Level 3: Advanced ADHD Practice: Diagnosis, Initiation & Pathway to Independence
Build diagnostic confidence, initiate treatment, and step into independent ADHD practice.
Take the leap into independent practice. Learn how to assess and diagnose ADHD, initiate medications safely, and recognise when complexity calls for referral — backed by expert-led cases, practical workflows, and real-world clinical strategies.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Conduct structured ADHD diagnostic assessments using DSM-5-TR criteria and validated tools.
Take comprehensive histories (developmental, collateral, psychosocial) to inform diagnostic formulation.
Initiate stimulant treatment safely in low-risk patients, with appropriate titration and monitoring.
Differentiate ADHD from psychiatric or medical mimics (e.g. trauma, sleep disorders, mood disorders).
Recognise the limits of GP practice and identify situations requiring escalation or referral.
Apply a step-wise approach to shared-care and independent prescribing in primary care.
Demonstrate competency through diagnostic case scenarios and prescribing simulations.
Who it’s for
- Any clinicians taking their first steps into ADHD diagnosis and treatment initiation.
- Designed for anyone building foundational skills in ADHD assessment and medication initiation.
Skills you'll build
- Take comprehensive histories (developmental, collateral, psychosocial) to inform diagnostic formulation.
- Writing clear diagnostic & treatment rationales for S8 authority medications
- How to arrange a follow-up schedule which removes the risk from initiation of stimulants
This course includes:
⏱ 3–4 hours of CPD
💻 On-demand video modules (10–15 mins each)
📄 Downloadable prescribing checklists
👩⚕️ Case-based examples
This course includes:
⏱ 3–4 hours of CPD
🎓 RACGP CPD Accreditation (certificate provided)
💻 On-demand video modules (10–15 mins each)
📄 Downloadable prescribing checklists
👩⚕️ Case-based examples
What you’ll learn
✅Conduct structured ADHD diagnostic assessments using DSM-5-TR criteria and validated tools.
✅Initiate stimulant treatment safely in low-risk patients, with appropriate titration and monitoring.
✅Differentiate ADHD from psychiatric or medical mimics (e.g. trauma, sleep disorders, mood disorders).
✅Recognise your skill limits and identify situations requiring escalation or referral
✅Apply a step-wise approach to shared-care and independent prescribing in primary care.
✅Demonstrate competency through diagnostic case scenarios and prescribing simulations.
✅Knowing when not to start stimulants: how to spot complexity, risk, or diagnostic uncertainty — and craft a safe, constructive plan that keeps the person supported.
Modules & Cases
1. Diagnostic interview that fits a GP slot (10 min)
2. Collateral & tests that change decisions (10 min)
3. Baseline work-up & documentation pack (10 min)
4. First script, first month: cadence & thresholds (10 min)
5. State approvals: efficient pathways & common pitfalls (10 min)
6. When not to start: red flags & second opinions (10 min)
Case set: Adult with lifelong “scatter + panic,” teen with cannabis, peri-menopause “brain fog” — decide, initiate, or defer (with justification).
10-minute video micro-lessons
Focused, high-yield content you can watch anytime—perfect for busy cliniicians.
Downloadable checklists, shared-care templates & handouts
Continuation-prescribing checklists, follow-up templates, shared-care letters, red-flag quick-refence, patient handouts
AI-assisted branching cases (initiate vs defer)
Practice real-world scenarios in a safe space, with smart prompts to guide your decision-making.
Assessment & CPD
- Post-module quiz + short case set (80% pass; unlimited retries with feedback)
- RACGP CPD-ready completion certificate (meets hours for Educational Activities; provider-accredited stream available when applicable)
This course is accredited with the RACGP CPD Program. Completion is tracked, certificates are provided, and hours are automatically uploaded via your CPD dashboard.
Meet the instructor
Dr Chris Soo is an ADHD expert Specialist GP on the Gold Coast providing neurodiversity-affirming, evidence-based care. He is a lived-experience AuDHD clinician with particular expertise in supporting people with ADHD and AuDHD, including complex presentations where diagnostic clarity, comorbidity, and safe treatment really matter.
Chris holds academic appointments as Adjunct Associate Professor at Bond University (from January 2026) and Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Griffith University. He is the founder of ADHD Clinical Mastery, a clinician education platform, a full member of the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA), a member of the AADPA Education & Training Committee, and a member of the Australian Society of Developmental Paediatrics.
Chris is a professional speaker, medical educator, and advocate for higher-quality ADHD care in Australia. He has been an invited speaker at the RACGP 64th Clinical Update Conference (2025), featured across the HealthEd Women’s & Children’s Health Update seminars in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide (2024–2025), and has presented at the AADPA Conference.
He is known for combining clinical rigour with genuine kindness: careful listening, clear explanations, and calm clinical reasoning. Many patients and clinicians seek him out for diagnostic clarity and expert troubleshooting, especially when symptoms are nuanced, overlapping, or when treatment has not gone as expected.
Chris supports people with ADHD across the lifespan and has worked in ADHD, autism, and mental health care for over 20 years. He is passionate about helping patients move from confusion to clarity, stability, and thriving, with one-clinician continuity and a structured, safety-first approach that does not cut corners.
Previously presented at:
Meet the instructor
Dr Chris Soo is a lived-experience ADHD GP on the Gold Coast, working almost exclusively with ADHDers and AuDHDers. He is a board member of the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association, co-founder of several GP ADHD networks, and a member of the Australian Society of Developmental Paediatrics.
A sought-after speaker and educator, Chris has presented at HealthED, RACGP Clinical Update, and the AADPA Conference. With over 20 years’ experience in mental health and neurodevelopmental care, he brings passion, clarity, and lived insight to equipping clinicians with real-world skills.
Previously presented at:
