensure that the Inquiry delivers real and lasting change for people with ADHD.
About the Australian ADHD Professionals Association
The Australian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) is an independent not-for-profit organisation that counts a range of interdisciplinary professionals and people with lived experience as members. AADPA is committed to working toward improving the lives of people with ADHD.
Please address any media inquiries to admin@aadpa.com.au or projects@aadpa.com.au.
