Hanmer Springs Community Trust will expand its rural adult ADHD pilot into a regional assessment, treatment and support service after being selected for funding.

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey said the trust was one of 22 non-government organisations receiving support through the third round of the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund.

The expanded service will include telehealth triage and structured adult ADHD screening, with in-person assessments available where needed, delivered in partnership with rural GPs and nurse practitioners.

Adults will also have access to group and individual support covering ADHD self-management, executive function strategies, emotional regulation, workplace tools and financial management.

Most support will be delivered through telehealth, with optional in-person sessions at rural hubs.

Funding will also help upskill rural primary care clinicians and provide facilitated online peer support for adults with ADHD and their families.

“Access to healthcare, especially for our rural communities, continues to be one of the most pressing concerns for the wider North Canterbury region,” Doocey said.

“Our NGOs are often closest to the people they support and understand what is needed in their communities.

“The Innovation Fund gives these organisations an opportunity to test new approaches and build on ideas that are already working.”

Doocey said he attended the Rural Health Roadshow in Hanmer Springs last year, where providers and residents shared their perspectives on local healthcare.

“We are focused on making sure people have faster access to support and community organisations are an important part of delivering that.”

The announcement did not specify how much funding the trust would receive or when the expanded service would begin.