Regulatory Policy & Governance Division (RPGD)
This page outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Regulatory Policy and Governance Division (RPGD) of the Department of Health and Ageing.
About the Division
The Regulatory Policy and Governance Division (RPGD) was established in August 2006 to build the capacity for effective governance and the adoption of regulatory best practice across the Health portfolio. The Division works collaboratively with other Portfolio Agencies and Divisions within the Department to respond to changes in governance and regulatory frameworks.
To achieve this we:
- advise on the governance arrangements for health portfolio agencies;
- provide policy advice to Government on matters associated with food regulation; health and medical research; nuclear safety and radiation protection; gene technology and other emerging technologies; the blood supply; organ and tissue donation; and therapeutic goods, including in the context of international trade agreements;
- manage relationships, key appointments and governance issues in relation to the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR), the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), the National Blood Authority (NBA), the Australian Organ & Tissue Donation & Transplantation Authority (AOTDTA), Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC);
- contribute to the development of policy advice on regulatory interfaces between therapeutic goods, food, cosmetics and chemicals;
- provide secretariat and administrative support to the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation, the Legislative and Governance Forum on Gene Technology and their subcommittees.
- provide advice on to proposed changes in governance and regulatory frameworks that affect the health portfolio;
- provide advice on safety and quality matters, particularly those relating to development of national accreditation of healthcare services;
- administer the Qualified Privilege Scheme encouraging health professionals to participate in quality assurance activities;
- provide policy advice on intellectual property issues, associated with both domestic and international regulations, and their effect on appropriate access to health care;
- manage the relationship between the Department and the Department of Human Services, and provide advice and support to the Department’s program areas on Medicare Business Agreements;
- develop policy advice for the achievement of effective outcomes in relation to negotiations with New Zealand on food and therapeutic goods regulatory reform;
- contribute to the wider government deregulation agenda; Council of Australian Governments (COAG) policy reforms; and relevant Productivity Commission reviews; and to manage liaison with the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR);
- administer and manage the Australian Government Hearing Services Program with the aim to reduce the incidence and consequences of avoidable hearing loss in the Australian community and to provide access to high quality hearing services and devices.
First Assistant Secretary
Mary McDonald
Ph: (02) 6289 8227Branches
- Blood, Organ and Regulatory Policy Branch
- Governance, Safety and Quality Branch
- Research, Regulation and Food Branch
- Office of Hearing Services
- ANZTPA Policy Branch
Top of page
