If you are a psychiatrist or paediatrician — routine prescribing

Individual patient approval is not required for routine ADHD stimulant prescribing. You operate under the Standing CHO Approval (NI2026-8, commenced 11 February 2026).

1. Download and submit the one-off notification form from the ACT prescribing stimulants page to Health Protection Services (hps@act.gov.au). This advises the CHO of your intention to prescribe under the Standing Approval.
2. Check Canberra Script (RTPM) before prescribing — voluntary in the ACT but strongly recommended.
3. Prescribe as clinically appropriate for non-drug-dependent ADHD patients aged 4 and older, within the dose limits (dexamfetamine 50mg/day, lisdexamfetamine 70mg/day, methylphenidate 108mg/day). Prescriptions must be electronic — handwritten prescriptions are not valid under this pathway.

GPs

From February 2026, GPs who complete specified training and notify the CHO can continue prescribing ADHD stimulants under the Standing CHO Approval without requiring individual CHO approval for each patient. Electronic prescribing is mandatory.

If you are a psychiatrist, paediatrician, or neurologist

1. You are covered by the Class Authority CA2023 (issued 13 November 2023). This replaces the old CNS/S28c individual authorities for routine prescribing.
2. Write “CA2023” on every prescription for psychostimulants. Pharmacists cannot lawfully dispense without an approval reference number on the script.
3. Check SafeScript NSW before prescribing — strongly recommended (not legally mandatory for specialists, but increasingly expected as standard practice).
4. No individual patient application is needed, provided you are prescribing for ADHD, the patient is not drug-dependent, and doses are within limits: dexamfetamine 50mg/day, lisdexamfetamine 70mg/day, methylphenidate 108mg/day.

GPs (Stage 1 reforms from September 2025)

1. Complete the accredited continuation prescriber training.
2. Apply for a general authority as a continuation prescriber via SafeScript NSW.
3. Once approved, you can continue prescribing for stable patients aged 6+ with an existing specialist ADHD diagnosis and stabilised treatment.
4. Checking SafeScript NSW is mandatory as a condition of your general authority.

Stage 2 (GP initiation of stimulant treatment) is expected in 2026.

RTPM

SafeScript NSW — strongly recommended for all prescribers, but not legally mandatory (except for GP continuation prescribers, where it is a condition of their authority). NSW Health encourages all prescribers and pharmacists to use it as routine practice.

Prescriptions

Prescription format: Computer-generated paper prescriptions require confirmatory handwriting in NSW. This does not apply to electronic prescriptions (eScripts), which are authenticated digitally and do not require handwriting.

If you are a psychiatrist or paediatrician

1. Download the Application for Authority to Prescribe Restricted S8 Psychostimulant Medication (Word doc). The form is also available from the NT Health S8 medicines page.
2. Complete the form for each individual patient and email it with attachments to poisonscontrol@nt.gov.au.
3. Wait for CHO approval before prescribing. Approval is required for each patient.
4. Check NTScript (RTPM) before prescribing — mandatory in NT.

Additional notification triggers

You must notify the CHO if:

• Treatment exceeds 8 cumulative weeks in the previous 12 months
• Certain dosage levels or increments are exceeded
• Possible misuse of the prescription is suspected

Who can initiate

Only psychiatrists, paediatricians, physicians, neurologists, and registrars in training in these disciplines can initiate stimulant treatment. Other medical practitioners may continue supply after initiation by a specialist.

Interstate prescriptions

Prescriptions for psychostimulants written by interstate prescribers can be dispensed in the NT where the prescriber would normally be endorsed to initiate treatment in the Territory.

RTPM

NTScript — mandatory.

If you are a psychiatrist

1. Register for and log into QScript.
2. Apply for prescribing approval via QScript. Psychiatrists can initiate and continue for any age.
3. Check QScript (RTPM) before each prescription — mandatory in QLD.
4. Include the condition being treated (or “specified condition”) on the prescription.

If you are a paediatrician

1. Same process via QScript. Paediatricians can prescribe for patients aged 4–24 (expanded from 4–17 in December 2025).
2. Check QScript (RTPM) before each prescription — mandatory.
3. If the patient was not diagnosed as a child and is approaching 25, refer to a psychiatrist for ongoing treatment review.

GPs (from 1 December 2025)

Queensland is the first state to allow specialist GPs to initiate, modify, and continue stimulant prescribing for adults with ADHD. Apply for approval through QScript.

Interstate prescribing

QLD Health cannot provide approvals for prescribing outside Queensland. QScript is only accessible to QLD-based doctors. Interstate prescribers should consider shared care with a QLD-based GP for patients in Queensland.

RTPM

QScript — mandatory.

If you are a psychiatrist or paediatrician

1. Register for ScriptCheckSA if you haven’t already.
2. Submit an authority application via ScriptCheckSA (from 1 January 2026, all applications must go through ScriptCheckSA rather than paper forms). See the ScriptCheckSA authorities help page for instructions.
3. Wait for DDU assessment and approval.
4. Check ScriptCheckSA (RTPM) before each prescription — mandatory in SA.

GPs

1. Obtain a written report from the relevant specialist supporting your authority to prescribe.
2. Submit a Section 18A Authority application via ScriptCheckSA with a copy of the specialist report.
3. DDU reviews on a case-by-case basis. A GP will not usually be granted authority without specialist support.

SA has a formal GP ADHD Shared Care Program (PDF, March 2025).

RTPM

ScriptCheckSA — mandatory.

If you are a psychiatrist or paediatrician based in Tasmania

1. Download the Section 59E authority application form from the TAS Health website.
2. Complete and submit it to the Pharmaceutical Services Branch.
3. Wait for assessment. The delegate may approve, approve with conditions, or refuse. Decisions can be reviewed on request.
4. Check TasScript (RTPM) before each prescription — mandatory in TAS.

If you are an interstate psychiatrist or paediatrician prescribing to a Tasmanian patient

From 16 February 2026, Tasmanian pharmacists can dispense valid interstate prescriptions for psychostimulants. You do not need a Section 59E authority, but your prescription must comply with Tasmanian requirements and you must be AHPRA-registered. You must also check TasScript for the patient’s prescription history. (New from February 2026.) See the TAS Health interstate prescribing page for full details.

GPs

1. Ensure a specialist has assessed and diagnosed the patient.
2. Apply for Section 59E authority with evidence of the specialist diagnosis.
3. Co-prescriber arrangements are available where specialist and GP share the prescribing responsibility.
4. Check TasScript (RTPM) before each prescription — mandatory.

If you are a psychiatrist or paediatrician

1. No permit required for prescribing TGA-approved stimulants for ADHD (specialist exemption).
2. You must check SafeScript before each prescription (mandatory in VIC). This is the only requirement for specialists.

GPs

1. Log into SafeScript and apply for an S8 permit. See the SafeScript S8 permit application guide.
2. You’ll need evidence of a specialist ADHD diagnosis and a recent specialist review.
3. Once approved, check SafeScript before each prescription (mandatory).

Prescriptions

Prescription format: Computer-generated paper prescriptions require confirmatory handwriting in Victoria. This does not apply to electronic prescriptions (eScripts), which are authenticated digitally and do not require handwriting.

RTPM

SafeScript (VIC) — mandatory for all prescribers and pharmacists before prescribing or dispensing any Schedule 8 medicine.

If you are a psychiatrist, paediatrician, or neurologist — routine prescribing

As of the December 2024 update to the Monitored Medicines Prescribing Code, routine ADHD stimulant prescribing has been simplified. No Stimulant Prescriber Number (SPN) is required. No notification form is needed for routine patients.

1. Conduct your clinical assessment as per the Prescribing Code criteria.
2. Check ScriptCheckWA (RTPM) before prescribing — mandatory (from 12 June 2025).
3. Prescribe. No prior authorisation or notification is required for routine cases that meet the standard criteria in the Prescribing Code.

Age limits for paediatricians / child psychiatrists

Patients aged 4–19, and up to 25 if treatment commenced before age 19. Children aged 2–4 require special authority (non-routine). Treatment below age 2 is not permitted. Lisdexamfetamine is not permitted under age 6. Adult psychiatrists can prescribe to patients of any age provided they are clinically competent.

Further notification to the Department

Notification is only required after initial assessment if the patient changes name or date of birth, moves to non-routine prescribing criteria, or the specialist decides to co-prescribe with a GP.

Urine drug screening

As of December 2024, a urine drug screen (per ANZ Standard 4308) must be conducted for all patients aged 16+ before commencing treatment with an S8 stimulant.

Interstate prescribing

Interstate specialists can continue to prescribe to WA residents with no special permits required and no special prescription instructions. They can co-prescribe with WA GPs as per the standard regulations.

GPs (from 2026)

A new GP ADHD training program is launching. Trained GPs will be able to assess ADHD in patients aged 10+ and prescribe stimulants. The first cohort of ~65 GPs is expected to complete training by end of 2026.