Apply now for appointment to a health profession National Board

12 Jan 2024

Updated 12 February 2023

Apply now for appointment to a health profession National Board.

Australia has more than 875,000 registered health practitioners who are regulated through our National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (National Scheme) by 15 National Boards. These Boards consist of community members and practitioner members (who are registered in the relevant profession) and set the professional standards practitioners must meet to be registered.

Applications are now open for 31 community member positions (open to everyone) and 63 practitioner member positions (for people who are registered in the relevant profession).

Registered health practitioners and members of the community across Australia are invited to apply for vacancies on the National Boards for:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice*
• Chinese medicine
• Chiropractic
• Dental*
• Medical*
• Nursing and midwifery
• Occupational therapy
• Optometry*
• Osteopathy
• Pharmacy*
• Physiotherapy*
• Podiatry*
• Psychology*

* Registered practitioners from these professions are eligible to apply for the position of Board Chair.

The National Scheme has an important role in ensuring the development of a culturally safe and respectful health workforce that is responsive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples health and contributes to the elimination of racism in the provision of health services.

To achieve this, we have committed to increasing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leadership and voices in the National Scheme and warmly invite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to apply.

The National Scheme is also committed to increasing diverse leadership and voices on its National Boards. People from diverse backgrounds, including those living in rural or regional areas in Australia, those identifying as LGBTIQ+ and those living with a disability are also invited to apply.

What Board members do

Watch our recent webinar with National Board Chairs and members to hear about their contributions and life as a board member.

As a Board member, you will work with other members and a Board Chair to:

• set national standards of practice for the profession
• develop guidance for practitioners on their scope of practice
• make decisions about registering a practitioner or managing complaints about a practitioner’s health, performance or conduct, or
• manage other functions as needed by a National Board.

Most National Boards meet monthly, some meet less frequently. Board members are paid for attending meetings.

National Board appointments are made by the Ministerial Council for up to three years, under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law as in force in each state and territory (the National Law).

For more information

Information about the roles, eligibility requirements and the application and selection process can be found in the Information Guide (1.25 MB, PDF ) and Frequently Asked Questions (252 KB, PDF)

If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and would like to discuss the vacancies, please email mobvoices@ahpra.gov.au

For all other enquiries, please email statutoryappointments@ahpra.gov.au

Want to apply?

Useful resources

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy
• National Scheme Strategy 2020-2025
• National Scheme Engagement Strategy 2020-2025

Ahpra acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and Elders past and present.