ADHD Medication Prescribing Regulations & Authorities in Australia & New Zealand

ACT Chief Health Officer

There is no general unrestricted authority to prescribe Controlled Medicines in the ACT.

From 11 February 2026, a Standing Chief Health Officer (CHO) Approval commenced under:
Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods (Standing CHO approval for general practitioners to prescribe controlled medicines for ADHD) Approval 2026 (No 1) – NI2026-8

Legislative framework:

• Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 (ACT)
• Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 (ACT)

Under NI2026-8, designated prescribers may prescribe stimulant medicines for the treatment of ADHD in patients aged six (6) years or older, subject to specific conditions.

ACT fact sheet specific to ADHD psychostimulants: Prescribing psychostimulants for ADHD in the ACT (PDF)

The Standing CHO Approval does not provide unrestricted initiation authority.

It permits prescribing only:

• For ADHD;
• For patients aged 6 years and over;
• For the continuation of a course of treatment that has been initiated or reviewed by a relevant specialist;
• Within maximum daily dose limits specified in the instrument;
• Using approved electronic prescribing systems (handwritten prescriptions are not valid under this pathway);
• After the prescriber has submitted a notification form advising the CHO of their intention to prescribe under the Standing Approval.

Individual CHO approval must still be requested where:

• The patient is drug-dependent;
• Prescribing exceeds maximum daily dose limits;
• The medicine differs from that previously prescribed (except permitted switching between dexamfetamine and lisdexamfetamine within dose limits);
• Prescribing is outside ADHD indication;
• Other non-routine or higher-risk circumstances apply.

NB: Children under six (6) years are not covered by the Standing Approval and require individual CHO approval.

Routine Initial Assessment

Once an initial psychiatric assessment has established a diagnosis of ADHD:

• For patients aged 6 years and over, prescribing may occur under the Standing CHO Approval provided all conditions are met; or
• An Application for Approval to Prescribe Controlled Medicines must be submitted to Health Protection Services (HPS) where the case falls outside the Standing Approval criteria.

Applications can be submitted online through the HealthLink portal using a Smartform.

Applications outside the Standing Approval pathway are generally processed within one to two working days where no further information is required. Prescribers may indicate if urgent consideration is required.

Application form and guidance:
Visit the ACT Health webpage for prescribing approvals (includes Smartform + Canberra Script + fax)

• Prescribing controlled and monitored medicines (ACT Government / ACT Health)
• Application for Approval to Prescribe Controlled Medicines (PDF on act.gov.au)

Urine Drug Test
Not mandated by legistration

Specified Age Range
No treatment under age 4.

Under the Standing CHO Approval, prescribing without individual approval applies to patients aged 6 years and over, provided psychiatrist/paediatrician initiation or review has occurred.

Children under 6 years require individual CHO approval.No treatment under age 4

Duration of Approval
Under the Standing CHO Approval pathway, there is no per-patient approval duration provided all instrument conditions continue to be met.

Where individual CHO approval is granted (non-routine cases), approval duration is defined within the approval instrument and may require renewal.

Prescribing for Non-ADHD Conditions
Applications for controlled medicines for non-ADHD indications must be made via the individual CHO approval process.

Non-Routine Initial Assessment

An additional authority form (Controlled medicine approval by drug) is required where:

• The patient has substance abuse or is drug-dependent;
• Prescribing exceeds maximum daily dose limits;
• Prescribing is for a condition not licensed with the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods;
• The medicine differs from that previously prescribed (other than permitted dexamfetamine/lisdexamfetamine switching);
• Other high-risk circumstances apply.

Follow-up Interval
Review requirements are governed by:

• ACT Controlled Medicines Prescribing Standards; and
• Conditions of the Standing CHO Approval or individual CHO approval.

There is no blanket universal three-year psychiatrist review requirement under the Standing CHO Approval; review requirements depend on patient age, prescribing pathway and clinical circumstances.

Maximal Doses Scheduled
Maximum daily doses are defined in:

• NI2026-8 (Standing CHO Approval); and
• ACT Controlled Medicines Prescribing Standards.

Prescribers must ensure compliance with the current approved limits.
See: ACT Controlled Medicines Prescribing Standards
And very handy factsheet: Prescribing psychostimulants for ADHD in the ACT (PDF)

Co-Prescribing Details
Once the therapeutic dose (daily dose) is established and specialist initiation or review has occurred:

• Patients aged 6 years and over may be managed by a designated prescriber under the Standing CHO Approval, provided prescribing remains within the instrument conditions.
• Where prescribing falls outside those conditions, individual CHO approval is required.

More Information

ACT Standing CHO Approval (NI2026-8)
ACT Controlled Medicines Prescribing Standards

If you have any questions, contact Health Protection Services (HPS) during business hours via phone: 02 6205 0998, email: hps@act.gov.au or visit the website for more information.

Last Updated: February 2026 (reflecting NI2026-8 Standing CHO Approval commencing 11 February 2026).

NSW Health Department Pharmaceutical Regulatory Unit

As per the NSW Health website, an Authority from the NSW Ministry of Health is required to prescribe or supply dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine, or methylphenidate. A pharmacist in NSW cannot dispense a prescription for psychostimulant medication unless the prescription shows an authority number issued by the NSW Ministry of Health, regardless of which state or territory a prescription is issued in.

Note: An Authority issued to a prescriber by the NSW Ministry of Health is separate to the authority required from Services Australia for a patient to receive a Commonwealth PBS subsidised medicine.

Who can prescribe a psychostimulant medication?

Specialist Prescribers
From 13 November 2023, psychiatrists, paediatricians and neurologists are authorised under a class Authority to prescribe or supply psychostimulant medication for the treatment of ADHD in a non-drug dependent person. This means that in most cases, psychiatrists, paediatricians and neurologists will not need to apply for an authority for an individual patient.

Scheduled Substances Clinical Advisory Committee

Official Health Department (Mental Health) Policy on ADHD is not accessible via a website, and electronic copies of the documents are only available on the authority of the Deputy CEO of the Department. Monitoring of stimulant prescribing and issuing of Authority to prescribe is controlled through the Scheduled Substances Clinical Advisory Committee (CLAC) of the Medicines & Poisons Branch.

The Committee also reviews letters of application for doses exceeding the PBS guidelines. Membership of the Committee spans GPs, Addiction Specialists, Pain Specialists, Paediatricians, Psychiatrists, Pharmacists and the Chief Health Officer.

Routine Initial Assessment

There is a specific stimulant application for form for Authority to Prescribe a Restricted S8 Psychostimulant Medication which covers all categories of primary prescribers (e.g. Neurologist, Psychiatrist) and those authorising co–prescribing with GPs or interstate specialists.

Authority is renewed every 2 years and GPs are limited in the number of patients they may prescribe stimulants for (currently 10) but may apply to the CLAC for an increased number. Specialists are limited to 200 patients for whom they can prescribe stimulants as detailed in the Code of Practice Volume 1 found here.

Notification form submission after initial assessment
Application for Authority to Prescribe is made following initial assessment. Paediatricians can initiate treatment immediately without waiting for approval. Officially, approval must be obtained by psychiatrists before writing the first prescription but in practice, it doesn’t seem to be an issue writing a one-month prescription and then reviewing the patient, by which time the approval has usually been granted.

Urine Drug Test 
Urine drug screen test is not required however it is likely to be mandated in the current revision of regulations.

Specified Age Range
2nd opinion is required under age 4. Medication above 4 years at specialist discretion. In general, non-pharmacological treatment is recommended below age 7. Paediatricians must stop treating their patients at age 18.

Further Notification
Further notification to the Health Department is required once every 2 years for review, or if the patient moves from a non-routine prescribing situation.

Follow-Up Interval – 2 Years
Review with a Specialist is required every 2 years. Form submitted.

Patient Fact Sheets
Information for Patients on S8 Medicines can be found here.

Maximal Doses Scheduled
There are no formal restrictions in the Regulations and application may be made to the CLAC to exceed PBS limits.

Co-Prescribing Details
The co-prescribing GP must refer the patient back to the original specialist for a review every 2 years. A new authority application is completed by the specialist and sent to the GP who then submits their application to the Medicine And Poisons Branch.

QLD Health Department Monitored Medicines Unit

The department that manages restricted drugs in Queensland is now known as the Monitored Medicines Unit (MMU). Although ADHD comes under the Schedule 8 rules and regulations, it is generally treated in a more benign manner. There are various regulatory requirements under the Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulation 1996 regarding the prescribing of scheduled drugs of dependence (S8), including script requirements, and approvals/reports to the Chief Executive.

The new Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 (MPA) and the Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation, 2021 (MPMR) commenced on Monday 27 September 2021 and sets out the requirements for written and computer-generated prescriptions.

This summary informs prescribers of their obligations under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 (MPA) and the Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 (MPMR) when prescribing psychostimulants and is further explained clearly in the document entitled “Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement” available to read here.

There are also additional prescribing authorisations for continuing institutional treatment when a patient is in a hospital or custodial facility and for registrars employed at a hospital. The requirements to authorise this prescribing are detailed in Schedule 6, Part 2, Division 1 of the MPMR.

All Schedule 8 medicines and a range of Schedule 4 medicines are now monitored medicines and subject to the real-time reporting system, QScript. Prescribers are required to look up QScript before they prescribe any monitored medicines.

Maximal Doses Scheduled
The maximum daily dose of a psychostimulant medicine permitted is defined in Schedule 22 of the MPMR to mean:
•  for dexamfetamine – 40mg a day; or
•  for lisdexamfetamine – 70mg a day; or
•  for methylphenidate – 80mg a day.

Urine Drug Test
An initial urine drug test is not mandatory but may be recommended, especially for patients with a history of drug misuse, with random tests advised to confirm proper use of psychostimulants and rule out ongoing drug use, typically within the past 2 years.

Prescribing Arrangements
In all circumstances other than those outlined above, including to prescribe above the maximum daily dose for an adult with ADHD, a prescriber must be granted a prescribing approval under section 67 of the MPA before prescribing psychostimulants for a patient.

A prescribing approval authorises a person to prescribe a medicine stated in the approval for a person, or a class of persons, under any circumstances or conditions stated in the approval.

A prescribing approval only authorises the approval holder to prescribe the medicine and cannot be transferred to another person. Download the prescribing approval application form here.

Prescribing for a child with ADHD under a prescribing approval
The above information also applies to a prescriber who is not otherwise authorised under the MPMR to prescribe psychostimulants for a child with ADHD as described in above and in the factsheet. When applying on the approved form for these applications, the ongoing support of a paediatrician or psychiatrist is required.

Prescribing for a child with ADHD transitioning to adulthood under a prescribing approval
When a person with ADHD turns 18 years of age and has been prescribed psychostimulants as a child, if a prescriber is not otherwise authorised under the MPMR to prescribe psychostimulants for an adult with ADHD, they must apply for a prescribing approval.

If the patient was not diagnosed with ADHD by a paediatrician or psychiatrist as a child, then the patient should be referred to a psychiatrist to review the diagnosis and ongoing treatment prior to turning 25. Alternatively, a specialist GP may continue treatment where appropriate.

Queensland Health cannot provide approvals for prescribing activities that take place outside of Queensland and currently only provide access to QScript to doctors who are located in Queensland. Prescribers located outside of Queensland may wish to consider a shared care arrangement with a Queensland-based GP for any patients located in Queensland.

Additional content of a written prescription for psychostimulants
Under section 87(2)(c) of the MPMR, a prescriber must include the following detail on a prescription for a psychostimulant:
•  words to indicate the condition being treated; or
•  the words ‘specified condition’ if the medicine is for the treatment of a specified condition (meaning ADHD, brain injury or narcolepsy).

Under section 86(1)(m) of the MPMR, the prescriber must also include details of their authorisation to prescribe the psychostimulant (as a restricted medicine) on the prescription. Examples include the identifying number of the prescribing approval held by the prescriber, or the qualifications of the prescriber (e.g. their medical specialty).

For interstate prescriptions, prescribers must ensure these requirements are met for the prescription to be dispensed in Queensland. For more information, refer to the Interstate prescriptions for dispensing in Queensland factsheet.

Find more information on complying with the provisions of the Monitored Medicines Standard and registering for and using QScript here.

SA Health Department Drugs of Dependence Unit

In South Australia, stimulants are grouped with all Schedule 8 drugs. The application form is general and only needs to be used if treatment with stimulants is expected to continue beyond 2 months. Download the Authority Application form at the bottom of this page.

Routine Initial Assessment

Schedule 8 drugs may only be prescribed by any medical practitioner for up to two months. If stimulant prescribing is expected to continue beyond 2 months, approval must be applied for by submitting an Authority Application form. Ensure there are no complicating factors such as a history of schizophrenia (or other psychosis) or significant substance abuse. In this case, another opinion from a 2nd psychiatrist is required.

The Drugs of Dependence Unit of the SA Department of Health is the entity that issues such Authorities. A supporting written opinion from the relevant specialist (paediatrician or child psychiatrist for minors, or psychiatrist for adults) must be provided with the generic application form if a GP is applying for the Authority.  A psychiatrist may simply submit the application form and doesn’t usually have to provide an additional letter.

Second opinions from another psychiatrist are no longer required for doses above 30 mg dexamphetamine, 60 mg methylphenidate or their equivalent slow-release formulations, but a second opinion may be demanded by the DDU on a case by case basis, e.g. if the dose requested is ‘unusually high’, or in cases of significant past or recent/current substance and/or alcohol use disorder.  Second opinions may be required for patients with a history of psychosis, especially if this has been an adverse sequelae to stimulant medication in the past, but a second opinion is not necessarily mandatory in such cases.

Urine Drug Test 
Not mandated but may be of help before initiating treatment to ensure substance-abuse is not present. The DDU do not routinely require urine drug screens and only require them as an additional condition of Authority in select cases of comorbid or past significant substance use disorders/addictions, unusually high doses of stimulants or past history of a tendency to overuse or misuse their stimulants, forgery of scripts, presenting to their pharmacy too soon for repeat dispensing etc.

Patients who are also attending another doctor/clinic for opiate substitution therapy (such as Suboxone) are usually also required to have urine drug screens by both prescribers, and prescribers are required to maintain communication with each other.

Specified Age Range
Paediatrician may continue pre-existing regular treatment up to the age of 25 provided the patient is in at least “half-time” study and do not necessitate review by a psychiatrist. Otherwise, beyond the age of 19, all patients require a review by psychiatrist. Approvals to treat are granted for variable periods, depending on the clinical situation but no more than 5 years.

Further Notification To Health Department
Yes, at review, which may be up to 5 years.

Stimulant prescribing for non-ADHD conditions
Yes, apply on the usual form for conditions such as depression. Each case assessed individually by the DDU.

Non-Routine Initial Assessment

2nd opinions are required when there is a history of schizophrenia (or other psychosis) or significant substance abuse.

Follow-Up Interval
All prescriptions should be limited initially to no more than 3 month supply. Subsequently, it is acceptable to provide six month scripts (i.e. monthly supply with 5 repeats) in straightforward cases with no significant comorbidities to be managed.

Maximal Doses Scheduled
Not mandated, but doses are reviewed and feedback given if considered excessive. Most patients should respond to daily dosages of 6 tablets per day or less, up to 75 mg per day of extended-release methylphenidate.

Co-Prescribing Details
Amended November 2018 to encourage more rapid GP involvement for follow-up treatment, thus encouraging psychiatrists to be more available for new cases. Psychiatrists can refer patients to GPs soon after their diagnostic process without waiting for 6 months or so to stabilise medication dosages (even immediately if a case can be made for difficulty accessing follow-up e.g. remote location). Also, annual psychiatric review is not routinely required, and authorities for GPs to prescribe may be up to 5 years. All of this is for low-risk, stable patients.

Maintenance and Continued Prescribing
A GP will not usually be granted an authority to prescribe schedule 8 stimulants without the explicit written support of a relevant specialist medical practitioner and, diagnosis and treatment stability has been established, and/or for individual patients with special needs (including those living in regional areas) where a specialist retains clinical oversight of the patient’s care.

Below is an excerpt from the DDU regarding Schedule 8 stimulants

Schedule 8 stimulant medicines including dexamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate have legitimate therapeutic uses, but also the potential for addiction or abuse. Stimulant medicines stimulate the central nervous system by increasing the activity of certain chemicals in the brain and are used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) and less often to treat depression or acquired brain injury.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis and initial application for authority to prescribe Schedule 8 stimulants should be made by a relevant AHPRA recognised specialist medical practitioner (eg. paediatrician, psychiatrist, neurologist or respiratory physician).

Dose
Determining the severity of ADHD is a matter for clinical judgement, taking into account the severity of impairment, pervasiveness, individual factors and familial and social context. Stimulant dose should be titrated against the patient’s clinical need and treatment should be part of a comprehensive program addressing psychological, behavioural and educational or occupational needs.

Misuse
Stimulant treatment for people who misuse other substances should be carefully monitored. Substance misuse may include current or past IV drug use, illicit amphetamine use or drug or alcohol dependence. The risk of misuse and diversion of prescribed stimulants may be increased for patients with a history of substance abuse and the decision to use stimulants requires an individual risk-benefit assessment.

Specific consideration should be given to:

• drug screen urinalysis to determine what (if any) other drugs are being used,
• referral to an Addiction Medicine specialist or Drug and Alcohol Services, and
• liaison between health professionals involved in the patient’s care where a patient is receiving treatment for opioid drug dependence.”

TAS Department of Pharmaceutical Services Branch

There are currently three Schedule 8 psychostimulants (dexamfetamine, methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine) registered for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Indications for use differ for each substance and include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), binge-eating disorder, narcolepsy and other hypersomnias.

The Department of Health administers the Tasmanian Poisons Act 1971 and Poisons Regulations 2018. Under regulation 24 of the Poisons Regulations 2018 a medical practitioner is required to seek and obtain an authority from the Secretary of the Department of Health prior to issuing a prescription for a Schedule 8 psychostimulant for a patient. These authorities are issued pursuant to section 59E of the Poisons Act 1971. A medical practitioner must be present and practising in Tasmania to be authorised to prescribe Schedule 8 psychostimulants in Tasmania.

The below outlines the framework for prescribers to gain authorisation under section 59E of the Poisons Act 1971 to prescribe Schedule 8 psychostimulants in Tasmania.

Download relevant forms & guidelines for doctors below

• Application for authorisation to prescribe Schedule 8 medicines under section 59E of the Poisons Act 1971
• Process for assessing and granting authorities to prescribe psychostimulants
• Fact Sheet – Seeking Authorisation to Prescribe Schedule 8 Psychostimulants in Tasmania 

Diagnosis and Treatment Recommendations
Medical conditions which may benefit from treatment with Schedule 8 psychostimulants should be diagnosed by an appropriately qualified specialist medical practitioner. This includes psychiatrists, paediatricians, sleep physicians and neurologists. Assessment and diagnosis of medical conditions should occur using accepted diagnostic criteria and management approaches considered based on profession endorsed clinical guidelines and evidence-based resources.

Prescribers Eligible for Authorisation
Section 59E applications will be accepted from appropriately qualified specialist medical practitioners practising in Tasmania including psychiatrists, paediatricians, sleep physicians and neurologists.

Additionally, Tasmanian general practitioners may apply to be authorised to prescribe Schedule 8 psychostimulants where an assessment and diagnosis of the patient has been conducted by a relevant medical specialist in the condition being treated. Such applications should be accompanied by a comprehensive clinical report from the relevant medical specialist including diagnosis, management plan, and recommended treatment regimen.

The authorisation of medical practitioners under section 59E to prescribe Schedule 8 medicines is restricted to medical practitioners physically present and practising medicine in Tasmania. An interstate medical practitioner (e.g., practising telehealth interstate) cannot be authorised under section 59E. However, an appropriately qualified medical specialist interstate can support a Tasmanian-located general practitioner to make an application under section 59E.

General Process for Section 59E Application and Authorisation
An application for authority to prescribe Schedule 8 psychostimulants under Section 59E can be made using the form ‘Application for authorisation to prescribe Schedule 8 medicines under Section 59E of the Poisons Act 1971’ and can be submitted via email to pharmserv@health.tas.gov.au

Applications are then assessed by a pharmacist within the Department’s Pharmaceutical Services Branch (PSB) who is a delegate for the Secretary for purposes of section 59E. On assessment, the delegate may decide to refuse the application, issue an authority, or issue an authority with conditions.

Applications that do not include sufficient detail to allow an informed decision to be made by the delegate will not be assessed and will be referred to the applicant for further specific information. In some cases, the delegate may request further information to inform the assessment which could include the results of a urine drug screen, sleep study results, or occasionally a second supporting opinion from a specialist medical practitioner.

Authorities will generally be issued for a maximum of 36 months but may be issued for a shorter duration at the delegate’s discretion. Paediatricians making an application for a child may be issued an authorisation until the child turns 18 years old. Subsequent applications from a general practitioner to renew an expired authorisation should be accompanied by documentation indicating the patient has continued to engage in clinical review with a relevant medical specialist (at intervals as defined by the relevant medical specialist) with the patient’s current drug and dose regimen remaining appropriate.

A section 59E authority issued covers the named medical practitioner and any medical practitioner that works within the same medical practice.

Exceptional or Urgent Circumstances
In urgent or exceptional circumstances, a Tasmanian medical practitioner can telephone Pharmaceutical Services Branch and seek verbal authorisation under section 59E for short-term prescribing arrangements. In urgent and exceptional circumstances, the section 59E delegate still requires the medical practitioner to have undertaken appropriate clinical due diligence. Examples may include:

• Where the patient is a subject of a section 59E authorisation for Schedule 8 psychostimulants, but a different non-authorised medical practitioner wishes to prescribe the Schedule 8 psychostimulant due to exceptional circumstances (e.g., transfer in treating medical practitioner, unable to secure necessary specialist medical appointment).
• Where the patient is treated with Schedule 8 psychostimulants interstate and during travel to Tasmania has insufficient dispensed medicine remaining.
• Where the patient is a subject of a section 59E authorisation for Schedule 8 psychostimulants, but there is an urgent need to vary the authorised regimen (e.g., when the usual medicine is unavailable due to stock shortages).

Regimen and Dosage
It is expected that in most cases the treatment of patients with Schedule 8 psychostimulants will be at doses within the TGA approved Product Information (PI) and profession endorsed clinical guidelines. Applications for doses exceeding those in the TGA approved PI should be accompanied by a detailed clinical rationale for the higher dose from the relevant medical specialist.

Authorities issued include specific psychostimulant(s) and maximum dosage, based on the requested regimen in the application. It is acknowledged that for some patients the prescriber may be titrating and adjusting psychostimulant treatment based on response, weight, or suitability. In clinical situations where the applicant believes it appropriate, after noting the clinical intention they may wish to include on their application:

• Multiple psychostimulant substances
• Multiple formulations of the same psychostimulant substance (i.e., immediate release and modified release)
• A maximum dose for upward titration

Patient Age
Prescribers should be familiar with current TGA approved PI regarding the use of methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, and dexamfetamine at different ages. It is expected that in most cases the treatment of patients with Schedule 8 psychostimulants will be within the age parameters of TGA approved PI and profession endorsed clinical guidelines. Applications for a patient not within the TGA PI range for a Schedule 8 psychostimulant should be accompanied by a detailed clinical rationale from the relevant specialist medical practitioner.

Non-TGA Registered Indications
Applications for authorisation to prescribe Schedule 8 psychostimulants for indications not registered by the TGA should be accompanied by a detailed clinical report from the relevant specialist medical practitioner outlining the rationale for use, recommended management plan, and account of other treatment options trialled.

Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)
The s59E application assessment process includes consideration of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS). A REMS approach can assist to:

• Ensure that patients who may be at increased risk of preventable harm when prescribed Schedule 8 psychostimulants are appropriately identified, the risks and benefits in the individual have been carefully considered, and that care is being provided with appropriate risk mitigation strategies and monitoring.
• Minimise preventable harms to the public from diversion of prescribed Schedule 8 psychostimulants into the community for illicit purposes.
• Ensure children receiving Schedule 8 psychostimulants are provided a supported framework to receive their prescribed medicines where risks in their care environment with respect to safekeeping of medicines have been identified.

Prior to making an application or recommendation for treatment with a Schedule 8 psychostimulant, it is expected that medical practitioners undertake a comprehensive clinical and psychosocial assessment to inform their management plan. This should include taking a comprehensive history of past or present illicit substance use and history of unsafe alcohol or substance use. The management plan should include an overall patient risk-benefit assessment for treatment and where appropriate detailed risk mitigation and monitoring strategies to support safe patient care.

Complex Applications
For applications where complex clinical issues are involved, a delegate may choose to seek advice from a Consultant Medical Officer (CMO) or a panel of two or more relevant specialist medical practitioners. Applications requiring CMO or panel advice comprise a very small percentage of all Schedule 8 psychostimulant applications. The CMO or panel will be experienced clinician(s) with appropriate background and training in the areas of paediatrics, addiction medicine or psychiatry. After seeking advice, the decision on the application remains with the delegate.

Review of a Decision
Formal review arrangements exist for authorities for Schedule 8 psychostimulants issued under section 59E. Where a delegate has included conditions on an authority or has refused to issue an authority, a medical practitioner, a patient, or their carer, may make application to request a review of the decision. Grounds for review may be clinical in nature or relate to other facts relevant to the application. A review is undertaken by a delegate not involved in the original decision. Information on this process and application form is available on the Department’s website.

VIC Health Department Medicines & Poisons Regulation

From 2021, the S8 permit system was scrapped making it much easier to prescribe S8 medications in Victoria. The SafeScript system is being introduced throughout Australia and was introduced in Victoria in April 2020 as a mandatory check-in system to ensure that patients are not drug-dependent. If they are not, specialist paediatricians and psychiatrists can then prescribe stimulant medication without needing a Permit as was the case.

SafeScript Prescribing
SafeScript is a clinical tool that provides access to a patient’s prescription history for high-risk medicines to enable safer clinical decisions. It is quick and easy to use and can be integrated with prescribing and dispensing software.

From April 2020 it has been mandatory to check SafeScript prior to writing or dispensing a prescription for any medicines monitored through the system (these include stimulant medications, but also benzodiazepines, painkillers, quetiapine, et al).

A permit may be required before prescribing amphetamine, dexamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, methylamphetamine or methylphenidate. This depends on the type of medical practitioner and the particular circumstances.

The requirements for prescribing these types of medicines are complex, so it is important that medical practitioners understand their responsibilities under the legislation.

Paediatricians and psychiatrists
Most medical practitioners must obtain a permit before prescribing special Schedule 8 poisons. However, in recognition of their specialist expertise and the greater likelihood that paediatricians and psychiatrists will diagnose and initiate treatment for patients for ADHD, the Secretary (of the Department of Health) has specified that medical condition and related circumstances under which a Schedule 8 poison may be prescribed, administered or supplied without first obtaining a permit.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (patient is less than 18 years old)
A paediatrician or a psychiatrist is not required to obtain a special Schedule 8 treatment permit to treat a patient with a psychostimulant drug (approved by the TGA for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), provided that;

1. the patient is not a drug-dependent person, and,
2. the patient has not reached 18 years of age.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (patient is 18 years or more)
A psychiatrist is not required to obtain a special Schedule 8 treatment permit to treat a patient with a psychostimulant drug (approved by the TGA for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), provided the patient is not a drug-dependent person.

PBS authorities or private (non-PBS) prescriptions
Authority prescriptions, approved under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, merely indicate that Medicare Australia will subsidise the cost of the medicine; medical practitioners must still comply with the requirements for a Schedule 8 treatment permit under Victorian legislation.

Similarly, in the case of a ‘private’ (non-PBS) prescription, medical practitioners must still obtain a Schedule 8 permit where required under Victorian legislation.

Other medical practitioners (not paediatricians and psychiatrists)
Permit requirements for medical practitioners who are not paediatricians or psychiatrists are clear; it is an offence to prescribe amphetamine, dexamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, methylamphetamine or methylphenidate without a permit – even on one occasion – unless one of the following exceptions applies.

General exceptions – prisons, residential aged care services, hospital inpatients
In circumstances where patients are confined and not personally managing their medications, the risk of concurrent prescribing is significantly reduced. Accordingly, a permit is not required to prescribe Schedule 8 poisons for prisoners being treated in a prison, residents being treated in a residential aged care service and patients receiving inpatient treatment in a hospital (not including day procedure centres).

Multi-practitioner clinics
At multi-practitioner clinics, more than one medical practitioner might be involved in the management of some patients. For this reason, each practitioner is not required to obtain a permit, provided a valid permit is held by one practitioner at the clinic and the prescribing is consistent with and does not exceed the permit limits or conditions.

Note: To ensure compliance, details of permits, including maximum dosage plus expiry or cancellation dates, should be prominently displayed within patient records.

Permit applications by general practitioners
The department’s policy is that specialist involvement is necessary for the diagnosis and ongoing management of all ADHD patients. General practitioners will generally only be issued with permits to prescribe dexamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine or methylphenidate where there is evidence of a specialist diagnosis and that a specialist review has taken place within a specified period.

General Information

Urine Drug Test 
Not mandatory in Victoria.

Specified Age Range
Not specified. At “clinicians discretion”.

Stimulant prescribing for non-ADHD conditions
Psychiatrists, neurologists and paediatricians can prescribe for ADHD (if no comorbid SUD) for up to 8 weeks before getting Permit. Everything else needs permit first: ADHD+SUD, Depression, Binge eating. Same Application forms are used.

Follow-Up Interval
Only specified if patients are being co-managed with the GP, and in this case, the GP must ask for a specialist review at least every 2 years

Maximal Doses Scheduled
No maximum doses scheduled in Victoria. Doses are written on the notification form, and high doses will be queried.

Co-Prescribing Details
Strictly speaking, Victoria does not allow the specialist and GP to both have permits to prescribe at the same time but will allow co-managing which means that the permit to prescribe is transferred from the specialist to the GP, and the GP can keep prescribing stimulants (after the permit has been approved) for up to 2 years before a specialist review is required to allow this to continue.

More Information

For more information on SafeScript visit the SafeScript website here. For more information including the required forms to manage routine stimulant prescribing and dispensing of Schedule 8 medications, visit the Stimulant Prescribing section of the medicines and poisons website.

If you are uncertain about the requirements for approval to treat a patient, please contact Safer Prescribing Team | Medicines and Poisons Regulation via email dpcs@dhhs.vic.gov.au

Last Updated: May 2022

WA Health Department Medicines and Poisons

In Western Australia, ADHD stimulant medications may be initiated by authorised specialists and, under the WA Specialist GP ADHD Prescriber pathway, by eligible GPs who have completed the required training and received approval to independently assess, diagnose and initiate treatment.

Prescribing Requirements and Notifications
Stimulant prescribing in Western Australia is regulated under the WA Monitored Medicines Prescribing Code. Routine prescribing may commence without prior authorisation where standard prescribing criteria are met.

Notification to the Department of Health is only required for non-routine prescribing. This includes situations such as prescribing outside approved dose limits, prescribing below the minimum approved age, or prescribing for patients with certain complex clinical circumstances, including a history of stimulant-induced psychosis, psychosis, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorder.

Applications relating to non-routine prescribing are considered by the Stimulant Assessment Panel, comprising specialist clinicians and Department of Health representatives. The Panel reviews cases that fall outside standard prescribing criteria and provides advice on whether prescribing may proceed.

Interstate specialists may prescribe stimulant medications to WA residents without obtaining additional WA permits and may participate in shared care arrangements with WA-based GPs in accordance with WA regulations.

Routine Initial Assessment
Routine stimulant prescribing does not require a notification form. Prescribing can begin following clinical assessment.

Urine Drug Test
As of December 2024, a urine drug screen must be conducted for all patients 16 years and older (previously 13+), in accordance with ANZ Standard 4308, as a risk mitigation tool, before commencing treatment with an S8 stimulant medicine. The need for further testing should form part of the management plan for each patient as indicated.

Urine drug screens can support the identification of any undisclosed substance use. They can also help verify a person’s compliance with S8 stimulant medication treatment.

Specified Age Range

• Paediatricians and child psychiatrists may treat between 4–19 years, and up to 25 if the patient had treatment prior to 19
• Treatment below 2 is not permitted
• Treatment of any child between 2–4 requires special authority
• Treatment of any child less than 6 with lisdexamphetamine is not permitted
• Adult psychiatrists are now able to prescribe to children of any age, provided they are clinically competent to do so. There is no upper limit.

Notification Form Submission After Initial Assessment
Notification forms are not required for routine cases. Non-routine cases must still be submitted to the Department.

Further Notification to the Health Department Required
Further notification is only required if patients change their name or date of birth, move to non-routine prescribing criteria, or the specialist decides to co-prescribe with a general practitioner (GP).

Stimulant Prescribing for Non-ADHD Conditions
Yes, stimulants are allowed for acquired brain injury, narcolepsy and depression, under the same prescribing regulations.

Non-Routine Initial Assessment
If the patients fall outside the criteria of the Monitored Medicines Prescribing Code due to ADHD comorbidity (e.g. substance misuse within the last 5 years, psychosis or bipolar disorder, stimulant-induced psychosis), or prescribing beyond maximum doses or below minimum age, or for other non-approved conditions, then prior authorisation is required before prescribing stimulant medicines to these patients.

The completed “Application Form For Authorisation’ has to be submitted for each patient, along with a detailed clinical report addressing all the points on the checklist for each co-morbidity and a urine drug screen.

Follow-Up Interval
As of December 2024, patients under 18 must be reviewed at least annually. For adults, the interval may extend to every 3 years if clinically appropriate.

Maximal Doses Scheduled
Yes. Maximum doses permitted without prior authorisation are listed below:

Stimulant Conversion Table – Dexamfetamine Equivalents (Figure 4, WA Code).
This table is used for regulatory purposes when patients are prescribed more than one stimulant concurrently. The total daily stimulant dose must not exceed the approved dexamfetamine-equivalent limits.

Note:  These conversion factors are for regulatory limits only and should not be used for clinical dose conversion or medication switching.

ScriptCheckWA – Real-Time Prescription Monitoring
Prescribers must check ScriptCheckWA prior to prescribing any monitored medicine, including stimulants. ScriptCheckWA registration is mandatory for prescribers and dispensers from 12 June 2025.

Interstate Specialists
Interstate specialists may prescribe to WA residents without requiring a WA-specific permit or prescription format. They may also co-prescribe with WA GPs.

PBS Authority
The above WA requirements are separate from PBS Authority requirements for subsidised prescriptions. Contact the PBS Authority line on 1800 888 333.

NZ Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority

Prescriber Authority – In force from 1 February 2026

From 1 February 2026, prescribing restrictions for:

• Dexamfetamine
• Methylphenidate
• Lisdexamfetamine

are governed by New Zealand Gazette Notice 2025-go3319.

This notice replaces previous restriction approvals and defines:

• Who may initiate stimulant treatment for ADHD
• Who may provide ongoing prescribing
• The circumstances under which written recommendations apply

The sections below summarise current initiation and prescribing authority.

Initiation of Prescribing – ADHD

Adults (18 years and over)
Initiation of stimulant prescribing for ADHD in adults may be undertaken by:

• Medical practitioners with a vocational scope of practice in general practice, paediatrics or psychiatry; and
• Nurse practitioners working within their area of practice.

Children and Adolescents (17 years and under)
Initiation of stimulant prescribing for ADHD in patients aged 17 years or younger may be undertaken by:

• Medical practitioners with a vocational scope of practice in paediatrics or psychiatry; and
• Nurse practitioners practising within paediatric services or child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

Ongoing Prescribing on Written Recommendation
Once treatment has been initiated by an authorised prescriber, any other Medical practitioner or Nurse practitioner may prescribe stimulant medicines when acting on a written recommendation from an authorised initiating prescriber, subject to any limitations specified in that recommendation.

Non-ADHD Indications
Where stimulant medicines are prescribed for indications other than ADHD (e.g. narcolepsy or other off label uses), prescribers must comply with:

• the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
• the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977
• any applicable Regulation 22 restriction approvals

In certain cases, approval from Medicines Control (Medsafe) may be required. Contact Medsafe for guidance.

Controlled Drug Prescription Requirements 

Under Regulation 29 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, controlled drug prescriptions must:

1. be issued on an approved controlled drug prescription form or generated from an approved electronic prescribing system; and
2. be physically signed by the prescriber in their own handwriting where required under the Regulation.

Approved pathways include:

• Triplicate controlled drug forms (e.g. H572)
• Approved electronic systems (e.g. NZePS)

Resources:
Regulation 29 (form of Prescription) 
Controlled drug guidance (MoH)