Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Restriction: Complete formal or one-on-one education
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Restriction: Complete formal or one-on-one education

National Restrictions Library 2.0: This restriction applies to restictions imposed or accepted from 16 September 2024. For restrictions imposed or accepted before this date please see the National Restrictions Library 1.0.

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Restriction description

A practitioner with this restriction must complete a formal education course or extra one-on-one education with an approved educator. The restriction outlines the topics of the education, and they depend on what concerns we identified.

We must approve the education to ensure it is appropriate to cover the required topics. 

The practitioner must show evidence that they have:

  • completed the education
  • thought about how to incorporate what they learnt into their practice.

We monitor compliance by checking that the practitioner:

  • meets all required timeframes
  • nominates education that will deal with the concerns we identified
  • completes the education and satisfactorily completes any required assessment
  • reflects on how they will change their practice.

If audit is required

The practitioner must have their practice audited to show that they have incorporated what they learnt into their work to prevent similar concerns.

We must approve the nominated auditor and audit plan to ensure that the audit will focus on the required areas.

The practitioner must show evidence of the completed audit.

We monitor compliance with this restriction by checking:

  • the practitioner’s proposed auditor and audit plan will adequately assess the identified concerns
  • the findings of the audit.

Full text of restriction

  1. The practitioner must complete either a formal education program or one-on-one education addressing: #insert topics(s)/ dispensing of medicines#. The education must be of a minimum #duration# hours. 
  2. <include if required> The education must:
    1. contain a formal assessment component,
    2. include a minimum of #duration# on #insert area#, 
    3. include a minimum of #duration# of one-on-one education 

Option 1: no audit 

  1. The practitioner must: 
    1. comply with the Ahpra Protocol: Formal or one-on-one education in force at the date these conditions are imposed and then as updated from time to time
    2. complete the requirements of this condition within #timeframe# of the start date of this condition. The start date is #date#
  2. <include if required> (Pharmacists) After completion of the education the practitioner must provide evidence of the strategies developed to ensure their dispensing process is carried out in accordance with the Board’s Guidelines for Dispensing of Medicines

Option 2: with audit

  1. The practitioner must undergo an audit of their practice (the audit), including any supporting records. The audit and the audit report are to focus on #Board’s concerns# and must include, at a minimum, #audit requirement#. 
  2. The practitioner must: 
    1. comply with the Ahpra Protocol: Complete formal education (265 KB,PDF) or Complete one-on-one education (341 KB,PDF) and the Ahpra Protocol: Complete audit (293 KB,PDF) in force at the date these conditions are imposed and then as updated from time to time.
    2. complete the education program within #timeframe# of the start date of this condition. The start date is #date#.
    3. complete the audit within #timeframe# of the completion of the education.

You will receive a monitoring plan that details contact information, due dates, and the information you will need to provide to show that you are complying with your restrictions.

  • Acknowledging the requirements:
    Read and acknowledge:
  • Nominate an education program.
    • Provide a detailed copy of the course curriculum
  • Assessing your nominations
    • Your nominations will be assessed based on the Protocol’s requirements.
    • You will be advised if your nomination has been approved or rejected.
  • Practising in line with the requirements
    • Complete the education as per your approved education program.
  • Submitting evidence of compliance
    • Submit evidence of completion of the education program within the timeframe provided in your restrictions.
    • Write and submit a reflective practice report that demonstrates your reflections on the issues that resulted in the requirement to complete formal education.
  • Removal of the restrictions
    • We will assess the evidence and consider removal of the restrictions once all associated requirements (including audit if required) have been met.
    • You will be advised of the outcome.
  • Removing the restrictions
    • Once approved, the restrictions will be removed from your registration.
  • Acknowledging the requirements:
    Read and acknowledge:
  • Nominating an educator and an education plan 
    • nominate an educator for one on one education.
    • include the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV) and an education plan.
  • Assessing your nominations
    • Your nominations will be assessed based on the Protocol’s requirements.
    • You will be advised if your education nomination has been approved or rejected.
  • Completing the requirements
    • Complete the education as per your approved education plan.
  • Submitting evidence of compliance
    • Submit evidence of completion of the education within the timeframe provided in your restrictions.
    • Write and submit a reflective practice report that demonstrates your reflections on the issues that resulted in the requirement to complete education.
  • Removal of the restrictions
    • We will assess the evidence and consider removal of the restrictions once all associated requirements (including audit if required) have been met.
    • You will be advised on the outcome.
  • Removing the restrictions
    • Once approved, the restrictions will be removed from your registration. 

Forms

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Where can you seek further information about your restrictions?

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Please contact your case officer for more information. 

For general information see our Frequently asked questions about Monitoring and compliance page

If you have not yet received contact details for your case officer, please email your enquiry.

Where can you go to for support?

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We are here to support and guide you through your compliance. 

The contact details for your case officer are included on all our correspondence with you.

We also encourage you to use independent support services, including those provided on our Practitioner support services page.

You can also contact your legal representative or professional union to support you.

What if the course curriculum isn’t detailed enough?

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You will be asked to provide any additional information needed before your nominated education program will be considered. Nominations that are not sufficiently detailed will not be approved.

If a course curriculum is not sufficiently detailed and this results in extensive delays in the completion of the education program, we may consider taking action in response to the non-compliance. 

What if your education nomination is not approved?

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Generally, you will be provided a further opportunity to nominate a different education program, or to address any shortfalls in the nominated education program. 

Repeated failures to make an appropriate nomination and/or delays in providing the required nominations may be considered non-compliance and may result in further regulatory action.

What if your nominated course is no longer available or discontinued?

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Contact your Ahpra case officer as soon as possible to provide evidence of discontinuation of the education program. You will be required to nominate a new education program and complete any outstanding topics or requirements if you have not  been able to complete the requirements of your restrictions and monitoring plan.

Can you nominate online programs of education?

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Generally, only online programs of education with interactive content and/or an assessment component will be approved.

Your circumstances have changed, and you can’t attend the approved education program, what should you do?

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Contact your Ahpra case officer. You may be able to apply for a change in your restrictions, or an extension of time to complete your education program. Circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Can you complete your education program before the nomination is considered?

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It is recommended that you do not commence the program of education before your nomination has been considered and approved. If your nomination is not approved, any education undertaken prior an approval will not be counted towards the requirements of your restrictions and you may be required to complete additional education at your own cost.

Can you include the education as part of your continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for the year?

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You must not include the program of education as part of your CPD requirements for the renewal period. During a CPD audit, we will assess whether education required to satisfy restrictions has been included in CPD submissions. 

If you do include it as part of your CPD requirements, you may be required to complete the shortfall in your CPD requirements for the renewal period and/or we may decide to take other regulatory action.

How do you write a reflective practice report?

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Ahpra has published information on preparing a reflective report you can access on the website.

What if your reflective practice report is not satisfactory?

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You may be invited to attend a reflective practice discussion. A discussion may be offered if your reflective practice report does not satisfactorily demonstrate that you have reflected on the concerns that resulted in the requirement for education. 

We may take further regulatory action if your reflective practice report does not demonstrate satisfactory reflection or if we are not satisfied that the education has addressed the risk that led to your restrictions.

If you are unable to comply with the requirements, what should you do?

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You must contact your Ahpra case officer or team as soon as possible if you have had a change of circumstances or are unable to comply with the requirements for any reason. See your monitoring plan for contact information.

 

If audits are required

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Can you start your audit(s) before your audit nomination is considered?

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It is not recommended that you start your audits before your nominated auditor and audit plan has been considered and approved. If we do not approve your nomination, any audits undertaken prior to approval may not be counted towards the requirements of your restrictions, and you may be required to complete additional audits at your own cost. 

The audit plan should also specifically address how the audits will be conducted in the event of issues involving bandwidth, video quality, broadband interruptions, and other technical issues.

Can your audits be completed virtually?

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Audits via videoconference may be considered. Both you and your auditor should confirm in your plan that you have access to reliable internet, web camera, speakers, and microphone and how you will securely share patient records and personal information. Audits via audio communication only is unlikely to be approved.

Only audits which include real time interaction with your auditor will be approved. Pre-recorded video and audio content will generally not be considered sufficient in isolation. 

If you maintain paper-based records, it is unlikely that a virtual or remote audit will be approved.

What if your auditor reports concerns about your practice?

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If a report indicates there are or continue to be concerns that relate to your conduct or performance, we may consider whether this requires any further regulatory action. This is considered on a case-by-case basis and includes the nature of the original concerns resulting in your restrictions, any remedial action taken by you including completion of education, seeking input from peers and or safeguards that provide adequate protection to the public such as supervision.

 
View the
National Restrictions Library 2.0 View all
Ahpra Protocols
 
 
Page reviewed 24/12/2024
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