National Registration and Accreditation One Step Closer

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7 October 2009

Nationally consistent registration and accreditation for health professions is a step closer today following the introduction of the legislation that sets out the framework for a national scheme.

The Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, Paul Lucas, has now introduced the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Bill 2009 (Qld) to the Queensland Parliament.

All health ministers have agreed that this legislation will form the basis for a national scheme to begin on 1 July 2010. The scheme will cover registration and accreditation, complaints, privacy and information sharing, and transitional arrangements.

Under the scheme, a health practitioner will only have to register once and will have that registration recognised throughout Australia. No longer will a health practitioner wanting to work interstate be required to hold additional or multiple registrations. This will be of particular benefit in responding to national emergencies where a workforce can be mobilised quickly from across the country.

Patient safety will be improved by having a national register that will clearly identify whether a health practitioner is registered and any conditions that may be imposed on their registration.

Professional standards will continue to be developed by the individual professions and will ensure that Australia continues to have a world class health system where patient safety is paramount.

Following passage in the Queensland Parliament, draft legislation will progressively be introduced in all parliaments across Australia to adopt and apply the new national law.

The Bill was drafted in accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement, signed by the Council of Australian Governments’ in March 2008, and follows extensive consultation with consumers, practitioners and regulatory bodies.

My fellow health ministers and I have welcomed the responses to the exposure draft Bill and the level of commitment to finalising the Bill.

I look forward to Australia soon having a workable national registration system that will deliver for patients and health professionals alike.

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220.