ADHD Action Group – Navigating Change

The system around ADHD is changing.

Over the recent months, the ADHD Action Group has been tracking updates from the ACT Government aimed at improving access to diagnosis and support.

One of the most significant changes is the expanded role of General Practitioners (GPs).

In the past, ADHD diagnosis and medication were mostly managed by paediatricians and psychiatrists. Now that is beginning to change. With additional training, GPs will take on more responsibilities, including prescribing medication and, from late 2026, diagnosing ADHD and starting medication for suitable patients.

For many families, this could mean shorter wait times and fewer steps to get support.

At the same time, there are still many unanswered questions. Will families know which GPs are trained? And how will families navigate an increasing volume of information, including online advice and treatments that are not always evidence-based?

In response, the group is focusing on helping families make sense of what is changing.

The ADHD Pathways Maps are currently being updated to reflect the new system. These maps aim to provide clear guidance for families and will continue to adapt as more information becomes available.

Beyond diagnosis, conversations are turning to what support looks like over time, including parent and peer support network where families can share experiences, ask questions, and feel less isolated.

The cost of diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing support can be high. If services become harder to afford, some families may be left without the help they need.

Another area being closely followed is the upcoming Thriving Kids reform, expected to begin in October. The reform aims to provide support for children with developmental differences without requiring entry into the NDIS. Early conversations have begun with stakeholders, though details are still emerging.

For more information, please visit https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/11085-thriving-kids

Imagination Library Kippax Program

Each month, a book arrives in the mail. A child opens it, flips through the pages, begins to recognise the story. A parent sits nearby, reading together and sharing the moment.

The Imagination Library Kippax program now reaches families across the seven suburbs of Holt, Higgins, Latham, MacGregor, Charnwood, Dunlop, and Strathairn. It gives children access to books from an early age and over time, these small moments build confidence with language and a love of reading.

Funding remains the biggest constraint. Without it, growth slows and expansion becomes difficult. Some families who could benefit may not be reached.

Village and partners are exploring grants and philanthropic support to sustain the program. There is a shared commitment to keep it going. Even so, it depends on resources that are not guaranteed.

For now, the program continues to bring joy to children through each book delivered.

For more information, please visit https://belconnenvillage.org.au/imagination-library/

Connections Focus Area

Even on a rainy day (March 27), families, educators, and services showed up.

Some came in person. Others joined online. The weather was not ideal, but both the room and the virtual space filled quickly.

Village hosted its first Connections workshop of 2026, Understanding Behaviour Challenges in Day-to-Day Life, in partnership with Prism Early Intervention and the UCK Connect and Grow program.

The session focused on everyday moments that can feel confusing or overwhelming. A child learning to express emotions and parents trying to teach, model and support this healthy expression. The question many parents carry, “am I doing this right?”

Attendance was strong, but what mattered more was how people engaged. Some early childhood centres joined together online, with educators gathered around a single screen. They listened, discussed, and took the conversation back into their own settings.

One ECEC centre shared,
“I think this will be great… thank you for being so across professional development for us, we are so lucky….”

Interest extended beyond those who attended. Several parents reached out, asking if the session would run again.

One parent wrote,
“I don’t think I’ll be able to make it… I’m so interested though. Is there any possibility there’ll be another session?”

During the session it became clear that families are not only looking for strategies. They are looking for a way to understand behaviour differently, and to feel more confident in how they respond.

People listened to each other, shared experiences and recognised parts of their own story in someone else’s.

This sits at the centre of the Connections work. Providing information while also creating spaces where families and services can come together in a way that feels supportive and real.

The strong turnout, both in person and online, points to a growing need for these kinds of conversations. One workshop can start something. Ongoing connections is what helps it continue.

For more information, please visit https://belconnenvillage.org.au/event/understanding-behaviour-challenges/

Outreach Focus Area

Outreach can easily become a collection of programs.

Different services doing good work, often in parallel, sometimes even overlapping. Families left to navigate it on their own.

In the Outreach Working Group (WG), the conversation is shifting. Less focus on what each organisation can deliver and more on how to reach families together.

Organisations bring different priorities, funding constraints, and ways of working. Aligning these takes patience, and at times, a willingness to sit with uncertainty. What is emerging, though, is a shared approach, designing initiatives together and responding to gaps that no single service can address alone.

One area of focus is the role of schools. Not just as places of education, but as familiar environments where families already feel comfortable. This creates an opportunity to build support around existing relationships, rather than expecting families to seek support elsewhere.

From this, a school-based program is being explored. It brings together English language learning, digital skills, and pathways to employment, support that is often needed but rarely offered in one place.

For families who are new to Australia, or still finding their footing, this could make a real difference. It is not only about learning, but also confidence, connection, and a sense of possibility.

There are practical challenges. The program requires a minimum number of participants, more than one school alone can provide. This means schools need to collaborate. While the interest is strong, turning that into something workable takes coordination, time, and ongoing effort to reach the families who would benefit most.

This is not simply about delivering another program. It is about reducing barriers, creating pathways and making it easier for families, especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, to take the next step, whatever that may be.

If you, or someone you know, might benefit from this opportunity, we would love to hear from you.

For more information, please visit https://belconnenvillage.org.au/outreach/

Play Focus Area

Play often looks simple. A child stacking blocks, a parent watching, unsure if it is doing anything. But there is more happening in these moments than it first appears.

The Play Working Group (WG) has been exploring how to help families see play as part of everyday learning, and how it can bring people together in ways that feel natural and inclusive.

One example is the intergenerational playgroup in Whitlam, run by ACT Playgroups in partnership with Mingle. Families come together across age and backgrounds. Some are lived in the area for years, others are new, finding connection through play.

The Play WG is looking at how to support and build on initiatives like this, including sharing and strengthening simple ideas such as informal “play in the park” opportunities that celebrate on existing community connections.

Many parents already understand that play matters. What is less clear is how to support it in everyday life.

Play-based Learning and Intentionality

In early 2025, The ACT Education Directorate released Play-based Learning and Intentionality, a professional learning program for educators across early childhood settings.

The Play WG is now working to make this knowledge more accessible for families through a series of short, easy to use resources that offer everyday ideas for use at home.

This work is still developing. There are ongoing questions about how to align efforts across organisations and avoid duplication.

Supporting play is not about programs. It is about connection, and helping families feel confident in the small, everyday moments that matter.

For more information, please visit https://belconnenvillage.org.au/play/

In the Spotlight

In this edition, we are featuring Imagine More, one of our partner organisations supporting families of children with disability.

Stories to get you thinking about what life could be like for children with disability

Imagine More is a family-led, Canberra-based, not-for-profit organisation committed to enhancing the lives of people with disability by supporting their families to envision rich, fulfilling, and inclusive lives in their local communities.

Through their work, they share stories of what is possible for children with disability, alongside helpful and practical resources for parents.

Their website showcases real experiences from families who are helping their children thrive at home, in school, and beyond.

Imagine More also run peer groups and topic-based events and offers free mentoring for families who want support in achieving their vision for their children with disability.

If you would like to learn more, you can explore their resources or connect with their team directly at 0491 645 816.

They also co-locate at UnitingCare Kippax for monthly drop-in sessions.

For more information, please visit https://imaginemore.org.au/