Date post: | 22-Jan-2018 |
Category: |
Health & Medicine |
Upload: | ray-bange |
View: | 229 times |
Download: | 2 times |
Countdown to
paramedic registration
Status – Sept 2017
The Paramedic Observer
Related resource links
Overarching criteria – public safety / public trust does paramedic practice pose potential risk of harm?
do patients take expertise on trust?
Paramedics: make clinical assessments
perform invasive procedures
administer powerful drugs
make critical judgements and decisions
patients accept practitioner competence on trust
paramedic practitioners operate autonomously within a Scope of Practice (SOP)
The why of paramedic regulation
An independent authority registers and controls:
Who enters the profession – i.e. who gets on the register; making
sure that those who are registered are fit and competent - entry
Who stays on the register - ensure those on the register are able
to practice safely and maintain their competence - monitoring
Who is removed from the register - those shown to be lacking
ability or fitness to practice – removal
The outcomes are open to public scrutiny - transparency
How does registration work ?
Registration involves transparency, objectivity & due process
The National Registration & Accreditation Scheme (NRAS)
was established under separate jurisdictional legislation to:
− protect the public by ensuring that only suitably trained and qualified
health practitioners are registered
− facilitate health workforce mobility across Australia
− enable the continuous development of a flexible, responsive and
sustainable health workforce
The NRAS is administered by AHPRA* and a number of
professional regulatory Boards. It provides independent:
− protection of title
− a register of practitioners
− established registration standards
− investigation of complaints
− accreditation of courses
What is NRAS registration ?
*AHPRA - see https://www.ahpra.gov.au/
What is AHPRA ?
AHPRA is the:
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
AHPRA administers the National Registration and
Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) for the health professions
provides administrative support to the National Boards
provides legal support & interpretation
makes recommendations to Boards
first point of contact for registration matters
The NRAS commenced in 2010 with 10 health professions
Chiropractic Osteopathy
Dental Pharmacy
Medical Physiotherapy
Nursing & Midwifery Podiatry
Optometry Psychology
A further four professions entered the scheme in 2012
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health practice
Chinese medicine
Medical radiation practice
Occupational therapy
Currently registered professions
As at 30 April 2017 there were 676,108 registered health
practitioners in Australia – see details at http://bit.ly/2wDk6Gt
At a glance
Who does what ?
Gaining agreement for registration of paramedics has taken many years to gain consensus across all jurisdictions
Three states (SA, Tas & NSW) recognised the risks of practice and introduced interim legislation protecting the title of ‘paramedic’ but using different legislative frameworks:
SA – via amendment to NRAS National Law – October 2013
Tas – via an amended Ambulance Service Act – November 2013
NSW – via an amended Health Services Act - 1 February 2016
Health Ministers in 2015 also agreed to adopt a national Code of Conduct for unregistered health workers - http://bit.ly/1yS81vA
Note: The provisions of the National Code of Conduct apply to paramedics (and others) if not registered – see http://bit.ly/2qoTi9i
The paramedic journey
6 Nov 2015 - Health Ministers agree to support registration with jurisdictions able to ‘opt-in’. NSW remains the sole stand-out but other jurisdictions continue – see http://on.fb.me/1NYNskM
2016 - Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services appoints a project team to progress the registration case
9 May 2016 – A Senate Committee report fully supports national registration of paramedics – see http://bit.ly/1TOe7DL
7 October 2016 – Health Ministers agree to proceed with national registration - see http://bit.ly/2dNVwM4
February 2017 - Consultation with stakeholders to review the legislative amendments for implementation of registration
The pace quickens
24 March 2017 – Health Ministers agreed to the draft legislative amendments to the National Law - see http://bit.ly/2ndgm9R
April 2017 - AHPRA establishes dedicated webpage to keep people informed of developments - see http://bit.ly/2qdQtL5
29 April 2017 – AHPRA advertises for Paramedicine Board members - target Sept 2017 - see http://bit.ly/2pOhp4a
June 2017 - AHPRA appoints Project Manager (Deb Tapping) for implementation of registration project – see http://bit.ly/2sLTbrH
13 June 2017 - Health Practitioner Regulation Amendment Bill introduced into Qld Parliament – see http://bit.ly/2rWf1bp
11 August – Qld Parliamentary Committee Review Report #42 recommends passage of Bill - see http://bit.ly/2xQW3E3
The current status (Sept 2017)
16 August – Western Australia (WA) tables Health Practitioner Legislation Amendment Bill – see http://bit.ly/2wA9NFF
22 August – AHPRA provides update including FAQs and vacancy for Board Executive Officer – see http://bit.ly/2wsTwSO
17.27 hrs 6 Sept – Queensland Parliament passes the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 – see http://bit.ly/2xROpsY
18.49 hrs 6 Sept – WA Health Practitioner Regulation Amendment Bill - Second Reading Legislative Council - see http://bit.ly/2f7xpau
7 September – Flipbook presentation of final debate in Qld Parliament - see http://bit.ly/2gKsHiP
The current status (Sept 2017)
What are some key reforms?
Paramedicine added to the definition of ‘health profession’ under the National Law
‘Paramedic’ becomes a protected title nationally
New s307 and s308 establish the Paramedicine Board of Australia. The Board has:
– limited functions until the participation day s308(1)&(3) but can start work
– same powers and functions as existing 14 Boards from participation day
New s.308 (2) allows Ministerial Council to appoint practitioner members to the Board prior to participation day
New s.310 allows ‘Grand-parenting’ recognition of existing practitioners during the first three years of the scheme
The Paramedicine Board will comprise 6 practitioner and 3 community members. It will consult & progressively develop:
– Registration standards: e.g. continuing professional development, criminal history, English language skills, recency of practice and professional indemnity insurance, for recommendation to Ministers; and
– Codes and guidelines under s39 (see http://bit.ly/2ePHJWy )
The Board will recommend course accreditation arrangements and approve accreditation standards
Make administrative arrangements for processing early applications and other procedural matters for registration
Perform all the functions of a professional regulatory Board (except initially for some specific roles e.g. complaints)
See information guide: http://online.fliphtml5.com/eeyoy/fcyl/
The Paramedicine Board
Timeline of implementation
AHPRA has established a dedicated web page and communication network to provide information on registration in the lead-up to the participation date.
This consists of:
– general information on registration http://bit.ly/2pkhLfP
– frequently asked questions (FAQs) http://bit.ly/2g0Fpxc
– an e-news subscription channel http://bit.ly/2wymvUy
– a short informative video on AHPRA registration http://bit.ly/2j2n58e
– a potted history of recent developments http://bit.ly/2vKm1vG
For specific matters - contact the AHPRA project manager:Deb Tapping on telephone | 03 8708 9205
Email | [email protected]
Where to go for further details
For additional information on regulatory and general matters
affecting paramedicine - follow these social media channels:
— Twitter on @ParamedProf and @Arban70 — Paramedic Observer http://bit.ly/1EUgjUu
— Australian Emergency Law http://bit.ly/2nW38Ac
Information on paramedic practice is available on the websites
and social media channels of (in alpha order):
─ Australian and New Zealand College of Paramedicine (ANZCP)
─ Australian Ambulance Services (various jurisdictions)
─ Australian Paramedics Association (various jurisdictions)
─ Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA)
─ National Council of Ambulance Unions (NCAU)
─ Paramedics Australasia (PA)
─ Private Paramedicine Australia (PPA)
Other information sources