NDIS
Does ADHD qualify for the NDIS? An honest answer for parents
Written by the Hey Sprout team — pending clinician review
ADHD on its own often doesn't meet NDIS access rules. Here's when a child with ADHD may qualify, and the Medicare, school and health supports to use if not.
Written by the Hey Sprout team — pending clinician review
Last updated 5 November 2026
General information with cited sources, not clinical advice. See the Hey Sprout editorial policy for how we write, update and correct pages.
Usually not. ADHD on its own often doesn't meet the NDIS access requirements. It isn't on the NDIA's lists of conditions, so the decision rests on evidence of a permanent impairment that substantially reduces your child's ability to do everyday activities, and it looks at this after appropriate treatment has been tried.[] Most children with ADHD are helped by parenting strategies, school support and counselling, with medicine when symptoms have a big impact. All of these sit outside the NDIS.[] A child with ADHD may still qualify if they have another condition that meets the rules, if they're under 6 with a developmental delay, or if their functional difficulties are severe, lasting and well documented.
If your child doesn't qualify, there are other routes to therapy. Medicare-subsidised psychology, your paediatrician, and supports at school are where most families start.
Why ADHD alone usually doesn't meet the requirements
The NDIA keeps lists of conditions that make access decisions simpler. List A covers conditions likely to meet the disability requirements, such as autism Level 2 or 3. List B covers conditions likely to cause a permanent impairment. ADHD is on neither list.[] That doesn't rule a child out. It means the NDIA decides on the evidence alone.
To meet the disability requirements, your child's impairment must be likely to be permanent and must substantially reduce their ability in at least one of these areas: communicating, socialising, learning, moving around, looking after themselves, or managing their life. They also need to be likely to need NDIS supports for life.[]
Two parts of the test often trip up ADHD applications:
- Treatment comes first. The NDIA generally considers whether an impairment is permanent after all known, available and appropriate treatments have been tried. If a treatment is likely to remedy the impairment, the impairment may not count as permanent.[]
- Health care is the health system's job. The NDIA says diagnosis, early intervention and treatment of health conditions are funded by the Australian health system, not the NDIS.[]
When a child with ADHD may qualify
| Situation | How the NDIS may apply |
|---|---|
| ADHD plus autism, intellectual disability or another condition | The other condition may meet the access requirements. Autism Level 2 or 3 is on List A.[] |
| Under 6 with developmental delay | The early intervention requirements include children under 6 whose delay substantially reduces their functional capacity compared with other children their age, and who need help from more than one professional working as a team for over 12 months.[] |
| Under 6 with developmental concerns | An early childhood partner can offer short-term early supports without a diagnosis, usually for 3 to 6 months.[] |
| Severe, lasting impact despite treatment | Possible, but the evidence has to show a permanent impairment and substantial impact on daily life.[] |
Many children with ADHD also have anxiety, learning difficulties or sleep problems, and these need to be assessed alongside the ADHD.[] Ask your paediatrician whether anything else is going on before you decide whether to apply.
If you decide to apply
Evidence should come from a treating professional relevant to your child's main disability, ideally someone who has seen your child for at least 6 months. It should confirm the diagnosis, describe the impact on different areas of life, and set out treatments tried, their results, and future options.[] General statements like "has ADHD and struggles at school" won't be enough. Specific examples will help more, such as how much adult help your child needs to get dressed, stay safe on outings or join in with other children.
Support outside the NDIS
| Support | How to get it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| GP and paediatrician | Start with your GP, who may refer you to a paediatrician, child psychologist or child psychiatrist | Diagnosis, medical review, and medicine if needed.[] |
| Medicare psychology (Better Access) | A mental health treatment plan from your GP, or a direct referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist | If the doctor assesses a diagnosed mental disorder, rebates for up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions each calendar year, for people with at least moderate care needs.[] The APS lists attention deficit disorder among the conditions covered.[] |
| Medicare complex neurodevelopmental items | Referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist, for people under 25 | If the specialist diagnoses a complex neurodevelopmental condition, up to 8 allied health assessments and 20 treatment sessions per lifetime. ADHD alone may not meet the "complex" definition; the paediatrician or psychiatrist decides.[] |
| School | Talk to the classroom teacher and school leadership | An individual education plan, regular meetings, and classroom strategies like short instructions and movement breaks.[] |
| Thriving Kids | For children 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism | Information, family programs and, over time, targeted allied health.[] |
Psychologists charge their own fees, so there's usually a gap between the fee and the Medicare rebate.[] Ask about costs before you book.
The RCH says positive parenting strategies, school support and counselling help most children with ADHD.[] Psychology can work on emotional regulation and planning skills, and occupational therapy on daily routines and organisation. Our page on ADHD in children covers how each discipline helps.
What to do next
- See your GP if you haven't already, and ask about a paediatrician referral.
- If your child is under 6 and you're worried about development, contact an NDIS early childhood partner. No diagnosis is needed to talk to them.[]
- Ask your GP or paediatrician whether a mental health treatment plan or referral for child psychology makes sense.
- Book a meeting with your child's teacher to set up classroom supports.
For the diagnosis itself, see how ADHD assessment works for children.
If your child talks about self-harm or you're worried about their safety, call 000. Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) and Lifeline (13 11 14) are available 24 hours. If your child does have a plan-managed or self-managed NDIS plan, you can send Hey Sprout an enquiry about occupational therapy or psychology.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NDIS pay for an ADHD assessment or medication?
No. The NDIA says diagnosis, early intervention and treatment of health conditions are funded by the health system, not the NDIS. ADHD assessments and medication go through your GP, a paediatrician or a child psychiatrist, with Medicare covering part of some costs.
My child has ADHD and autism. Which one does the NDIS look at?
The NDIA looks at your child's impairments and how they affect daily life, not just the diagnosis labels. If autism or another condition meets the access rules, the NDIA funds supports that relate to the disability it accepts and help with plan goals. Tell the NDIA about the ADHD too, because it is part of your child's daily picture.
Will Thriving Kids help a young child with ADHD?
Thriving Kids is for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs. ADHD is not named, but a young child with developmental delay may be able to use it. The national child development phoneline (1800 882 436) can help you work out what fits.
Our NDIS application was refused. Can we try again?
Yes. You can ask for an internal review within 3 months of the decision, and the NDIA says there is no limit on how many times you can apply. A new application works best when you have new evidence showing how your child's daily function has changed or what treatments have been tried.
Keep reading
Thriving Kids and your child's therapy: what to expect
What Thriving Kids means for your child's speech, OT or psychology, what has changed in NDIS therapy budgets, and what to ask your therapists.
NDIS for autistic children: access, evidence and 2028 changes
Understand current NDIS access for autistic children, evidence to gather and the proposed 2028 changes to eligibility.
What is Thriving Kids? A plain-English guide for parents
Thriving Kids began on 1 October 2026. Who it's for, what it offers, how it fits with the NDIS, and where to get reliable information now.
How Hey Sprout supports this
References
- Our Guideline: Applying to the NDIS — National Disability Insurance Agency, 2026
- What are the NDIS disability requirements — National Disability Insurance Scheme, 2026
- What are the early intervention eligibility requirements — National Disability Insurance Scheme, 2026
- How to get help for your child — National Disability Insurance Scheme, 2026
- How to gather evidence — National Disability Insurance Scheme, 2026
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, 2026
- ADHD: ways to help children at school and home — The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, 2026
- Better Access initiative — Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, 2026
- Better Access to Mental Health Care: Medicare FAQs for the public — Australian Psychological Society, 2026
- Diagnosis and treatment for complex neurodevelopmental conditions — Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, 2026
- About Thriving Kids — Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, 2026
