Jane McFadden:

Hello and welcome to ADHD Mums. Today we have an interview that I never thought that I would have, and that is a politician actually emailed me! So a big welcome to the Honorable Rose Jackson. How are you?

Rose Jackson:

I’m very good, and thank you for replying to my email and agreeing to have a chat with me, because I think it’s really important to provide space and time to platforms like this. So I just really appreciate you making the opportunity for us to connect.

Jane McFadden:

Oh, look, I am not a particularly political person myself, but I emailed out all of the major parties and I’ve never had any response back, and you were the first response that I’d had back. So I was like, here we go. This is what I’ve been asking for. I don’t like speculating about what the government is doing — it’s great to actually speak to somebody and hear from them.

So, if you’re unsure who Rose is, she’s the Minister for Housing, Homelessness, Youth Mental Health and Water in New South Wales. Her team reached out to me in regard to some of the big changes that are happening in New South Wales. I went straight onto Instagram because I’m not a particularly political person myself, and I thought, wow, I’ve never had anyone offer to come on the podcast.

Do people want to actually hear? I did a huge survey. We had over 10,000 people, and 98% said: definitely bring Rose on. And then they submitted thousands of questions, which I’ve accumulated or done my best to put into a small format. So, if we start off, maybe we should clarify for people who aren’t following some of the news — what are the major changes that are happening across some states at the moment?

Rose Jackson:

Yeah, well there is quite a bit happening in terms of just trying to make it easier for people with ADHD to access diagnosis and medication. That’s really come about because of the consistent feedback I was hearing as the Minister for Mental Health in New South Wales — just how expensive it was and how time-consuming it was.

I was hearing that not just as a politician or someone active in the mental health and neurodivergence space, but also as a mum — amongst mum networks, friends, and colleagues.

So we decided in New South Wales that we would move to allow general practitioners to both diagnose people with ADHD and initiate medication and treatment, and also continue prescribing medication for people that had a pre-existing diagnosis.

That’s similar to moves other states had made, like Queensland and Western Australia. Since we’ve done it, a few other states have jumped on board too, which is great.

Jane McFadden:

Oh, I love it. I’ve been talking about that for a long time, so it was actually really amazing when I saw that come out. I couldn’t believe it actually happened!

Rose Jackson:

I do want to say it’s really credit to people like you and advocates like you who’ve been raising these issues for a long time. I’m sorry that sometimes it takes a long time to get politicians to listen, but these things don’t just happen. These changes happen because dedicated people such as yourself build platforms and profile issues.

People have been out there talking about just how hard it is and how expensive and time-consuming it is — for a long, long time. So thank you to you for raising these issues and continuing to raise them until we finally listened.

Jane McFadden:

That actually has given me a little bit more motivation. Thank you. Sometimes you feel like no one’s listening, and you cop a lot of criticism, which I can only imagine — that’s how you would feel too. That’s the politician game, isn’t it?

Rose Jackson:

I think just being active online and having a big platform, you get a lot of trolling. But I really feel like in terms of the work that you’re doing — there are so many people out there who really agree with the issues that you’re raising, and I’m sure they’re very thankful that you’re putting yourself out there.

Politics can feel out of touch, and politicians don’t listen — and sometimes, that’s fair. But in this reform area, I have plenty of people in my personal network who either have ADHD or have loved ones who do. This would not have been as prominent on my radar if it wasn’t for people like you and the networks consistently raising this issue. Eventually, it does work.

Jane McFadden:

That has actually given me a bit of motivation. Thank you. If we go back to something I’ve really advocated for — in the last 6 to 12 months — it’s the medication shortage. I’ve done a lot of media around it. I was wondering, in regard to the medication shortage and the possible increase in demand with GPs coming in, are there any plans to look at that?

Rose Jackson:

Yeah, there are. That issue was recently discussed at the national meeting of mental health ministers — including all the states and the Commonwealth. So it’s very much on our agenda.

The Commonwealth Government, through the TGA, leads on that. This is something where the components of some medications are in worldwide shortage. We’re advocating strongly for Australia’s interests, and the TGA is going to try and do that.

There are options — as you’d know — where people can talk to their doctors about alternative medications or therapies, but that’s not a perfect answer. Some people have tried them, and they just don’t work.

We do have some domestic manufacturing capacity in Australia, and we’re happy to try and scale that. But one challenge is that components of the medication are in global shortage.

It is on the national agenda, and the Australian Government is clear that the states want them to work to prioritize Australia’s access to these medications.

Jane McFadden:

Oh yeah, look, I agree. Some of them have patents and are only available in certain countries. Manufacturing locally isn’t always possible.

I actually really appreciate hearing that it’s been brought up and prioritized because for a long time it felt like we were just talking and there was no movement. That’s what it feels like on the ground.

Rose Jackson:

Yeah, absolutely. I don’t have an answer right now — there are complex issues around patents and global trade. Some of it is out of our control. But I do want to reassure people it was brought up prominently at that national meeting, and the Australian Government recognizes the urgency.

Jane McFadden:

The TGA has some of the tightest laws, which keep us safe — but they can also get in the way when we want to do something differently. It’s tricky and not a quick solve.

How do we see that working with increased demand from GPs? I’m a little concerned about that, especially in the short term.

Rose Jackson:

The Commonwealth was quite clear — the medication shortage is an immediate and urgent priority.

The changes we’ve made will start in September this year in New South Wales. From then, GPs will be allowed to continue medication for people who already have a diagnosis. That’s important because those people currently need to go back to their specialist for every new script — which is time-consuming and costly.

That won’t necessarily increase demand. These are people already diagnosed.

By the end of the year, GPs in New South Wales will also be able to diagnose and initiate medication. That may increase demand, but I’m hoping we’ll be working with the Commonwealth by then to ensure medications are accessible.

You’re absolutely right — what’s the point of a script if you can’t fill it?

Jane McFadden:

Exactly. Stopping people from clogging up pediatricians and psychiatrists for repeat scripts might allow others to get in — especially people dealing with serious mental health episodes. It’s a step forward.

Rose Jackson:

That’s exactly why we made these changes. We want pediatricians and psychiatrists focused on the most complex cases.

Jane McFadden:

Moving forward — any long-term plans to support rural areas where families are really struggling?

Rose Jackson:

Absolutely. That was a major motivator for this change. General practitioners in local communities will be able to continue medication from September and initiate diagnosis and treatment by the end of the year.

We’ve targeted our work toward rural and regional communities. Since we opened our expression of interest for GPs to participate, we’ve already had almost 1,000 sign up in the past three weeks — and that’s just in New South Wales.

For some families in rural towns, you may only have one GP. Before, that GP could only refer you to a specialist. Now, they can provide care directly.

Jane McFadden:

That’s great. Any limitations? What about children?

Rose Jackson:

The only current limitation is for children under seven. Those children will still need to see a pediatrician for an initial diagnosis.

That’s because we want to ensure developmental experts are involved with younger kids. But if your child is seven or older — or you’re an adult — and you have a diagnosis, there’s no limitation. GPs can manage your care.

We’ve wrapped training around the GPs — they’re not going in cold. And they’re very capable professionals, already managing mild mental health and neurodivergent conditions.

Jane McFadden:

Okay, this sounds great. So for all the women and the mums who are on the waitlist and they’re in New South Wales — and let’s say the GPs are coming in and actually putting their hand up and offering to receive training — which to be honest, I’m surprised by because I didn’t think that GPs wanted anything else on their plate. A lot of them don’t want to touch more areas. So that’s a great thing.

How could a mum get their hands on or find a number or a place to go to get access to these GPs?

Rose Jackson:

Yeah, look, I actually agree with you. I was unsure about the take-up as well, and we had made provisions to really promote and encourage GPs to participate. But I’ve been so pleased at their willingness and enthusiasm to do this work. I think it’s because they recognise it’s really going to help the families they care for.

If you’re on a waiting list now, I’d say: stay on it. You’ve probably been on it for a while, so don’t pull yourself off yet.

What you need to do is talk to your local GP and say, ‘I understand this pathway is being made available in New South Wales. Me and my family would really love to take advantage of it. Have you put your hand up in the EOI? Are you doing the training?’ That would be something really valuable for us.

If they have — fantastic. Over the next few months, they’ll be able to play that role for you.

If they haven’t — encourage them. Say, ‘We know you, we trust you, we’d love to see you for this kind of care.’ And if they’re just not interested, you could look at other GPs in your area. Again, I recognise that for rural and regional women, that might be hard. But perhaps in the next town over, there’s a GP more willing.

Jane McFadden:

Let’s say you called around a few places and no one was doing it — is there a list anywhere that shows ADHD-friendly, trained GPs?

Rose Jackson:

That’s a really great suggestion, Jane. I’m happy to take that back to the team and say something like a searchable portal would be really useful for ADHD mums and families. So if you leave that one with me, I’m very happy to see whether that’s something we could put together on the New South Wales Health website.

Jane McFadden:

Yeah, I think it would be really helpful. One of my most popular free tools is where I go through pediatricians and psychiatrists who maybe have availability per state — or who ADHD mums recommend. Sometimes getting on Google can be a bit daunting.

If you could get a list, I’d love to also put it on the site — everywhere in New South Wales that does it. That would be something amazing if it could happen in the future. Otherwise, you’re just kind of Googling.

Rose Jackson:

Absolutely. I think it’s a great suggestion. In the first instance, people should just talk to their local GP. But if we had a really easy resource to help people navigate that, it would be very useful.

So yes — very happy to take that on.

Jane McFadden:

I’m very passionate about the NDIS. I’m very well known for my NDIS advocacy, and a lot of people love my dark humour rants that I do around the NDIS. I had a lot of NDIS questions ready to go, but from what I understand, that’s a federal issue and not a state one.

Anything you can answer?

Rose Jackson:

Yeah, that’s right. I know people are pretty frustrated with some of the rules around the NDIS and the eligibility that the NDIA has put in place.

You are right — it’s a Commonwealth issue. At the state level, we don’t manage that. We handed over all of that when the NDIS was created.

There are two things I’d say, because I know how important this issue is for you and for a lot of other mums.

First, I’m happy to talk to the Commonwealth about the way those requirements are set. It’s all about functional assessments — and the NDIA has requirements around severity, etc. But if your feedback is that it’s not working for a lot of people, I’m happy to raise that in national forums.

Second, the states are doing more work now on foundational supports. That’s happening in the background and will come online soon. In New South Wales, we really recognise that foundational supports — early intervention in schools, access to behavioural support — are critical for people who aren’t eligible for the NDIS.

So I do want to reassure people that it is a big priority for us.

Jane McFadden:

It’s not that we believe everyone should be given everything — I don’t think that, and neither do a lot of the advocates I know. But I wonder sometimes if there’s any lived experience behind some of the legislation. It’s not that I think we should be in charge, but sometimes I just think… how was that decision made?

Sometimes if you cut back in one area, it would free up more for others. It’s not a blank cheque situation at all. I think some changes could make the system more efficient.

Is there any way or place where we could put a report in or have someone read feedback?

Rose Jackson:

I think it’s really important to recognise your point — the system has to be sustainable. It can’t just be blank cheques where everyone gets whatever they want. That’s why the NDIA has eligibility rules around severity and functional impairment.

But I also completely agree that the voice of lived experience is absolutely critical. Whether it’s about mental illness or neurodivergence — systems fail when they are designed without lived experience.

I’m not sure if the NDIA currently has a formal pathway for lived experience to shape decisions. But if not, I think that’s a huge oversight, and I’m very happy to talk to them about including that in their decision-making framework.

In New South Wales, we treat the voice of lived experience very seriously in our policymaking around mental health, and it’s made a huge difference.

Jane McFadden:

Thank you. I’m going to keep advocating. We’ve seen changes from it, so I might follow up with you about that and see if we can do something in future.

Rose Jackson:

Absolutely. I’m happy to put you in contact with some of my colleagues. For example, Senator Jenny McAllister from New South Wales is the new Minister supporting Mark Butler on the NDIS. I know Jenny — she’s an excellent woman, a mum herself. I’m sure her team would be very open to connecting with you and hearing feedback.

As you said, it’s about ensuring resources have maximum impact — and listening to lived experience really matters.

Recently, the National Productivity Commission did a huge piece of work on national mental health agreements. What was one of its core findings? Lived experience. It’s coming up again and again.

Jane McFadden:

What about compounded ADHD meds? That’s been tricky — a lot of women say just go to compounding, you can get it easily, but then there’s the PBS issue. How does that work?

Rose Jackson:

That’s again Commonwealth legislation. I don’t say that to avoid responsibility, but the NDIS, the TGA, the PBS — they’re all Commonwealth schemes.

We can’t change those in New South Wales. We would need Commonwealth agreement.

The issue, as you said, goes back to safety. The TGA and PBS have strict guidelines to keep us safe — which is good — but they can also create access barriers. Sometimes those risk settings are just too tight.

That’s what was happening with specialists — it was assumed only specialists could diagnose and prescribe, which is just not true. GPs can do this safely and effectively. That’s what we changed in New South Wales. So I’m very conscious of the need to get those settings right at the national level, too.

Jane McFadden:

And speaking of other states — I noticed South Australia and WA seem to be following suit. Can we expect to see these changes rolling out across the country?

Rose Jackson:

Yes, I think we can. You’re right — WA and South Australia are making similar changes.

Queensland has had a system for a while where GPs can play a role. I think Victoria is looking at it.

So to mums in other states — if you’re unsure what’s happening or you want to see change, contact your local state member of Parliament. Contact your Minister for Health or Mental Health. Make your voice heard.

I know it can feel like you’re not being listened to, but trust me — those emails and calls do add up. Especially if you can form a group or a delegation of mums, you’re more powerful than you think.

It saddens me that people feel powerless in our political system, because we do listen.

Jane McFadden:

What about — and I know this might be out of scope, but this was probably the most asked question, so I’d be remiss not to bring it up — is there anything coming, or in the works, to help schools and teachers support children who are undiagnosed, unregulated, or who don’t have access to their medication? Is there anything coming to improve that?

Rose Jackson:

Yes, absolutely. And don’t apologise — I completely recognise that there are a lot of intersections here between health, education, state, and federal responsibilities.

In New South Wales, we are rolling out wellbeing nurses in public schools. As the name suggests, they are there to support student wellbeing. Issues like ADHD, diagnosis, medication support — that is literally what they are there to help with. That’s one piece.

We’re also providing more flexible funding for schools so they can meet the unique needs of their student communities. A rural school might have very different needs compared to an affluent suburb or a highly disadvantaged area. For example, a school with a high number of ADHD students might need support around behavioural interventions or medication coordination. Other schools might need different types of help.

So, we’re giving schools flexibility to allocate resources in a way that fits their local needs.

Jane McFadden:

That sounds really promising.

Rose Jackson:

We’ve also raised this at the national level. At the last meeting of mental health ministers, this issue of ADHD in schools was discussed, and every state was required to have a joint meeting between their health, mental health, and education ministers to address it.

In New South Wales, we had already started those cross-sector conversations, but this is going to be expanded. It’s linked to the foundational supports I mentioned earlier. These are services for people who don’t qualify for the NDIS but still need assistance — like early intervention, behavioural supports, help in the classroom.

So yes, it’s definitely on the radar. And I completely understand why this came up again and again in your survey — it comes up for me too, and it’s very much a priority.

Jane McFadden:

That’s great. What about education for teachers? Any changes to how teachers are trained or supported in working with kids with ADHD?

Rose Jackson:

I’ll need to double-check whether that’s being done at a national level, but here in New South Wales, yes — we’ve developed specific professional development courses for teachers around ADHD, neurodivergence, and behavioural issues. This is over and above the general content they get in their education degrees.

We know it’s not enough to rely on the basic university training — so we’re offering specific, practical courses they can do while teaching. It’s something we’re already rolling out, and I can check on whether other states are doing the same.

Jane McFadden:

One thing that came up a lot in the big survey we did was families being forced to pay twice. So if they change psychiatrists or re-enter care, it’s like they have to be re-diagnosed all over again and pay all over again.

Why is that? And can that ever change?

Rose Jackson:

This is a tricky one, Jane. Most of those arrangements are through private psychiatrists. When you engage a new specialist, they often require an initial assessment. From their point of view, they need to get to know the patient and review their condition firsthand.

But you’re right — that can mean families paying thousands of dollars again, just to re-enter care or change providers.

Unfortunately, we can’t make laws at the state level to stop that. It would require federal legislation, and even then, it’s hard to control pricing in the private sector.

That said, a big reason why we’ve enabled GPs to manage ADHD care is to help avoid this exact situation.

My vision is that people only need to see a specialist — like a psychiatrist or paediatrician — if they have very complex needs. For most people, their GP should be able to diagnose and manage treatment, including ongoing scripts. That means no waitlists and no specialist fees every time you need help.

So while I can’t stop private specialists from charging re-assessment fees, I hope the new GP pathways make it less necessary to go through that.

Jane McFadden:

That’s really helpful. I actually thought that might’ve been a government requirement, but maybe it’s just what the private companies are saying — and not necessarily true.

Rose Jackson:

Exactly. We don’t set those rules — it’s often just how individual practices operate. Of course, some transfer of care is possible between providers, especially if you’re moving or the previous doctor is retiring. You shouldn’t always need a full re-diagnosis.

But again, we don’t control what private specialists charge, and as you pointed out earlier — supply and demand plays a big role. There are more people seeking ADHD care than there are providers, so they can charge high prices.

That’s why I believe enabling GPs is key. With some additional training — which we are providing for free — GPs can manage this care safely and competently. That will ease the pressure on specialists and make care more affordable and accessible.

Jane McFadden:

That makes a lot of sense. Because if we change the supply and demand by opening up care to more providers, then hopefully families won’t be stuck paying ridiculous fees just to change doctors.

Rose Jackson:

Exactly. Right now, specialists can charge a premium because they know people have no other option. But if general practitioners — who are already part of every local community — can start diagnosing and managing ADHD, it changes everything.

And like you said, specialists can then focus on the most complex cases, which is what they’re trained for and probably what they want to be doing anyway.

Jane McFadden:

Is there anything you wanted to add that we haven’t covered before we wrap up?

Rose Jackson:

I guess I’d just say I’m really happy to keep the conversation going — even behind the scenes.

I find these conversations really valuable. I get new ideas, and I get pointed in different directions by your feedback and your experience. I want your listeners to know that — at least here in New South Wales — we’re really open to this engagement.

As this reform rolls out, we may not get everything perfect the first time. We’re open to reviewing and adjusting the system based on what’s working and what’s not. And we want to hear that feedback.

So I’d just say: the door’s open. Please keep engaging with us.

Jane McFadden:

I really appreciate your time, and I know all of the listeners will appreciate that we’ve actually got someone from government on the podcast. I think everyone was a little bit thrown when you sent the email!

So thank you so much for your time. Not everyone is willing to come on a podcast, answer questions, and have it released. I really appreciate you doing that — it’s a big step and shows how things are changing with social media and how people engage in the news.

Rose Jackson:

No, my pleasure.

Rose Jackson:

It’s really important that we meet people where they are — and these days, platforms like yours are where so many families are getting their information, building community, and pushing for change. So it’s actually our responsibility, as policymakers, to show up in those spaces too.

I want people to know that government isn’t just a bunch of people in suits behind closed doors. We’re real people — many of us are parents too — and we’re trying to make things better. It may not happen overnight, but conversations like this help guide what happens next.

Jane McFadden:

Thank you. Honestly, the fact that you came on and had this conversation openly, without scripting or pre-clearing every question, means a lot. It makes a huge difference to families who often feel invisible or ignored in these systems.

I’ve had thousands of people submit questions, and I think this conversation covered so many of their concerns. I know they’ll feel heard, and for many, that’s the first time in a long time.

Rose Jackson:

I’m really glad to hear that. Please keep doing what you’re doing. The platform you’ve built is powerful, and it’s working — you’ve already shifted the conversation. And from our side, we’ll keep working on the things you’ve raised here.

I’ll take those suggestions back to the department — things like the searchable list of trained GPs, better school support, and improving access in rural areas — those are all actionable. And if you ever want to follow up, or check in with us on how things are progressing, you’re absolutely welcome to.

Jane McFadden:

Amazing. I’ll definitely follow up. And to everyone listening — I’ll keep you updated on anything new that comes from this, and we’ll continue pushing together for the changes we all want to see.

Thank you again, Rose, for joining me on ADHD Mums. This has honestly been one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the podcast.

Rose Jackson:

Thank you, Jane. It’s been a pleasure.

Jane McFadden:

Take care and thank you again for giving us your time and being so generous with your answers. I know this will mean a lot to so many families out there who are doing it tough and just want some hope and clarity.

Rose Jackson:

Thanks, Jane. And honestly, thank you for all the work you’re doing — not just today, but every day. Building a community, speaking up, keeping the pressure on — it’s hard work, and it’s making a difference. Please pass on my thanks to your listeners as well. They’re being heard.

Jane McFadden:

I will. And to everyone listening — as always, I’ll pop a link in the show notes for any updates, and I’ll follow up on that potential GP list Rose mentioned. Keep reaching out, keep advocating, and don’t stop just because change takes time.

We’re all in this together, and I hope today showed you that there are people in government who are actually listening and willing to act.

Thanks again, and we’ll talk soon. Bye!

Rose Jackson:

Bye, Jane. Take care.

Jane McFadden:

You too — and to everyone out there, thank you for tuning in to this very special episode of ADHD Mums. I know it was a bit of a long one, but I really wanted to make sure we didn’t rush through any of the questions you sent in.

If you’ve made it to the end, thank you. You’re part of something that is changing lives — not just for your own family, but for families across the country. So please keep sharing, keep talking about this, and keep supporting one another.

We’ll continue following the rollout of these changes in New South Wales, and I’ll bring updates as soon as I have them — especially around that GP training portal and any feedback we get from the federal level regarding the NDIS or PBS changes.

If you’re in another state, remember: your voice matters just as much. Reach out to your local MPs, send the emails, call the offices — because as you just heard directly from someone in government, those efforts do count.

Until next time, take care of yourself and each other.