Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experts and advocates have described the federal government's long-awaited response to a as "woefully inadequate", saying it clearly "didn't listen" to the urgent needs of the community.
A Senate committee examined submissions and evidence from over 700 people, community organisations, and medical professionals last year, making 15 recommendations to improve access to assessment and support services for over one million Australians living with ADHD.
The government released its response to the Senate inquiry's report on Thursday afternoon, over a year after the committee tabled its findings.
The government adopted just one of the inquiry's 15 recommendations: to expedite the development of uniform prescribing rules to ensure consistency across state and territory jurisdictions.
It gave "in principle" support to nine others, including the key recommendation to fund and co-design a national ADHD framework, and "noted" the remaining five.
Nine of the ADHD Senate inquiry's 15 recommendations were supported "in principle" by the government. Source: SBS News
"The health and mental health systems in Australia continue to need reform to ensure the specific needs of people with ADHD and their families, carers and kin are provided clinically appropriate and targeted health care and support.
"The Senate inquiry report also clearly articulates the difficulties Australians with ADHD are experiencing in navigating a fragmented system and that this area of health care is complex."
The federal government "noted" five of the inquiry's recommendations. Source: SBS News
'We heard you, but we didn't listen to you'
ADHD Australia chair Matthew Tice said the government's response effectively told the ADHD community: "We heard you, but we didn't listen to you."
"It's really challenging for people with ADHD out there, and these are all things that need to be addressed ... they're chronic needs, and certainly, this outcome is not optimal for the community," he told SBS News.
"People are not going to be happy, and they will be vocal about that unhappiness."
Tice, who has two sons with ADHD, said the lack of support meant most of the challenges people with ADHD and their families experienced were "likely to persist".
"It'll take probably another three to five years before we get another bite at the apple to try to get more fulsome support on many of these items," he said.
"It means we're going to be stuck in the status quo for a longer time, and all of us are going to have to work harder on the ground and in the community to help address these issues."
'Hugely disrespectful' response
The Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) said it was "extremely disappointed" by the government's "woefully inadequate" response.
AADPA president Professor David Coghill said: "After waiting for over a year for a response, it's incredible that there is just one recommendation that the government feels is worthy of support."
"I think that is hugely disrespectful to all of the people who shared their advice, insights and experiences."
AADPA president Professor David Coghill says ADHD is "a significant public health issue". Source: Supplied / AAPDA
"At a time when stigma and misinformation about ADHD has been gradually declining, and the states and territories have really stepped up to address huge demand for ADHD services, this government appears not to be interested in dealing with such a significant public health issue that affects millions of Australians," Coghill said.
He also pointed to a "number of inaccuracies" in the government's response, which he said demonstrated its "lack of understanding of ADHD and lack of knowledge about the clinicians and allied health practitioners who work in ADHD".
Dr Alison Poulton, a paediatrician specialising in the treatment of ADHD, said the government's repeated mention of investments it had made in mental health services were largely "irrelevant".
"ADHD is usually excluded by the public mental health services," she said.
"What we would like to see is investment into programs that are already making a difference locally."
ADHD community needs to 'look forward'
Tice said despite their disappointment, the ADHD community needs to "look forward".
"I think the question is, where do we go from here, and how do we turn the dial on that support so that we can get the community's voice into action, which is our primary concern?" he said.
"We're hopeful that this process will open up the dialogue and give us a pathway to better serve the community and open up the government's eyes to the need for this very underserved part of our community that needs attention, that needs support, that needs funding, that needs further research."
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John had proposed the ADHD Senate inquiry. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"While it's pleasing that the government has supported some of the recommendations, it is disappointing that, in my view, the government's response does not reflect the urgency of the situation nor commit to the scale of changes needed to improve the lives of ADHDers.
"I urge the Albanese government to do the right thing and work across governments and across departments, and hurry up and enact the recommendations urgently."
