National Prescribing Competencies Framework

About

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has been contracted by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) to conduct a review of the Prescribing Competencies Framework – Embedding quality use of medicines into practice, second edition (the framework).

What is the framework?

The framework, originally developed and hosted by NPS MedicineWise, was published in April 2021 and describes the competencies and expectations for appropriate, safe and effective prescribing across relevant health professions. It aims to create a shared understanding of the person-centred prescribing process and supports:

the development and review of education and training programs
the development and review of continuing professional development programs
individual prescribers’ and students’ self-reflection
National Boards’ regulatory functions, and
recognition and understanding of the prescribing role.

The current framework, which is currently located on the NPS MedicineWise website, can also be found here.

(1.9 MB, PDF)

The review

The main objectives of the framework’s review are to support Quality Use of Medicines and ensure that:

it remains fit for purpose, contemporary, efficient, accurate and reflects current and emerging trends in education and multi-profession practices, and
it continues to describe competencies required to contribute to safe and person-centred prescribing.

Key stages of the review will be:

Scoping July - Sept 2024
Preliminary consultation Oct - Nov 2024
Analysis/review Dec - Jan 2025
Public consultation Feb - Apr 2025
Review/finalise Apr- May 2025
Publish/promote June - Dec 2025

Progression from one stage to the next will be signed off by the Department, with their acceptance of specific deliverables, such as the scoping report, preliminary consultation report and public consultation report.

Consultations

A preliminary consultation on the draft revised framework with key targeted stakeholders in various sectors from health professional organisations, education providers, health consumer groups, jurisdictions and other groups will take place before the end of 2024.

A wide-ranging public consultation with public information sessions on the draft revised framework will take place in February to April 2025. Information on the public consultation will be published here.

Governance

The Ahpra project team conducting the review will regularly report back to the Department. The revised framework (3^rd edition) will be submitted to the Department in June 2025 for approval and final publication and promotion on the Ahpra website from June 2025 to December 2029. The Department will continue to own the framework as part of the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology Program.

The National Prescribing Competencies Framework Reference Group (the Reference Group) will provide guidance and advice throughout the review.

Ahpra’s Scheduled Medicines Expert Committee (the Expert Committee) will also provide general advice and guidance on the review.

Background

The first edition of the framework titled ‘Competencies required to prescribe medicines – Putting quality use of medicines into practice’ was published in 2012 by former NPS MedicineWise, previously known as NPS: Better choices, Better health.

A comprehensive review of the framework was undertaken by former NPS MedicineWise with the support of Queensland University of Technology and completed in 2021. This review led to the second edition and current version of the framework, which was published in April 2021 by former NPS MedicineWise.

On 31 December 2022, NPS MedicineWise ceased all operations, following the Rapid Review of proposed Quality Use of Diagnostic, Therapeutics and Pathology Program and Budget Measure (the QUDTP Program).

Ahpra is looking forward to hosting the revised framework on this webpage.

Want to learn more about the framework and its review? Contact our project team.