‘Kick in the guts’: Queensland Police Service accused of ADHD ‘discrimination’
A Brisbane father who had dreamt of joining the Queensland Police Service since he was a child claims he was discriminated against because of an ADHD diagnosis.
A Brisbane father who had dreamt of joining the Queensland Police Service since he was a child claims he was discriminated against because of his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
QPS on Monday announced it would waive some test fees for new recruits across the next six months, totalling about $1m, in an attempt to get more cops on the beat, which Nicholas Frost described as just another “kick in the guts”.
Mr Frost entered the police recruitment process in March, passing the entrance exam, fitness and swimming test, along with the panel interview and written psychological exam, only to be deemed mentally unfit by Sonic HealthPlus.
The 27-year-old has since lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission.
“It’s a kick in the guts that I spent nearly $2000 and now they are giving out these free police exams like it’s candy,” he said.
Mr Frost said during the recruitment process he disclosed that he had been diagnosed with ADHD aged 24 and subsequently prescribed dexamphetamine.
“Should you wish to reapply after the exclusion date, please note the QPS medical guidelines state that candidates diagnosed with ADHD need to be fully asymptomatic and off treatment for at least two years,” Acting Inspector recruit manager Greg Giles wrote.
But a QPS spokeswoman said medical standards had been recently updated after being independently reviewed to ensure they reflected contemporary practices, were evidence-based and aligned with occupational requirements associated with the inherently dynamic role of policing.
Mr Frost said he was aware that the guidelines had been changed from June 10 but that he received correspondence from the QPS on June 13 that he was “not suitable based on their medical guidelines in yet another copied and pasted email, ignoring all points I had addressed in my submitted letters”.
He said the current recruitment guidelines were archaic, and failed to take into consideration that people with ADHD are often diagnosed on the job.
A letter supplied from Mr Frost’s psychiatrist revealed he had been a “functional person all his life with no major disruptive behaviour or anger issues”.
“His executive and other cognitive functions are quite comparable to average members of society, and can be superior when he receives his medications,” the letter reads.
QUT Centre for Inclusive Education professor Linda Graham said ADHD was not a reason for anybody to be discriminated against, and that side effects generally attenuated with age.
“We know from longitudinal studies that children with ADHD present differently to adults – people who remain impaired (into adulthood) generally have comorbidities (accompanying conditions),” she said.
Ms Graham said situations like Mr Frost’s would discourage others from getting an official diagnosis of ADHD because of the stigma and lack of support.
“Employers have obligations to make adjustments for people with disabilities – it would be permissible to make an exclusion such as that,” she said.
Police Minister Mark Ryan and Commissioner Katarina Carroll on Monday announced the $215 QPS entry assessment and $20 physical fitness test would be free for the next six months for all hopefuls.
Mr Ryan said QPS was doing everything it could to achieve the government’s promise of 2025 new police personnel by 2025, but was not immune to a tight labour market.
Ms Carroll said: “We want to encourage every single person who is considering a career in policing to come forward and realise their potential.”
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Originally published as ‘Kick in the guts’: Queensland Police Service accused of ADHD ‘discrimination’
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