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01 Jul 2022
National registration means all practitioners are on the online public register so that patients and consumers can easily check that their practitioner is registered.
It also allows practitioners to work anywhere in Australia. Practitioners apply for initial registration once and renew their registration every year to demonstrate that they meet national registration standards and other requirements.
Before 1 July 2012, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice, Chinese medicine, medical radiation practice and occupational therapy were regulated in different ways in each state and territory which meant different standards and guidelines for practitioners working across Australia. There were also some professions for which regulation wasn’t in place in every state and territory. For Chinese medicine practitioners, for example, before 2012, there was only regulation in Victoria.
Now they are part of a National Scheme that has patient safety at its heart.
‘Ten years of national registration is an important milestone. Registration sets clear standards which all registered health practitioners must meet. We want the Australian community to have trust and confidence in registered health practitioners because they are competent, safe and qualified,’ Ahpra CEO, Martin Fletcher, said.
Co-Convenor for the Forum of NRAS (National Registration and Accreditation Scheme) Chairs, Brett Simmonds, said:
’The National Scheme has increased opportunities for shared learnings across professions. This is a win for the professions and the public.
‘Equally, national registration has enabled a more flexible, responsive, and sustainable health workforce. This benefits everyone accessing healthcare anywhere in Australia.’
About Ahpra and the National Boards
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) works in partnership with 15 National Boards to implement the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (National Scheme) across Australia.
The National Scheme facilitates the regulation of individual health practitioners. It is governed by a nationally consistent law passed by each state and territory parliament – the National Law. There is oversight by a Ministerial Council made up of all Australian Health Ministers. The National Scheme is self-funded through practitioners’ registration fees.