Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Act 2010

This Act was repealed by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Application Act 2024 s. 38 (No. 21 of 2024) on 15 May 2024 (see s. 2(c)).

 

 

Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Act 2010

Contents

Part 1 — Preliminary

1.Short title1

2.Commencement1

3.Terms used1

Part 2 — Application of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law

4.Application of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law1

5.Meaning of generic terms in Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) for purposes of this jurisdiction1

6.Responsible tribunal for Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)1

7.Exclusion of legislation of this jurisdiction1

Part 3 — Provisions specific to this jurisdiction

8.Transfer of certain property exempt from duty1

9.Minister’s direction1

10.Police Commissioner may give criminal history information1

11.Review of decision by State Administrative Tribunal as responsible tribunal1

12.Regulations1

13.Review of Act1

Part 4 — Repeals, transitional and saving provisions

Division 2 — Transitional and saving provisions

16.Term used: former Act1

17.Complaints and matters being dealt with on participation day1

18.Annual reports for part of a year1

19.School dental therapists1

20.Determination of area of need1

21.Transitional regulations1

Schedule — Health Practitioner Regulation National Law

Part 1 — Preliminary

1.Short title1

2.Commencement1

3.Objectives and guiding principles1

4.How functions to be exercised1

5.Terms used1

6.Interpretation generally1

7.Single national entity1

8.Extraterritorial operation of Law1

9.Trans‑Tasman mutual recognition principle1

10.Law binds the State1

Part 2 — Ministerial Council

11.Policy directions1

12.Approval of registration standards1

13.Approvals in relation to specialist registration1

14.Approval of endorsement in relation to scheduled medicines1

15.Approval of areas of practice for purposes of endorsement1

16.How Ministerial Council exercises functions1

17.Notification and publication of directions and approvals1

Part 3 — Australian Health Workforce Advisory Council

18.Establishment of Advisory Council1

19.Function of Advisory Council1

20.Publication of advice1

21.Powers of Advisory Council1

22.Membership of Advisory Council1

Part 4 — Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

Division 1 — National Agency

23.National Agency1

24.General powers of National Agency1

25.Functions of National Agency1

26.Health profession agreements1

27.Cooperation with participating jurisdictions and Commonwealth1

28.Office of National Agency1

Division 2 — Agency Management Committee

29.Agency Management Committee1

30.Functions of Agency Management Committee1

Part 5 — National Boards

Division 1 — National Boards

31.Regulations must provide for National Boards1

31A.Status of National Boards1

32.Powers of National Board1

33.Membership of National Boards1

34.Eligibility for appointment1

Division 2 — Functions of National Boards

35.Functions of National Boards1

36.State and Territory Boards1

37.Delegation of functions1

Division  3 — Registration standards and codes and guidelines

38.National Board must develop registration standards1

39.Codes and guidelines1

40.Consultation about registration standards, codes and guidelines1

41.Use of registration standards, codes or guidelines in disciplinary proceedings1

Part 6 — Accreditation

Division 1 — Preliminary

42.Term used: accreditation function1

Division 2 — Accreditation authorities

43.Accreditation authority to be decided1

44.National Agency may enter into contracts with external accreditation entities1

45.Accreditation processes to be published1

Division 3 — Accreditation functions

46.Development of accreditation standards1

47.Approval of accreditation standards1

48.Accreditation of programmes of study1

49.Approval of accredited programmes of study1

50.Accreditation authority to monitor approved programmes of study1

51.Changes to approval of programme of study1

Part 7 — Registration of health practitioners

Division 1 — General registration

52.Eligibility for general registration1

53.Qualifications for general registration1

54.Examination or assessment for general registration1

55.Unsuitability to hold general registration1

56.Period of general registration1

Division 2 — Specialist registration

57.Eligibility for specialist registration1

58.Qualifications for specialist registration1

59.Examination or assessment for specialist registration1

60.Unsuitability to hold specialist registration1

61.Period of specialist registration1

Division 3 — Provisional registration

62.Eligibility for provisional registration1

63.Unsuitability to hold provisional registration1

64.Period of provisional registration1

Division 4 — Limited registration

65.Eligibility for limited registration1

66.Limited registration for postgraduate training or supervised practice1

67.Limited registration for area of need1

68.Limited registration in public interest1

69.Limited registration for teaching or research1

70.Unsuitability to hold limited registration1

71.Limited registration not to be held for more than one purpose1

72.Period of limited registration1

Division 5 — Non‑practicing registration

73.Eligibility for non‑practicing registration1

74.Unsuitability to hold non‑practicing registration1

75.Registered health practitioner who holds non‑practicing registration must not practise the profession1

76.Period of non‑practicing registration1

Division 6 — Application for registration

77.Application for registration1

78.Power to check applicant’s proof of identity1

79.Power to check applicant’s criminal history1

80.Boards’ other powers before deciding application for registration1

81.Applicant may make submissions about proposed refusal of application or imposition of condition1

82.Decision about application1

83.Conditions of registration1

84.Notice to be given to applicant1

85.Failure to decide application1

Division 7 — Student registration

Subdivision 1 — Persons undertaking approved programmes of study

86.Terms used1

87.National Board must register persons undertaking approved programme of study1

88.National Board may ask education provider for list of persons undertaking approved programme of study1

89.Registration of students1

90.Period of student registration1

Subdivision 2 — Other persons to be registered as students

91.Education provider to provide lists of persons1

Subdivision 3 — General provisions applicable to students

92.Notice to be given if student registration suspended or condition imposed1

93.Report to National Board of cessation of status as student1

Division 8 — Endorsement of registration

Subdivision 1 — Endorsement in relation to scheduled medicines

94.Endorsement for scheduled medicines1

Subdivision 2 — Endorsement in relation to nurse practitioners

95.Endorsement as nurse practitioner1

Subdivision 3 — Endorsement in relation to midwife practitioners

96.Endorsement as midwife practitioner1

Subdivision 4 — Endorsement in relation to acupuncture

97.Endorsement for acupuncture1

Subdivision 5 — Endorsements in relation to approved areas of practice

98.Endorsement for approved area of practice1

Subdivision 6 — Application for endorsement

99.Application for endorsement1

100.Boards’ other powers before deciding application for endorsement1

101.Applicant may make submissions about proposed refusal of application or imposition of condition1

102.Decision about application1

103.Conditions of endorsement1

104.Notice of decision to be given to applicant1

105.Period of endorsement1

106.Failure to decide application for endorsement1

Division 9 — Renewal of registration

107.Application for renewal of registration or endorsement1

108.Registration taken to continue in force1

109.Annual statement1

110.National Board’s powers before making decision1

111.Applicant may make submissions about proposed refusal of application for renewal or imposition of condition1

112.Decision about application for renewal1

Division 10 — Title and practice protections

Subdivision 1 — Title protections

113.Restriction on use of protected titles1

114.Use of title “acupuncturist”1

115.Restriction on use of specialist titles1

116.Claims by persons as to registration as health practitioner1

117.Claims by persons as to registration in particular profession or division1

118.Claims by persons as to specialist registration1

119.Claims about type of registration or registration in recognised specialty1

120.Registered health practitioner registered on conditions1

Subdivision 2 — Practice protections

121.Restricted dental acts1

122.Restriction on prescription of optical appliances1

123.Restriction on spinal manipulation1

123A.Restricted birthing practices1

Division 11 — Miscellaneous

Subdivision 1 — Certificates of registration

124.Issue of certificate of registration1

Subdivision 2 — Review of conditions and undertakings

125.Changing or removing conditions or undertaking on application by registered health practitioner or student1

126.Changing conditions on Board’s initiative1

127.Removal of condition or revocation of undertaking1

127A.When matters under this Subdivision may be decided by review body of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction1

Subdivision 3 — Obligations of registered health practitioners and students

128.Continuing professional development1

129.Professional indemnity insurance arrangements1

130.Registered health practitioner or student to give National Board notice of certain events1

131.Change in principal place of practice, address or name1

132.National Board may ask registered health practitioner for practice information1

Subdivision 4 — Advertising

133.Advertising1

Subdivision 5 — Board’s powers to check identity and criminal history

134.Evidence of identity1

135.Criminal history check1

Subdivision 6 — General

136.Directing or inciting unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct1

137.Surrender of registration1

Part 8 — Health, performance and conduct

Division 1 — Preliminary

138.Part applicable to persons formerly registered under this Law1

139.Part applicable to persons formerly registered under corresponding prior Act in certain circumstances1

Division 2 — Mandatory notifications

140.Term used: notifiable conduct1

141.Mandatory notifications by health practitioners1

142.Mandatory notifications by employers1

143.Mandatory notifications by education providers1

Division 3 — Voluntary notifications

144.Grounds for voluntary notification1

145.Who may make voluntary notification1

Division 4 — Making a notification

146.How notification is made1

147.National Agency to provide reasonable assistance to notifier1

Division 5 — Preliminary assessment

148.Referral of notification to National Board or co‑regulatory authority1

149.Preliminary assessment1

150.Relationship with health complaints entity1

151.When National Board may decide to take no further action1

152.National Board to give notice of receipt of notification1

Division 6 — Other matters

153.National Board may deal with notifications about same person together1

154.National Boards may deal with notifications collaboratively1

Division 7 — Immediate action

155.Term used: immediate action1

156.Power to take immediate action1

157.Show cause process1

158.Notice to be given to registered health practitioner or student about immediate action1

159.Period of immediate action1

159A.Board may give information to notifier about immediate action1

Division 8 — Investigations

Subdivision 1 — Preliminary

160.When investigation may be conducted1

161.Registered health practitioner or student to be given notice of investigation1

162.Investigation to be conducted in timely way1

Subdivision 2 — Investigators

163.Appointment of investigators1

164.Identity card1

165.Display of identity card1

Subdivision 3 — Procedure after investigation

166.Investigator’s report about investigation1

167.Decision by National Board1

167A.Board may give information to notifier about result of investigation1

Division 9 — Health and performance assessments

168.Term used: assessment1

169.Requirement for health assessment1

170.Requirement for performance assessment1

171.Appointment of assessor to carry out assessment1

172.Notice to be given to registered health practitioner or student about assessment1

173.Assessor may require information or attendance1

174.Inspection of documents1

175.Report from assessor1

176.Copy of report to be given to health practitioner or student1

177.Decision by National Board1

177A.Board may give information to notifier about decision following assessor’s report1

Division 10 — Action by National Board

178.National Board may take action1

179.Show cause process1

180.Notice to be given to health practitioner or student and notifier1

Division 11 — Panels

181.Establishment of health panel1

182.Establishment of performance and professional standards panel1

183.List of approved persons for appointment to panels1

184.Notice to be given to registered health practitioner or student1

185.Procedure of panel1

186.Legal representation1

187.Submission by notifier1

188.Panel may proceed in absence of registered health practitioner or student1

189.Hearing not open to the public1

190.Referral to responsible tribunal1

191.Decision of panel1

191A.Decision of panel after reconsideration of suspension1

191B.Change of reconsideration date for suspension of registration1

192.Notice to be given about panel’s decision1

Division 12 — Referring matter to responsible tribunals

193.Matters to be referred to responsible tribunal1

194.Parties to the proceedings1

195.Costs1

196.Decision by responsible tribunal about registered health practitioner1

196A.Offences relating to prohibition orders1

197.Decision by responsible tribunal about student1

198.Relationship with Act establishing responsible tribunal1

Division 13 — Appeals

199.Appellable decisions1

200.Parties to the proceedings1

201.Costs1

202.Decision1

203.Relationship with Act establishing responsible tribunal1

Division 14 — Miscellaneous

204.Notice from adjudication body1

205.Implementation of decisions1

206.National Board to give notice to registered health practitioner’s employer and other entities1

207.Effect of suspension1

Part 9 — Finance

208.Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Fund1

209.Payments into Agency Fund1

210.Payments out of Agency Fund1

211.Investment of money in Agency Fund1

212.Financial management duties of National Agency and National Boards1

Part 10 — Information and privacy

Division 1A — Australian Information Commissioner

212A.Application of Commonwealth AIC Act1

Division 1 — Privacy

213.Application of Commonwealth Privacy Act1

Division 2 — Disclosure of information and confidentiality

214.Term used: protected information1

215.Application of Commonwealth FOI Act1

216.Duty of confidentiality1

217.Disclosure of information for workforce planning1

218.Disclosure of information for information management and communication purposes1

219.Disclosure of information to other Commonwealth, State and Territory entities1

220.Disclosure to protect health or safety of patients or other persons1

221.Disclosure to registration authorities1

Division 3 — Registers in relation to registered health practitioner

222.Public national registers1

223.Specialists registers1

224.Way registers are to be kept1

225.Information to be recorded in National Register1

226.National Board may decide not to include or to remove certain information in register1

227.Register about former registered health practitioners1

228.Inspection of registers1

Division 4 — Student registers

229.Student registers1

230.Information to be recorded in student register1

Division 5 — Other records

231.Other records to be kept by National Boards1

232.Record of adjudication decisions to be kept and made publicly available1

Division 6 — Unique Identifier

233.Unique identifier to be given to each registered health practitioner1

Part 11 — Miscellaneous

Division 1 — Provisions relating to persons exercising functions under law

234.General duties of persons exercising functions under this Law1

235.Application of Commonwealth Ombudsman Act1

236.Protection from personal liability for persons exercising functions1

237.Protection from liability for persons making notification or otherwise providing information1

Division 2 — Inspectors

238.Functions and powers of inspectors1

239.Appointment of inspectors1

240.Identity card1

241.Display of identity card1

Division 3 — Legal proceedings

242.Proceedings for offences1

243.Conduct may constitute offence and be subject of disciplinary proceedings1

244.Evidentiary certificates1

Division 4 — Regulations

245.National regulations1

246.Parliamentary scrutiny of national regulations1

247.Effect of disallowance of national regulation1

Division 5 — Miscellaneous

248.Combined notice may be given1

249.Fees1

Part 12 — Transitional provisions

Division 1 — Preliminary

250.Terms used1

251.References to registered health practitioners1

Division 2 — Ministerial Council

252.Directions given by Ministerial Council1

253.Accreditation functions exercised by existing accreditation entities1

254.Health profession standards approved by Ministerial Council1

255.Accreditation standards approved by National Board1

Division 3 — Advisory Council

256.Members of Advisory Council1

Division 4 — National Agency

257.Health profession agreements1

258.Service agreement1

Division 5 — Agency Management Committee

259.Members of Agency Management Committee1

Division 6 — Staff, consultants and contractors of National Agency

260.Chief executive officer1

261.Staff1

262.Consultants and contractors1

Division 7 — Reports

263.Annual report1

Division 8 — National Boards

264.Members of National Boards1

265.Committees1

266.Delegation1

Division 9 — Agency Fund

267.Agency Fund1

Division 10 — Offences

268.Offences1

Division 11 — Registration

269.General registration1

270.Specialist registration1

271.Provisional registration1

272.Limited registration1

273.Limited registration (public interest‑occasional practice)1

274.Non‑practicing registration1

275.Registration for existing registered students1

276.Registration for new students1

277.Other registrations1

278.Endorsements1

279.Conditions imposed on registration or endorsement1

280.Expiry of registration and endorsement1

281.Protected titles for certain specialist health practitioners1

282.First renewal of registration or endorsement1

283.Programmes of study1

284.Exemption from requirement for professional indemnity insurance arrangements for midwives practising private midwifery1

Division 12 — Applications for registration and endorsement

285.Applications for registration1

286.Applications for endorsement1

287.Disqualifications and conditions relevant to applications for registration1

Division 13 — Complaints, notifications and disciplinary proceedings

288.Complaints and notifications made but not being dealt with on participation day1

289.Complaints and notifications being dealt with on participation day1

290.Effect of suspension1

291.Undertakings and other agreements1

292.Orders1

293.List of approved persons1

Division 14 — Local registration authority

294.Term used: transfer day1

295.Assets and liabilities1

296.Records relating to registration and accreditation1

297.Financial and administrative records1

298.Pharmacy businesses and premises1

299.Members of local registration authority1

Division 15 — Staged commencement for certain health professions

300.Application of Law to relevant health profession between commencement and 1 July 20121

301.Ministerial Council may appoint external accreditation entity1

302.Application of Law to appointment of first National Board for relevant professions1

303.Qualifications for general registration in relevant profession1

304.Relationship with other provisions of Law1

Division 16 — Savings and transitional regulations

305.Savings and transitional regulations1

Part 13 — Transitional and other provisions for Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Amendment Act 2018

Division 1 — Paramedicine Board and registration of paramedics

306.Definitions1

307.Establishment of Paramedicine Board1

308.Powers and functions of Paramedicine Board1

309.Paramedicine Board taken to be a National Board for stated matters1

310.CAA accredited programmes of study1

311.Qualifications for general registration in paramedicine for a limited period1

312.Accepted qualification for general registration in paramedicine1

313.Provisions that apply to student registration for Diploma of Paramedical Science1

314.Applications for registration in paramedicine and period of registration1

315.Applications for registration in paramedicine made but not decided before participation day1

316.Period after participation day during which an individual does not commit an offence under sections 113 and 1161

317.Application of sections 113 and 116 to individual temporarily practising paramedicine in another jurisdiction1

Division 2 — Other transitional provisions

318.Deciding review period for decision on application made under section 125 before commencement1

319.Deciding review period for decision after notice given under section 126 before commencement1

320.Membership of continued National Boards1

321.Offences relating to prohibition orders made before commencement1

322.Register to include prohibition orders made before commencement1

323.Public national registers1

Schedule 1 — Constitution and procedure of Advisory Council

Part 1 — General

1.Terms used1

Part 2 — Constitution

2.Terms of office of members1

3.Remuneration1

4.Vacancy in office of member1

5.Extension of term of office during vacancy in membership1

6.Disclosure of conflict of interest1

Part 3 — Procedure

7.General procedure1

8.Quorum1

9.Presiding member1

10.Transaction of business outside meetings or by telecommunication1

11.First meeting1

Schedule 2 — Agency Management Committee

Part 1 — General

1.Terms used1

Part 2 — Constitution

2.Terms of office of members1

3.Remuneration1

4.Vacancy in office of member1

5.Vacancies to be advertised1

6.Extension of term of office during vacancy in membership1

7.Members to act in public interest1

8.Disclosure of conflict of interest1

Part 3 — Procedure

9.General procedure1

10.Quorum1

11.Chief executive officer may attend meetings1

12.Presiding member1

13.Voting1

14.Transaction of business outside meetings or by telecommunication1

15.First meeting1

16.Defects in appointment of members1

Schedule 3 — National Agency

Part 1 — Chief executive officer

1.Chief executive officer1

2.Functions of chief executive officer1

3.Delegation and subdelegation by chief executive officer1

4.Vacancy in office1

Part 2 — Staff, consultants and contractors

5.Staff of National Agency1

6.Staff seconded to National Agency1

7.Consultants and contractors1

Part 3 — Reporting obligations

8.Annual report1

9.Reporting by National Boards1

Schedule 4 — National Boards

Part 1 — General

1.Terms used1

Part 2 — Constitution

2.Terms of office of members1

3.Remuneration1

4.Vacancy in office of member1

5.Vacancies to be advertised1

6.Extension of term of office during vacancy in membership1

7.Members to act in public interest1

8.Disclosure of conflict of interest1

Part 3 — Functions and powers

9.Requirement to consult other National Boards1

10.Boards may obtain assistance1

11.Committees1

Part 4 — Procedure

12.General procedure1

13.Quorum1

14.Presiding member1

15.Voting1

16.Transaction of business outside meetings or by telecommunication1

17.First meeting1

18.Defects in appointment of members1

Schedule 5 — Investigators

Part 1 — Power to obtain information

1.Powers of investigators1

2.Offence for failing to produce information or attend before investigator1

3.Inspection of documents1

Part 2 — Power to enter places

4.Entering places1

5.Application for warrant1

6.Issue of warrant1

7.Application by electronic communication1

8.Procedure before entry under warrant1

9.Powers after entering places1

10.Offences for failing to comply with requirement under clause 91

11.Seizure of evidence1

12.Securing seized things1

13.Receipt for seized things1

14.Forfeiture of seized thing1

15.Dealing with forfeited things1

16.Return of seized things1

17.Access to seized things1

Part 3 — General matters

18.Damage to property1

19.Compensation1

20.False or misleading information1

21.False or misleading documents1

22.Obstructing investigators1

23.Impersonation of investigators1

Schedule 6 — Inspectors

Part 1 — Power to obtain information

1.Powers of inspectors1

2.Offence for failing to produce information or attend before inspector1

3.Inspection of documents1

Part 2 — Power to enter places

4.Entering places1

5.Application for warrant1

6.Issue of warrant1

7.Application by electronic communication1

8.Procedure before entry under warrant1

9.Powers after entering places1

10.Offences for failing to comply with requirement under clause 91

11.Seizure of evidence1

12.Securing seized things1

13.Receipt for seized things1

14.Forfeiture of seized thing1

15.Dealing with forfeited things1

16.Return of seized things1

17.Access to seized things1

Part 3 — General matters

18.Damage to property1

19.Compensation1

20.False or misleading information1

21.False or misleading documents1

22.Obstructing inspectors1

23.Impersonation of inspectors1

Schedule 7 — Miscellaneous provisions relating to interpretation

Part 1 — Preliminary

1.Displacement of Schedule by contrary intention1

Part 2 — General

2.Law to be construed not to exceed legislative power of Legislature1

3.Every section to be a substantive enactment1

4.Material that is, and is not, part of this Law1

5.References to particular Acts and to enactments1

6.References taken to be included in Act or Law citation etc.1

7.Interpretation best achieving Law’s purpose1

8.Use of extrinsic material in interpretation1

9.Effect of change of drafting practice and use of examples1

10.Use of examples1

11.Compliance with forms1

Part 3 — Terms and references

12.Terms used1

13.Provisions relating to defined terms and gender and number1

14.Meaning of “may” and “must” etc.1

15.Words and expressions used in statutory instruments1

16.Effect of express references to bodies corporate and individuals1

17.Production of records kept in computers etc.1

18.References to this jurisdiction to be implied1

19.References to officers and holders of offices1

20.Reference to certain provisions of Law1

21.Reference to provisions of this Law or an Act is inclusive1

Part 4 — Functions and powers

22.Performance of statutory functions1

23.Power to make instrument or decision includes power to amend or repeal1

24.Matters for which statutory instruments may make provision1

25.Presumption of validity and power to make1

26.Appointments may be made by name or office1

27.Acting appointments1

28.Powers of appointment imply certain incidental powers1

29.Delegation of functions1

30.Exercise of powers between enactment and commencement1

Part 5 — Distance, time and age

31.Matters relating to distance, time and age1

Part 6 — Effect of repeal, amendment or expiration

32.Time of Law ceasing to have effect1

33.Repealed Law provisions not revived1

34.Saving of operation of repealed Law provisions1

35.Continuance of repealed provisions1

36.Law and amending Acts to be read as one1

Part 7 — Instruments under Law

37.Schedule applies to statutory instruments1

Part 8 — Application to coastal sea

38.Application1

Notes

Compilation table1

Other notes1

Defined terms

 

Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Act 2010

An Act to —

·provide for a national registration and accreditation scheme for health practitioners; and

·repeal various Acts; and

·make consequential amendments to various Acts 2,

and for related purposes.

 

Part 1  Preliminary

1.Short title

This is the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Act 2010.

2.Commencement

This Act comes into operation as follows —

(a)sections 1 and 2 — on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent;

(b)the rest of the Act — on a day fixed by proclamation, and different days may be fixed for different provisions 1.

3.Terms used

(1)For the purposes of this Act the local application provisions of this Act are the provisions of this Act other than the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law set out in the Schedule.

(2)In the local application provisions of this Act —

Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) means the provisions applying in this jurisdiction because of section 4.

(3)If a term is given a meaning in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law set out in the Schedule, it has the same meaning in the local application provisions of this Act.

Part 2  Application of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law

4.Application of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law

(1)The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law set out in the Schedule —

(a)applies as a law of this jurisdiction; and

(b)as so applying, may be referred to as the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia); and

(c)as so applying, is a part of this Act.

(2)The power conferred by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) section 245 to make regulations for the purposes of that Law does not extend to making a regulation relating to the safe operation or use by a medical radiation practitioner of an electronic product, irradiating apparatus or radioactive substance as those terms are defined in the Radiation Safety Act 1975 section 4.

(3)The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) sections 295 to 297 do not apply to an asset, liability, contract, property or record of the Council that relate to the management of the unincorporated Pharmaceutical Society by the Council.

(4)In subsection (3) —

Council means the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia referred to in the Pharmacy Act 1964 section 7(1);

unincorporated Pharmaceutical Society means the Pharmaceutical Society of Western Australia referred to in the Pharmacy Act 1964 section 6(1).

[(5)-(7)deleted]

[Section 4 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 4.]

5.Meaning of generic terms in Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) for purposes of this jurisdiction

In the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) —

magistrate means a magistrate appointed under the Magistrates Court Act 2004;

Magistrates Court means the Magistrates Court of Western Australia established under the Magistrates Court Act 2004;

this jurisdiction means Western Australia.

6.Responsible tribunal for Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)

The State Administrative Tribunal established under the State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004 is declared to be the responsible tribunal for this jurisdiction for the purposes of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia).

7.Exclusion of legislation of this jurisdiction

(1)Except as provided in subsection (2), the following Acts of this jurisdiction do not apply to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) or to the instruments made under that Law —

(a)the Auditor General Act 2006;

(b)the Financial Management Act 2006;

(c)the Freedom of Information Act 1992;

(d)the Interpretation Act 1984;

(e)the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971;

(f)the Public Sector Management Act 1994.

(2)Sections 41 and 42 of the Interpretation Act 1984 apply to regulations made under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia).

Part 3  Provisions specific to this jurisdiction

8.Transfer of certain property exempt from duty

(1)In this section, dutiable property and dutiable transaction have the respective meanings given in the Duties Act 2008 section 3.

(2)A dutiable transaction relating to the transfer of any dutiable property from a local registration authority to the National Agency in accordance with the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) is exempt from duty under the Duties Act 2008.

9.Minister’s direction

(1)The Minister may, by written notice given to a local registration authority established under an Act repealed by section 14, direct that authority —

(a)to transfer any of the local registration authority’s funds to the National Agency before the participation day for this jurisdiction; and

(b)to give information to the National Agency before the participation day for this jurisdiction; and

(c)to sign any documents that are required to enable transition to the proposed national registration and accreditation scheme; and

(d)to take any action or do any other thing required to enable transition to the national registration and accreditation scheme.

(2)A local registration authority is to comply with any direction given by the Minister under subsection (1).

10.Police Commissioner may give criminal history information

(1)In this section —

criminal history information means information about a person’s criminal history that may be included in a written report under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) section 79 or 135.

(2)The Commissioner of Police appointed under the Police Act 1892 section 5 may give criminal history information to —

(a)a National Board; or

(b)the ACC, or a police force or service of the Commonwealth or another State or a Territory, for the purpose of the ACC or the police force or service giving the criminal history information to a National Board.

[Section 10 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 5.]

11.Review of decision by State Administrative Tribunal as responsible tribunal

A reference in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) to an appeal against a decision is, for an appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal as the responsible tribunal, a reference to a review of the decision as provided under the State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004 Part 3 Division 3.

12.Regulations

The Governor may make regulations prescribing all matters that are required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.

13.Review of Act

(1)The Minister is to carry out a review of the operation and effectiveness of this Act as soon as is practicable after 5 years have elapsed since the Act comes into operation.

(2)The Minister is to prepare a report based on the review carried out under subsection (1) and is to cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as is practicable after the report is prepared, and in any event in relation to a review under subsection (1), not later than 12 months after the requirement for the review arose.

Part 4 — Repeals, transitional and saving provisions

[Division 1 (s. 14, 15) deleted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 6.]

Division 2 — Transitional and saving provisions

16.Term used: former Act

In this Division —

former Act means any of the Acts repealed by section 14.

17.Complaints and matters being dealt with on participation day

(1)Despite the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) section 289 this section applies if immediately before the participation day —

(a)a complaint about a person in relation to a competency matter, a disciplinary matter or an impairment matter was being dealt with under a former Act other than the Dental Act 1939 and the Pharmacy Act 1964; or

(b)a matter was being dealt with under the Dental Act 1939 section 30; or

(c)a matter was being dealt with under the Pharmacy Act 1964 section 32(4).

(2)If this section applies —

(a)the complaint or matter is to be dealt with by the National Board for the health profession of the person as if a reference to the local registration authority in the former Act were a reference to the Board; and

(b)the complaint or matter is to continue to be dealt with under the former Act under which it was made or dealt with; and

(c)any committee dealing with the complaint or matter under the former Act is to continue dealing with the complaint or matter as if any provisions of the former Act relating to its establishment or constitution had not been repealed; and

(d)any investigator appointed under the former Act to investigate the complaint or matter is to continue to do so as if the provision of the former Act under which he or she was appointed had not been repealed.

(3)The National Board must give effect to a decision made in relation to a complaint or matter as if it were a decision under this Law.

18.Annual reports for part of a year

(1)A local registration authority is to make and submit an annual report as required by the provision of the former Act under which it was required to make and submit an annual report, but limited to the period from the end of the period in relation to which its last annual report was made to the participation day, and that provision applies as if that period were a year.

(2)Despite the repeal of the former Act under which it was established and the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) Part 12, the local registration authority remains in existence for the purpose of subsection (1) and is entitled to receive from the National Agency and its staff such assistance as it may require for the purpose.

19.School dental therapists

Despite the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) Part 12 Division 11, if a person immediately before the participation day held registration under the Dental Act 1939 as a school dental therapist, from the participation day the person is taken to hold general registration under that Law in the dental therapist profession.

20.Determination of area of need

If, immediately before the participation day, a determination by the Minister of an area of need for the purposes of the definition of an unmet area of need in the Medical Practitioners Act 2008 section 34(1) is in force, on the participation day that area of need is to be taken to be an area of need for health services in this jurisdiction as if it had been decided under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) section 67(5) that it is an area of need for health services in this jurisdiction in the medical profession.

21.Transitional regulations

(1)If there is no sufficient provision in this Part for dealing with a transitional matter the Governor may make regulations prescribing all matters that are required, necessary or convenient to be prescribed in relation to that matter.

(2)Regulations made under subsection (1) may provide that specific provisions of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) —

(a)do not apply; or

(b)apply with specific modifications,

to or in relation to any matter.

(3)If regulations made under subsection (1) provide that a specified state of affairs is to be taken to have existed, or not to have existed, on and from a day that is earlier than the day on which the regulations are published in the Gazette but not earlier than the day on which section 2 commenced, the regulations have effect according to their terms.

(4)In subsection (3) —

specified means specified or described in the regulations.

(5)If regulations contain a provision referred to in subsection (3), the provision does not operate so as —

(a)to affect in a manner prejudicial to any person (other than the State), the right of that person existing before the day of publication of those regulations; or

(b)to impose liabilities on any person (other than the State or an authority of the State) in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before the day of publication of those regulations.

(6)Regulations can only be made under this section before 1 July 2013.

[Part 5 (s. 22-166) omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]

 

Schedule — Health Practitioner Regulation National Law

[s. 4]

Part 1 — Preliminary

1.Short title

This Law may be cited as the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

2.Commencement

This Law commences in a participating jurisdiction as provided by the Act of that jurisdiction that applies this Law as a law of that jurisdiction.

3.Objectives and guiding principles

(1)The object of this Law is to establish a national registration and accreditation scheme for —

(a)the regulation of health practitioners; and

(b)the registration of students undertaking —

(i)programmes of study that provide a qualification for registration in a health profession; or

(ii)clinical training in a health profession.

(2)The objectives of the national registration and accreditation scheme are —

(a)to provide for the protection of the public by ensuring that only health practitioners who are suitably trained and qualified to practise in a competent and ethical manner are registered; and

(b)to facilitate workforce mobility across Australia by reducing the administrative burden for health practitioners wishing to move between participating jurisdictions or to practise in more than one participating jurisdiction; and

(c)to facilitate the provision of high quality education and training of health practitioners; and

(d)to facilitate the rigorous and responsive assessment of overseas‑trained health practitioners; and

(e)to facilitate access to services provided by health practitioners in accordance with the public interest; and

(f)to enable the continuous development of a flexible, responsive and sustainable Australian health workforce and to enable innovation in the education of, and service delivery by, health practitioners.

(3)The guiding principles of the national registration and accreditation scheme are as follows —

(a)the scheme is to operate in a transparent, accountable, efficient, effective and fair way;

(b)fees required to be paid under the scheme are to be reasonable having regard to the efficient and effective operation of the scheme;

(c)restrictions on the practice of a health profession are to be imposed under the scheme only if it is necessary to ensure health services are provided safely consistent with best practice principles.

[Section 3 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 8.]

4.How functions to be exercised

An entity that has functions under this Law is to exercise its functions having regard to the objectives and guiding principles of the national registration and accreditation scheme set out in section 3.

5.Terms used

In this Law —

ACC means the Australian Crime Commission established under section 7 of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Commonwealth);

accreditation authority means —

(a)an external accreditation entity; or

(b)an accreditation committee;

accreditation committee means a committee established by a National Board to exercise an accreditation function for a health profession for which the Board is established;

accreditation standard, for a health profession, means a standard used to assess whether a programme of study, and the education provider that provides the programme of study, provide persons who complete the programme with the knowledge, skills and professional attributes necessary to practise the profession in Australia;

accredited programme of study means a programme of study accredited under section 48 by an accreditation authority;

adjudication body means —

(a)a panel; or

(b)a responsible tribunal; or

(c)a Court; or

(d)an entity of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction that is declared in the Act applying this Law to be an adjudication body for the purposes of this Law;

Advisory Council means the Australian Health Workforce Advisory Council established by section 18;

Agency Fund means the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Fund established by section 208;

Agency Management Committee means the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Management Committee established by section 29;

appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements, in relation to a registered health practitioner, means professional indemnity insurance arrangements that comply with an approved registration standard for the health profession in which the practitioner is registered;

approved accreditation standard means an accreditation standard —

(a)approved by a National Board under section 47(3); and

(b)published on the Board’s website under section 47(6);

approved area of practice, for a health profession, means an area of practice approved under section 15 for the profession;

approved programme of study, for a health profession or for endorsement of registration in a health profession, means an accredited programme of study —

(a)approved under section 49(1) by the National Board established for the health profession; and

(b)included in the list published by the National Agency under section 49(5);

approved qualification —

(a)for a health profession, means a qualification obtained by completing an approved programme of study for the profession; and

(b)for endorsement of registration in a health profession, means a qualification obtained by completing an approved programme of study relevant to the endorsement;

approved registration standard means a registration standard —

(a)approved by the Ministerial Council under section 12; and

(b)published on the website of the National Board that developed the standard;

Australian legal practitioner means a person who —

(a)is admitted to the legal profession under the law of a State or Territory; and

(b)holds a current practising certificate under a law of a State or Territory authorising the person to practise the legal profession;

COAG Agreement means the agreement for a national registration and accreditation scheme for health professions, made on 26 March 2008 between the Commonwealth, the States, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory;

Note:A copy of the COAG Agreement is available on the Council of Australian Governments’ website.

co‑regulatory authority, for a co‑regulatory jurisdiction, means an entity that is declared by the Act applying this Law in the co‑regulatory jurisdiction to be a co‑regulatory authority for the purposes of this Law;

co‑regulatory jurisdiction means a participating jurisdiction in which the Act applying this Law declares that the jurisdiction is not participating in the health, performance and conduct process provided by Part 8 Divisions 3 to 12;

corresponding prior Act means a law of a participating jurisdiction that —

(a)was in force before the day on which the jurisdiction became a participating jurisdiction; and

(b)established an entity having functions that included —

(i)the registration of persons as health practitioners; or

(ii)health, conduct or performance action;

criminal history, of a person, means the following —

(a)every conviction of the person for an offence, in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere, and whether before or after the commencement of this Law;

(b)every plea of guilty or finding of guilt by a court of the person for an offence, in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere, and whether before or after the commencement of this Law and whether or not a conviction is recorded for the offence;

(c)every charge made against the person for an offence, in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere, and whether before or after the commencement of this Law;

criminal history law means a law of a participating jurisdiction that provides that spent or other convictions do not form part of a person’s criminal history and prevents or does not require the disclosure of those convictions;

division, of a health profession, means a part of a health profession for which a Division is included in the National Register kept for the profession;

education provider means —

(a)a university; or

(b)a tertiary education institution, or another institution or organisation, that provides vocational training; or

(c)a specialist medical college or other health profession college;

entity includes a person and an unincorporated body;

exercise a function includes perform a duty;

external accreditation entity means an entity, other than a committee established by a National Board, that exercises an accreditation function;

health assessment means an assessment of a person to determine whether the person has an impairment and includes a medical, physical, psychiatric or psychological examination or test of the person;

health complaints entity means an entity —

(a)that is established by or under an Act of a participating jurisdiction; and

(b)whose functions include conciliating, investigating and resolving complaints made against health service providers and investigating failures in the health system;

health, conduct or performance action means action that —

(a)a National Board or an adjudication body may take in relation to a registered health practitioner or student at the end of a proceeding under Part 8; or

(b)a co‑regulatory authority or an adjudication body may take in relation to a registered health practitioner or student at the end of a proceeding that, under the law of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction, substantially corresponds to a proceeding under Part 8;

health panel means a panel established under section 181;

health practitioner means an individual who practises a health profession;

health profession means the following professions, and includes a recognised specialty in any of the following professions —

(a)Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice;

(b)Chinese medicine;

(c)chiropractic;

(d)dental (including the profession of a dentist, dental therapist, dental hygienist, dental prosthetist and oral health therapist);

(e)medical;

(f)medical radiation practice;

(g)midwifery;

(ga)nursing;

(h)occupational therapy;

(i)optometry;

(j)osteopathy;

(ja)paramedicine;

(k)pharmacy;

(l)physiotherapy;

(m)podiatry;

(n)psychology;

Note:See Division 15 of Part 12 which provides for a staged commencement of the application of this Law to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice, Chinese medicine, medical radiation practice and occupational therapy professions.

health profession agreement has the meaning given by section 26;

health programme means a programme providing education, prevention, early intervention, treatment or rehabilitation services relating to physical or mental impairments, disabilities, conditions or disorders, including substance abuse or dependence;

health service includes the following services, whether provided as public or private services —

(a)services provided by registered health practitioners;

(b)hospital services;

(c)mental health services;

(d)pharmaceutical services;

(e)ambulance services;

(f)community health services;

(g)health education services;

(h)welfare services necessary to implement any services referred to in paragraphs (a) to (g);

(i)services provided by dieticians, masseurs, naturopaths, social workers, speech pathologists, audiologists or audiometrists;

(j)pathology services;

health service provider means a person who provides a health service;

impairment, in relation to a person, means the person has a physical or mental impairment, disability, condition or disorder (including substance abuse or dependence) that detrimentally affects or is likely to detrimentally affect —

(a)for a registered health practitioner or an applicant for registration in a health profession, the person’s capacity to practise the profession; or

(b)for a student, the student’s capacity to undertake clinical training —

(i)as part of the approved programme of study in which the student is enrolled; or

(ii)arranged by an education provider;

local registration authority means an entity having functions under a law of a State or Territory that include the registration of persons as health practitioners;

mandatory notification means a notification an entity is required to make to the National Agency under Part 8 Division 2;

medical practitioner means a person who is registered under this Law in the medical profession;

Ministerial Council means the COAG Health Council, or a successor of the Council by whatever name called, constituted by Ministers of the governments of the participating jurisdictions and the Commonwealth with portfolio responsibility for health;

National Agency means the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency established by section 23;

National Board means a National Health Practitioner Board continued or established by regulations made under section 31;

National Register means the Register kept by a National Board under section 222;

national registration and accreditation scheme means the scheme —

(a)referred to in the COAG Agreement; and

(b)established by this Law;

notification means —

(a)a mandatory notification; or

(b)a voluntary notification;

notifier means a person who makes a notification;

panel means —

(a)a health panel; or

(b)a performance and professional standards panel;

participating jurisdiction means a State or Territory —

(a)that is a party to the COAG Agreement; and

(b)in which —

(i)this Law applies as a law of the State or Territory; or

(ii)a law that substantially corresponds to the provisions of this Law has been enacted;

performance and professional standards panel means a panel established under section 182;

performance assessment means an assessment of the knowledge, skill or judgment possessed, or care exercised by, a registered health practitioner in the practice of the health profession in which the practitioner is registered;

police commissioner means the commissioner of the police force or police service of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth;

principal place of practice, for a registered health practitioner, means the address declared by the practitioner to be the address —

(a)at which the practitioner is predominantly practising the profession; or

(b)if the practitioner is not practising the profession or is not practising the profession predominantly at one address, that is the practitioner’s principal place of residence;

professional misconduct, of a registered health practitioner, includes —

(a)unprofessional conduct by the practitioner that amounts to conduct that is substantially below the standard reasonably expected of a registered health practitioner of an equivalent level of training or experience; and

(b)more than one instance of unprofessional conduct that, when considered together, amounts to conduct that is substantially below the standard reasonably expected of a registered health practitioner of an equivalent level of training or experience; and

(c)conduct of the practitioner, whether occurring in connection with the practice of the health practitioner’s profession or not, that is inconsistent with the practitioner being a fit and proper person to hold registration in the profession;

programme of study means a programme of study provided by an education provider;

prohibition order means —

(a)a decision by a responsible tribunal of this jurisdiction under section 196(4)(b); or

(b)a decision by a responsible tribunal of another participating jurisdiction under section 196(4)(b) as it applies in the other jurisdiction; or

(c)a prohibition order under section 149C(5) of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (New South Wales); or

(d)a decision under section 107(4)(b) of the Health Ombudsman Act 2013 (Queensland);

psychologist means a person registered under this Law in the psychology profession;

public health facility includes —

(a)a public hospital; and

(b)a public health, teaching or research facility;

recognised specialty means a specialty in a health profession that has been approved by the Ministerial Council under section 13(2);

registered health practitioner means an individual who —

(a)is registered under this Law to practise a health profession, other than as a student; or

(b)holds non‑practicing registration under this Law in a health profession;

registration authority means —

(a)a local registration authority; or

(b)an entity of a jurisdiction outside Australia that has responsibility for registering health practitioners in that jurisdiction;

registration standard means a registration standard developed by a National Board under section 38;

registration status, in relation to an applicant for registration, includes —

(a)any undertakings given by the applicant to a registration authority, whether before or after the commencement of this Law; and

(b)any conditions previously imposed on the applicant’s registration by a registration authority, whether before or after the commencement of this Law; and

(c)any decisions made by a registration authority, a tribunal, a court or another entity having functions relating to the regulation of health practitioners about the applicant’s practice of the profession, whether before or after the commencement of this Law; and

(d)any investigation commenced by a registration authority or a health complaints entity into the applicant’s conduct, performance or possible impairment but not finalised at the time of the application;

relevant action, for Part 8 Division 10, see section 178;

relevant fee, for a service provided by a National Board, means the fee —

(a)set under a health profession agreement between the Board and the National Agency for the service; and

(b)published on the Board’s website under section 26(3);

responsible Minister means a Minister responsible for the administration of this Law in a participating jurisdiction;

responsible tribunal means a tribunal or court that —

(a)is declared, by the Act applying this Law in a participating jurisdiction, to be the responsible tribunal for that jurisdiction for the purposes of this Law as applied in that jurisdiction; or

(b)is declared, by a law that substantially corresponds to this Law enacted in a participating jurisdiction, to be the responsible tribunal for that jurisdiction for the purposes of the law of that jurisdiction;

review period, for a condition or undertaking, means the period during which the condition may not be changed or removed, or the undertaking may not be changed or revoked, under section 125, 126 or 127;

scheduled medicine means a substance included in a Schedule to the current Poisons Standard within the meaning of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Commonwealth);

specialist health practitioner means a person registered under this Law in a recognised specialty;

specialist title, in relation to a recognised specialty, means a title that is approved by the Ministerial Council under section 13 as being a specialist title for that recognised specialty;

Specialists Register means a register kept by a National Board under section 223;

State or Territory Board has the meaning given by section 36;

student means a person whose name is entered in a student register as being currently registered under this Law;

student register, for a health profession, means a register kept under section 229 by the National Board established for the profession;

unprofessional conduct, of a registered health practitioner, means professional conduct that is of a lesser standard than that which might reasonably be expected of the health practitioner by the public or the practitioner’s professional peers, and includes —

(a)a contravention by the practitioner of this Law, whether or not the practitioner has been prosecuted for, or convicted of, an offence in relation to the contravention; and

(b)a contravention by the practitioner of —

(i)a condition to which the practitioner’s registration was subject; or

(ii)an undertaking given by the practitioner to the National Board that registers the practitioner;

and

(c)the conviction of the practitioner for an offence under another Act, the nature of which may affect the practitioner’s suitability to continue to practise the profession; and

(d)providing a person with health services of a kind that are excessive, unnecessary or otherwise not reasonably required for the person’s well‑being; and

(e)influencing, or attempting to influence, the conduct of another registered health practitioner in a way that may compromise patient care; and

(f)accepting a benefit as inducement, consideration or reward for referring another person to a health service provider or recommending another person use or consult with a health service provider; and

(g)offering or giving a person a benefit, consideration or reward in return for the person referring another person to the practitioner or recommending to another person that the person use a health service provided by the practitioner; and

(h)referring a person to, or recommending that a person use or consult, another health service provider, health service or health product if the practitioner has a pecuniary interest in giving that referral or recommendation, unless the practitioner discloses the nature of that interest to the person before or at the time of giving the referral or recommendation;

unsatisfactory professional performance, of a registered health practitioner, means the knowledge, skill or judgment possessed, or care exercised by, the practitioner in the practice of the health profession in which the practitioner is registered is below the standard reasonably expected of a health practitioner of an equivalent level of training or experience;

voluntary notification means a notification made under Part 8 Division 3.

[Section 5 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 9.]

6.Interpretation generally

Schedule 7 applies in relation to this Law.

7.Single national entity

(1)It is the intention of the Parliament of this jurisdiction that this Law as applied by an Act of this jurisdiction, together with this Law as applied by Acts of the other participating jurisdictions, has the effect that an entity established by or under this Law is one single national entity, with functions conferred by this Law as so applied.

(2)An entity established by or under this Law has power to do acts in or in relation to this jurisdiction in the exercise of a function expressed to be conferred on it by this Law as applied by Acts of each participating jurisdiction.

(3)An entity established by or under this Law may exercise its functions in relation to —

(a)one participating jurisdiction; or

(b)2 or more or all participating jurisdictions collectively.

(4)In this section, a reference to this Law as applied by an Act of a jurisdiction includes a reference to a law that substantially corresponds to this Law enacted in a jurisdiction.

[Section 5 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 10.]

8.Extraterritorial operation of Law

It is the intention of the Parliament of this jurisdiction that the operation of this Law is to, as far as possible, include operation in relation to the following —

(a)things situated in or outside the territorial limits of this jurisdiction;

(b)acts, transactions and matters done, entered into or occurring in or outside the territorial limits of this jurisdiction;

(c)things, acts, transactions and matters (wherever situated, done, entered into or occurring) that would, apart from this Law, be governed or otherwise affected by the law of another jurisdiction.

9.Trans‑Tasman mutual recognition principle

This Law does not affect the operation of an Act of a participating jurisdiction providing for the application of the Trans‑Tasman mutual recognition principle to occupations.

10.Law binds the State

(1)This Law binds the State.

(2)In this section —

State means the Crown in right of this jurisdiction, and includes —

(a)the Government of this jurisdiction; and

(b)a Minister of the Crown in right of this jurisdiction; and

(c)a statutory corporation, or other entity, representing the Crown in right of this jurisdiction.

Part 2 — Ministerial Council

11.Policy directions

(1)The Ministerial Council may give directions to the National Agency about the policies to be applied by the National Agency in exercising its functions under this Law.

(2)The Ministerial Council may give directions to a National Board about the policies to be applied by the National Board in exercising its functions under this Law.

(3)Without limiting subsections (1) and (2), a direction under this section may relate to —

(a)a matter relevant to the policies of the National Agency or a National Board; or

(b)an administrative process of the National Agency or a National Board; or

(c)a procedure of the National Agency or a National Board; or

(d)a particular proposed accreditation standard, or a particular proposed amendment of an accreditation standard, for a health profession.

(4)However, the Ministerial Council may give a National Board a direction under subsection (3)(d) only if —

(a)in the Council’s opinion, the proposed accreditation standard or amendment will have a substantive and negative impact on the recruitment or supply of health practitioners; and

(b)the Council has first given consideration to the potential impact of the Council’s direction on the quality and safety of health care.

(5)A direction under this section cannot be about —

(a)a particular person; or

(b)a particular qualification; or

(c)a particular application, notification or proceeding.

(6)The National Agency or a National Board must comply with a direction given to it by the Ministerial Council under this section.

12.Approval of registration standards

(1)The Ministerial Council may approve a registration standard about —

(a)the registration, or renewal of registration, of persons in a health profession; or

(b)the endorsement, or renewal of the endorsement, of the registration of registered health practitioners.

(2)The Ministerial Council may approve a registration standard for a health profession only if —

(a)its approval is recommended by the National Board established for the health profession; and

(b)it does not provide for a matter about which an accreditation standard may provide.

Note:An accreditation standard for a health profession is a standard used to assess whether a programme of study, and the education provider that provides the programme, provide persons who complete the programme with the knowledge, skills and professional attributes to practise the profession in Australia. Accreditation standards are developed and approved under Division 3 of Part 6.

(3)The Ministerial Council may, at any time, ask a National Board to review an approved or proposed registration standard for the health profession for which the National Board is established.

13.Approvals in relation to specialist registration

(1)The following health professions, or divisions of health professions, are health professions for which specialist recognition operates under this Law —

(a)the medical profession;

(b)the dentists division of the dental profession;

(c)any other health profession approved by the Ministerial Council, on the recommendation of the National Board established for the profession.

(2)If a health profession is a profession for which specialist recognition operates, the Ministerial Council may, on the recommendation of the National Board established for the profession —

(a)approve a list of specialties for the profession; and

(b)approve one or more specialist titles for each specialty in the list.

(3)In making a recommendation to the Ministerial Council for the purposes of subsection (1)(c) or (2), a National Board established for a health profession may have regard to any relevant advice provided by —

(a)an accreditation authority for the profession; or

(b)a specialist college for the profession.

(4)The Ministerial Council may provide guidance to a National Board established for a health profession for which specialist recognition will operate in relation to the criteria for the approval of specialties for the profession by the Council.

14.Approval of endorsement in relation to scheduled medicines

(1)The Ministerial Council may, on the recommendation of a National Board, decide that the Board may endorse the registration of health practitioners practising a profession for which the Board is established as being qualified to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use a scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines.

Note:See section 94 which provides for the endorsement of health practitioners’ registration in relation to scheduled medicines.

(2)An approval under subsection (1) is to specify —

(a)the class of health practitioners registered by the Board to which the approval relates; and

(b)whether the National Board may endorse the registration of the class of health practitioners as being qualified in relation to a particular scheduled medicine or a class of scheduled medicines; and

(c)whether the National Board may endorse the registration of the class of health practitioners in relation to administering, obtaining, possessing, prescribing, selling, supplying or using the scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines.

[Section 14 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 11.]

15.Approval of areas of practice for purposes of endorsement

The Ministerial Council may, on the recommendation of a National Board, approve an area of practice in a health profession for which the Board is established as being an area of practice for which the registration of a health practitioner registered in the profession may be endorsed.

Note:See section 98 which provides for the endorsement of health practitioners’ registration in relation to approved areas of practice.

[Section 15 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 12.]

16.How Ministerial Council exercises functions

(1)The Ministerial Council is to give a direction or approval, or make a recommendation, request or appointment, for the purposes of a provision of this Law by resolution of the Council passed in accordance with procedures determined by the Council.

(2)An act or thing done by the Ministerial Council (whether by resolution, instrument or otherwise) does not cease to have effect merely because of a change in the Council’s membership.

17.Notification and publication of directions and approvals

(1)A copy of any direction given by the Ministerial Council to the National Agency —

(a)is to be given to the Chairperson of the Agency Management Committee; and

(b)must be published by the National Agency on its website as soon as practicable after being received by the Chairperson.

(2)A copy of a direction or approval given by the Ministerial Council to a National Board —

(a)is to be given to the Chairperson of the National Board; and

(b)if the direction is given under section 11(3)(d), is to include reasons for the direction; and

(c)must be published by the National Board on its website as soon as practicable after being received by the Chairperson.

(3)A copy of a direction or approval given by the Ministerial Council to the National Agency or to a National Board is to be published in the annual report of the National Agency.

Part 3 — Australian Health Workforce Advisory Council

18.Establishment of Advisory Council

The Australian Health Workforce Advisory Council is established.

19.Function of Advisory Council

(1)The function of the Advisory Council is to provide independent advice to the Ministerial Council about the following —

(a)any matter relating to the national registration and accreditation scheme that is referred to it by the Ministerial Council;

(b)if asked by the Ministerial Council, any matter relating to the national registration and accreditation scheme on which the Ministerial Council has been unable to reach a decision;

(c)any other matter relating to the national registration and accreditation scheme that it considers appropriate.

(2)Advice under this section cannot be about —

(a)a particular person; or

(b)a particular qualification; or

(c)a particular application, notification or proceeding.

20.Publication of advice

(1)The Ministerial Council is to make arrangements for the publication of advice given to it by the Advisory Council as soon as practicable after the Ministerial Council has had the opportunity to consider the advice, in accordance with the COAG Agreement.

(2)However, the Ministerial Council may decide not to publish an advice or part of an advice if the Advisory Council recommends that the Council not publish it in the interests of protecting the privacy of any person.

21.Powers of Advisory Council

The Advisory Council has the powers necessary to enable it to exercise its function.

22.Membership of Advisory Council

(1)The Advisory Council is to consist of 7 members.

(2)Members of the Advisory Council are to be appointed by the Ministerial Council.

(3)One of the members of the Advisory Council is to be appointed as Chairperson, being a person who —

(a)is not a registered health practitioner; and

(b)has not been registered as a health practitioner under this Law or a corresponding prior Act within the last 5 years.

(4)At least 3 of the other members of the Advisory Council are to be persons who have expertise in health, or education and training, or both.

(5)Schedule 1 sets out provisions relating to the Advisory Council.

Part 4 — Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

Division 1 — National Agency

23.National Agency

(1)The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency is established.

(2)The National Agency —

(a)is a body corporate with perpetual succession; and

(b)has a common seal; and

(c)may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

(3)The National Agency represents the State.

(4)Schedule 3 sets out provisions relating to the National Agency.

24.General powers of National Agency

The National Agency has all the powers of an individual and, in particular, may —

(a)enter into contracts; and

(b)acquire, hold, dispose of, and deal with, real and personal property; and

(c)do anything necessary or convenient to be done in the exercise of its functions.

25.Functions of National Agency

The functions of the National Agency are as follows —

(a)to provide administrative assistance and support to the National Boards, and the Boards’ committees, in exercising their functions;

(b)in consultation with the National Boards, to develop and administer procedures for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective operation of the National Boards;

(c)to establish procedures for the development of accreditation standards, registration standards and codes and guidelines approved by National Boards, for the purpose of ensuring the national registration and accreditation scheme operates in accordance with good regulatory practice;

(d)to negotiate in good faith with, and attempt to come to an agreement with, each National Board on the terms of a health profession agreement;

(e)to establish and administer an efficient procedure for receiving and dealing with applications for registration as a health practitioner and other matters relating to the registration of registered health practitioners;

(f)in conjunction with the National Boards, to keep up‑to‑date and publicly accessible national registers of registered health practitioners for each health profession;

(g)in conjunction with the National Boards, to keep up‑to‑date national registers of students for each health profession;

(h)to keep an up‑to‑date and publicly accessible list of approved programmes of study for each health profession;

(i)to establish an efficient procedure for receiving and dealing with notifications against persons who are or were registered health practitioners and persons who are students, including by establishing a national process for receiving notifications about registered health practitioners in all professions;

(j)to provide advice to the Ministerial Council in connection with the administration of the national registration and accreditation scheme;

(k)if asked by the Ministerial Council, to give to the Ministerial Council the assistance or information reasonably required by the Ministerial Council in connection with the administration of the national registration and accreditation scheme;

(l)any other function given to the National Agency by or under this Law.

26.Health profession agreements

(1)The National Agency must enter into an agreement (a health profession agreement) with a National Board that makes provision for the following —

(a)the fees that will be payable under this Law by health practitioners and others in respect of a health profession for which the Board is established (including arrangements relating to refunds of fees, waivers of fees and additional fees for late payment);

(b)the annual budget of the National Board (including the funding arrangements for its committees and accreditation authorities);

(c)the services to be provided to the National Board by the National Agency to enable the National Board to carry out its functions under this Law.

(2)If the National Agency and a National Board are unable to agree on a matter relating to a health profession agreement or a proposed health profession agreement, the Ministerial Council may give directions to the National Agency and National Board about how the dispute is to be resolved.

(3)Each National Board must publish on its website the fees for which provision has been made in a health profession agreement between the Board and the National Agency.

[Section 26 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 13.]

27.Cooperation with participating jurisdictions and Commonwealth

(1)The National Agency may exercise any of its functions in cooperation with or with the assistance of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth, including in cooperation with or with the assistance of any of the following —

(a)a government agency of a participating jurisdiction or of the Commonwealth;

(b)a local registration authority;

(c)a co‑regulatory authority;

(d)a health complaints entity;

(e)an educational body or other body established by or under a law of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth.

(2)In particular, the National Agency may —

(a)ask an entity referred to in subsection (1) for information that the Agency requires to exercise its functions under this Law; and

(b)use the information to exercise its functions under this Law.

(3)An entity referred to in subsection (1) that receives a request for information from the National Agency is authorised to give the information to the National Agency.

28.Office of National Agency

(1)The National Agency is to establish a national office.

(2)The National Agency is also to establish at least one local office in each participating jurisdiction.

Division 2 — Agency Management Committee

29.Agency Management Committee

(1)The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Management Committee is established.

(2)The Agency Management Committee is to consist of at least 5 members appointed by the Ministerial Council.

(3)Of the members —

(a)one is to be a person appointed by the Ministerial Council as Chairperson, being a person who —

(i)is not a registered health practitioner; and

(ii)has not been registered as a health practitioner under this Law or a corresponding prior Act within the last 5 years;

and

(b)at least 2 others are to be persons who have expertise in health, or education and training, or both; and

(c)at least 2 others are to be persons who are not current or former registered health practitioners and who have business or administrative expertise.

(4)Schedule 2 sets out provisions relating to the Agency Management Committee.

30.Functions of Agency Management Committee

(1)The functions of the Agency Management Committee are as follows —

(a)subject to any directions of the Ministerial Council, to decide the policies of the National Agency;

(b)to ensure that the National Agency performs its functions in a proper, effective and efficient way;

(c)any other function given to the Committee by or under this Law.

(2)The affairs of the National Agency are to be controlled by the Agency Management Committee and all acts and things done in the name of, or on behalf of, the National Agency by or with the authority of the Agency Management Committee are taken to have been done by the National Agency.

Part 5 — National Boards

Division 1 — National Boards

31.Regulations must provide for National Boards

(1)The regulations must provide for a National Health Practitioner Board for each health profession.

(2)The regulations may —

(a)continue an existing Board for a health profession; or

(b)establish a Board for a health profession or for 2 or more health professions; or

(c)dissolve a Board for a health profession (the dissolved Board) if another Board is established for that health profession (the replacement Board).

(3)The regulations may provide for anything for which it is necessary or convenient to make provision to allow, facilitate or provide for the following —

(a)the continuation, establishment or dissolution of a Board under subsection (2);

(b)the completion of a matter started by an existing Board before the commencement;

(c)the effect of anything done by an existing Board before the commencement;

(d)the transfer of matters from a dissolved Board to a replacement Board.

(4)Before a regulation is made under subsection (2)(b) or (c), the Ministers comprising the Ministerial Council must undertake public consultation on the proposed regulation.

(5)However, failure to comply with subsection (4) does not affect the validity of the regulation.

(6)In this section —

existing Board means a National Health Practitioner Board in existence immediately before the commencement.

[Section 31 inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 14.]

31A.Status of National Boards

(1)A National Board —

(a)is a body corporate with perpetual succession; and

(b)has a common seal; and

(c)may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

(2)A National Board represents the State.

[Section 31A inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 14.]

32.Powers of National Board

(1)Subject to subsection (2), a National Board has the powers necessary to enable it to exercise its functions.

(2)A National Board does not have power to —

(a)enter into contracts; or

(b)employ staff; or

(c)acquire, hold, dispose of, and deal with, real property.

(3)The National Board may exercise any of its functions in cooperation with or with the assistance of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth, including in cooperation with or with the assistance of any of the following —

(a)a government agency of a participating jurisdiction or of the Commonwealth;

(b)a local registration authority;

(c)a co‑regulatory authority;

(d)a health complaints entity;

(e)an educational body or other body established by or under a law of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth.

(4)In particular, the National Board may —

(a)ask an entity referred to in subsection (3) for information that the Board requires to exercise its functions under this Law; and

(b)use the information to exercise its functions under this Law.

(5)An entity referred to in subsection (3) that receives a request for information from the National Board is authorised to give the information to the National Board.

33.Membership of National Boards

(1)A National Board is to consist of members appointed in writing by the Ministerial Council.

(2)Members of a National Board are to be appointed as practitioner members or community members.

(3)Subject to this section, the Ministerial Council may decide the size and composition of a National Board.

(4)At least half, but not more than two‑thirds, of the members of a National Board must be persons appointed as practitioner members.

(5)The practitioner members of a National Board must consist of —

(a)at least one member from each large participating jurisdiction; and

(b)at least one member from a small participating jurisdiction; and

(c)if the National Board is established for 2 or more health professions — at least one member of each health profession for which the Board is established.

(6)At least 2 of the members of a National Board must be persons appointed as community members.

(7)At least one of the members of a National Board must live in a regional or rural area.

(8)A person cannot be appointed as a member of a National Board if the person is a member of the Agency Management Committee.

(9)One of the practitioner members of the National Board is to be appointed as Chairperson of the Board by the Ministerial Council.

(9A)The regulations may prescribe matters relating to the composition of practitioner members for a National Board established for 2 or more health professions.

(10)Schedule 4 sets out provisions relating to a National Board.

(11)In this section —

large participating jurisdiction means any of the following States that is a participating jurisdiction —

(a)New South Wales;

(b)Queensland;

(c)South Australia;

(d)Victoria;

(e)Western Australia;

small participating jurisdiction means any of the following States or Territories that is a participating jurisdiction —

(a)the Australian Capital Territory;

(b)the Northern Territory;

(c)Tasmania.

[Section 33 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 15.]

34.Eligibility for appointment

(1)In deciding whether to appoint a person as a member of a National Board, the Ministerial Council is to have regard to the skills and experience of the person that are relevant to the Board’s functions.

(2)A person is eligible to be appointed as a practitioner member only if the person is a registered health practitioner in a health profession for which the Board is established.

(3)A person is eligible to be appointed as a community member only if the person is not, and has not at any time been, a health practitioner in a health profession for which the Board is established.

(4)A person is not eligible to be appointed as a member of a National Board if —

(a)in the case of appointment as a practitioner member — the person has, whether before or after the commencement of this Law, as a result of the person’s misconduct, impairment or incompetence, ceased to be registered as a health practitioner in a health profession for which the Board is established; or

(b)in any case, the person has, at any time, been found guilty of an offence (whether in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere) that, in the opinion of the Ministerial Council, renders the person unfit to hold the office of member.

[Section 34 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 16.]

Division 2 — Functions of National Boards

35.Functions of National Boards

(1)The functions of a National Board established for a health profession are as follows —

(a)to register suitably qualified and competent persons in the health profession and, if necessary, to impose conditions on the registration of persons in the profession;

(b)to decide the requirements for registration or endorsement of registration in the health profession, including the arrangements for supervised practice in the profession;

(c)to develop or approve standards, codes and guidelines for the health profession, including —

(i)the approval of accreditation standards developed and submitted to it by an accreditation authority; and

(ii)the development of registration standards for approval by the Ministerial Council; and

(iii)the development and approval of codes and guidelines that provide guidance to health practitioners registered in the profession;

(d)to approve accredited programmes of study as providing qualifications for registration or endorsement in the health profession;

(e)to oversee the assessment of the knowledge and clinical skills of overseas trained applicants for registration in the health profession whose qualifications are not approved qualifications for the profession, and to determine the suitability of the applicants for registration in Australia;

(f)to negotiate in good faith with, and attempt to come to an agreement with, the National Agency on the terms of a health profession agreement;

(g)to oversee the receipt, assessment and investigation of notifications about persons who —

(i)are or were registered as health practitioners in the health profession under this Law or a corresponding prior Act; or

(ii)are students in the health profession;

(h)to establish panels to conduct hearings about —

(i)health and performance and professional standards matters in relation to persons who are or were registered in the health profession under this Law or a corresponding prior Act; and

(ii)health matters in relation to students registered by the Board;

(i)to refer matters about health practitioners who are or were registered under this Law or a corresponding prior Act to responsible tribunals for participating jurisdictions;

(j)to oversee the management of health practitioners and students registered in the health profession, including monitoring conditions, undertaking and suspensions imposed on the registration of the practitioners or students;

(k)to make recommendations to the Ministerial Council about the operation of specialist recognition in the health profession and the approval of specialties for the profession;

(l)in conjunction with the National Agency, to keep up‑to‑date and publicly accessible national registers of registered health practitioners for the health profession;

(m)in conjunction with the National Agency, to keep an up‑to‑date national register of students for the health profession;

(n)at the Board’s discretion, to provide financial or other support for health programmes for registered health practitioners and students;

(o)to give advice to the Ministerial Council on issues relating to the national registration and accreditation scheme for the health profession;

(p)if asked by the Ministerial Council, to give to the Ministerial Council the assistance or information reasonably required by the Ministerial Council in connection with the national registration and accreditation scheme;

(q)to do anything else necessary or convenient for the effective and efficient operation of the national registration and accreditation scheme;

(r)any other function given to the Board by or under this Law.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)(g) to (j), the Board’s functions do not include receiving notifications and taking action referred to in those paragraphs in relation to behaviour by a registered health practitioner or student that occurred, or is reasonably believed to have occurred, in a co‑regulatory jurisdiction.

36.State and Territory Boards

(1)A National Board may establish a committee (a State or Territory Board) for a participating jurisdiction to enable the Board to exercise its functions in the jurisdiction in a way that provides an effective and timely local response to health practitioners and other persons in the jurisdiction.

(2)A State or Territory Board is to be known as the “[Name of participating jurisdiction for which it is established] Board” of the National Board.

(3)The members of a State or Territory Board are to be appointed by the responsible Minister for the participating jurisdiction.

Example:

(a)The Pharmacy Board of Australia decides to establish a State or Territory Board for New South Wales. The State or Territory Board will be known as the New South Wales Board of the Pharmacy Board of Australia. The members of the State or Territory Board will be appointed by the responsible Minister for New South Wales.

(b)The Podiatry Board of Australia decides to establish a State or Territory Board for Queensland and the Northern Territory. The State or Territory Board will be known as the Queensland and Northern Territory Board of the Podiatry Board of Australia. The members of the State or Territory Board will be appointed jointly by the responsible Ministers for Queensland and the Northern Territory.

(4)In deciding whether to appoint a person as a member of a State or Territory Board, the responsible Minister is to have regard to the skills and experience of the person that are relevant to the Board’s functions.

(5)At least half, but not more than two‑thirds, of the members of a State or Territory Board must be persons appointed as practitioner members.

(6)At least 2 of the members of a State or Territory Board must be persons appointed as community members.

Note:See section 299 which provides that subsections (5) and (6) do not apply to a State or Territory Board for a jurisdiction for the first 12 months after the jurisdiction becomes a participating jurisdiction.

(7)Before a responsible Minister appoints a member of a State or Territory Board the vacancy to be filled is to be publicly advertised.

(8)The National Agency may assist a responsible Minister in the process of appointing members of a State or Territory Board, including in the advertising of vacancies.

(9)It is not necessary to advertise a vacancy in the membership of a State or Territory Board before appointing a person to act in the office of a member.

Note:The general interpretation provisions applicable to this Law under section 6 confer power to appoint acting members of a State or Territory Board.

(10)This section does not limit Schedule 4 clause 11.

Note:Schedule 4 clause 11 confers power for the establishment of other committees.

37.Delegation of functions

(1)A National Board may delegate any of its functions, other than this power of delegation, to —

(a)a committee; or

(b)the National Agency; or

(c)a member of the staff of the National Agency; or

(d)a person engaged as a contractor by the National Agency.

(2)The National Agency may subdelegate any function delegated to the National Agency by a National Board to a member of the staff of the National Agency.

Division  3 — Registration standards and codes and guidelines

38.National Board must develop registration standards

(1)A National Board must develop and recommend to the Ministerial Council one or more registration standards about the following matters for a health profession for which the Board is established —

(a)requirements for professional indemnity insurance arrangements for registered health practitioners registered in the profession;

(b)matters about the criminal history of applicants for registration in the profession, and registered health practitioners and students registered in a health profession for which the Board is established, including, the matters to be considered in deciding whether an individual’s criminal history is relevant to the practice of the profession;

(c)requirements for continuing professional development for registered health practitioners registered in the profession;

(d)requirements about the English language skills necessary for an applicant for registration in the profession to be suitable for registration in the profession;

(e)requirements in relation to the nature, extent, period and recency of any previous practice of the profession by applicants for registration in the profession.

(2)Subject to subsection (3), a National Board may also develop, and recommend to the Ministerial Council, one or more registration standards about the following —

(a)the physical and mental health of —

(i)applicants for registration in the profession; and

(ii)registered health practitioners and students;

(b)the scope of practice of health practitioners registered in the profession;

(c)any other issue relevant to the eligibility of individuals for registration in the profession or the suitability of individuals to competently and safely practise the profession.

(3)A registration standard may not be about a matter for which an accreditation standard may provide.

Note:An accreditation standard for a health profession is used to assess whether a programme of study, and the education provider that provides the programme of study, provide persons who complete the programme with the knowledge, skills and professional attributes to practise the profession. Accreditation standards are developed and approved under Division 3 of Part 6.

[Section 38 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 17.]

39.Codes and guidelines

A National Board may develop and approve codes and guidelines —

(a)to provide guidance to the health practitioners it registers; and

(b)about other matters relevant to the exercise of its functions.

Examples:

1.A National Board may develop guidelines about the advertising of regulated health services by health practitioners registered by the Board or other persons for the purposes of section 133.

2.To assist a health practitioner in providing practice information under section 132, a National Board may develop guidelines about the information that must be provided to the Board.

[Section 39 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 18.]

40.Consultation about registration standards, codes and guidelines

(1)If a National Board develops a registration standard or a code or guideline, it must ensure there is wide‑ranging consultation about its content.

(2)A contravention of subsection (1) does not invalidate a registration standard, code or guideline.

(3)The following must be published on a National Board’s website —

(a)a registration standard developed by the Board and approved by the Ministerial Council;

(b)a code or guideline approved by the National Board.

(4)An approved registration standard or a code or guideline takes effect —

(a)on the day it is published on the National Board’s website; or

(b)if a later day is stated in the registration standard, code or guideline, on that day.

41.Use of registration standards, codes or guidelines in disciplinary proceedings

An approved registration standard for a health profession, or a code or guideline approved by a National Board, is admissible in proceedings under this Law or a law of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction against a health practitioner registered in a health profession for which the Board is established as evidence of what constitutes appropriate professional conduct or practice for the health profession.

[Section 41 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 19.]

Part 6 — Accreditation

Division 1 — Preliminary

42.Term used: accreditation function

In this Part —

accreditation function means —

(a)developing accreditation standards for approval by a National Board; or

(b)assessing programmes of study, and the education providers that provide the programmes of study, to determine whether the programmes meet approved accreditation standards; or

(c)assessing authorities in other countries who conduct examinations for registration in a health profession, or accredit programmes of study relevant to registration in a health profession, to decide whether persons who successfully complete the examinations or programmes of study conducted or accredited by the authorities have the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes necessary to practise the profession in Australia; or

(d)overseeing the assessment of the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes of overseas qualified health practitioners who are seeking registration in a health profession under this Law and whose qualifications are not approved qualifications for the health profession; or

(e)making recommendations and giving advice to a National Board about a matter referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).

Division 2 — Accreditation authorities

43.Accreditation authority to be decided

(1)The National Board established for a health profession must decide whether an accreditation function for the health profession for which the Board is established is to be exercised by —

(a)an external accreditation entity; or

(b)a committee established by the Board.

Note:See sections 253 and 301 which provide for the performance of accreditation functions for a health profession by external accreditation authorities appointed by the Ministerial Council for a period after the commencement of this Law.

(2)The National Agency may charge an entity the relevant fee for the exercise of an accreditation function by an accreditation committee.

44.National Agency may enter into contracts with external accreditation entities

The National Agency may enter into a contract with an external accreditation entity for the performance by the entity of an accreditation function for a health profession only if the terms of the contract are in accordance with the health profession agreement between the National Agency and the National Board established for that profession.

45.Accreditation processes to be published

Each accreditation authority must publish on its website or, if the authority is an accreditation committee, the website of the National Board that established the committee, how it will exercise its accreditation function.

Division 3 — Accreditation functions

46.Development of accreditation standards

(1)An accreditation standard for a health profession may be developed by —

(a)an external accreditation entity for the health profession; or

(b)an accreditation committee established by the National Board established for the health profession.

(2)In developing an accreditation standard for a health profession, an accreditation authority must undertake wide‑ranging consultation about the content of the standard.

47.Approval of accreditation standards

(1)An accreditation authority must, as soon as practicable after developing an accreditation standard for a health profession, submit it to the National Board established for the health profession.

(2)As soon as practicable after a National Board receives an accreditation standard under subsection (1), the Board must decide to —

(a)approve the accreditation standard; or

(b)refuse to approve the accreditation standard; or

(c)ask the accreditation authority to review the standard.

(3)If the National Board decides to approve the accreditation standard it must give written notice of the approval to —

(a)the National Agency; and

(b)the accreditation authority that submitted the standard to the Board.

(4)If the National Board decides to refuse to approve the accreditation standard —

(a)it must give written notice of the refusal, including the reasons for the refusal, to the accreditation authority that submitted the standard; and

(b)the accreditation authority is entitled to publish any information or advice it gave the Board about the standard.

(5)If the National Board decides to ask the accreditation authority to review the standard it must give the authority a written notice that —

(a)states that the authority is being asked to review the standard; and

(b)identifies the matters the authority is to address before again submitting the standard to the Board.

(6)An accreditation standard approved by a National Board must be published on its website.

(7)An accreditation standard takes effect —

(a)on the day it is published on the National Board’s website; or

(b)if a later day is stated in the standard, on that day.

48.Accreditation of programmes of study

(1)An accreditation authority for a health profession may accredit a programme of study if, after assessing the programme, the authority is reasonably satisfied —

(a)the programme of study, and the education provider that provides the programme of study, meet an approved accreditation standard for the profession; or

(b)the programme of study, and the education provider that provides the programme of study, substantially meet an approved accreditation standard for the profession and the imposition of conditions on the approval will ensure the programme meets the standard within a reasonable time.

(2)If the accreditation authority decides to accredit a programme of study, with or without conditions, it must give to the National Board established for the health profession a report about the authority’s accreditation of the programme.

(3)If the accreditation authority decides to refuse to accredit a programme of study it must give written notice of the decision to the education provider that provides the programme of study.

(4)The notice must state —

(a)the reasons for the decision; and

(b)that, within 30 days after receiving the notice, the education provider may apply to the accreditation authority for an internal review of the decision; and

(c)how the education provider may apply for the review.

(5)An education provider given a notice under subsection (3) may apply, as stated in the notice, for an internal review of the accreditation authority’s decision to refuse to accredit the programme of study.

(6)The internal review must not be carried out by a person who assessed the programme of study for the accreditation authority.

49.Approval of accredited programmes of study

(1)If a National Board is given a report by an accreditation authority about the authority’s accreditation of a programme of study, the Board may approve, or refuse to approve, the accredited programme of study as providing a qualification for the purposes of registration in a health profession for which the Board is established.

(2)An approval under subsection (1) may be granted subject to the conditions the National Board considers necessary or desirable in the circumstances.

(3)If the National Board decides to approve the accredited programme of study it must give written notice of the approval to —

(a)the National Agency for inclusion of the programme of study in the list under subsection (5); and

(b)the accreditation authority that submitted the programme to the Board.

(4)If the National Board decides to refuse to approve the accredited programme of study —

(a)it must give written notice of the refusal, including the reasons for the refusal, to the accreditation authority that submitted the programme; and

(b)the accreditation authority is entitled to publish any information or advice it gave the Board about the programme.

(5)A list of the programmes of study approved by a National Board as providing a qualification for registration in a health profession for which the Board is established must be published on the National Agency’s website.

(6)The list of approved programmes of study published under subsection (5) must include, for each programme of study, the name of the university, specialist medical or other college or other education provider that provides the approved programme of study.

(7)An approval under subsection (1) does not take effect until the programme of study is included in the list published under subsection (5).

[Section 49 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 20.]

50.Accreditation authority to monitor approved programmes of study

(1)The accreditation authority that accredited an approved programme of study must monitor the programme and the education provider that provides the programme to ensure the authority continues to be satisfied the programme and provider meet an approved accreditation standard for the health profession.

(2)If the accreditation authority reasonably believes the programme of study and education provider no longer meet an approved accreditation standard for the health profession, the accreditation authority must —

(a)decide to —

(i)impose the conditions on the accreditation that the accreditation authority considers necessary to ensure the programme of study will meet the standard within a reasonable time; or

(ii)revoke the accreditation of the programme of study;

and

(b)give the National Board that approved the accredited programme of study written notice of the accreditation authority’s decision.

51.Changes to approval of programme of study

(1)If a National Board is given notice under section 50(2)(b) that an accreditation authority has revoked the accreditation of a programme of study approved by the Board, the Board’s approval of the programme is taken to have been cancelled at the same time the accreditation was revoked.

(2)If a National Board reasonably believes, because of a notice given to the Board under section 50(2)(b) or for any other reason, that an accredited programme of study approved by the Board no longer provides a qualification for the purposes of registration in a health profession for which the Board is established, the Board may decide to —

(a)impose the conditions the Board considers necessary or desirable on the approval of the accredited programme of study to ensure the programme provides a qualification for the purposes of registration; or

(b)cancel its approval of the accredited programme of study.

(3)If a National Board makes a decision under subsection (2), it must give written notice of the decision, including the reasons for the decision, to the accreditation authority that accredited the programme.

[Section 51 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 21.]

Part 7 — Registration of health practitioners

Division 1 — General registration

52.Eligibility for general registration

(1)An individual is eligible for general registration in a health profession if —

(a)the individual is qualified for general registration in the health profession; and

(b)the individual has successfully completed —

(i)any period of supervised practice in the health profession required by an approved registration standard for the health profession; or

(ii)any examination or assessment required by an approved registration standard for the health profession to assess the individual’s ability to competently and safely practise the profession;

and

(c)the individual is a suitable person to hold general registration in the health profession; and

(d)the individual is not disqualified under this Law or a law of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction from applying for registration, or being registered, in the health profession; and

(e)the individual meets any other requirements for registration stated in an approved registration standard for the health profession.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the National Board established for the health profession may decide the individual is eligible for general registration in the profession by imposing conditions on the registration under section 83.

53.Qualifications for general registration

An individual is qualified for general registration in a health profession if —

(a)the individual holds an approved qualification for the health profession; or

(b)the individual holds a qualification the National Board established for the health profession considers to be substantially equivalent, or based on similar competencies, to an approved qualification; or

(c)the individual holds a qualification, not referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), relevant to the health profession and has successfully completed an examination or other assessment required by the National Board for the purpose of general registration in the health profession; or

(d)the individual —

(i)holds a qualification, not referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), that under this Law or a corresponding prior Act qualified the individual for general registration (however described) in the health profession; and

(ii)was previously registered under this Law or the corresponding prior Act on the basis of holding that qualification.

54.Examination or assessment for general registration

For the purposes of section 52(1)(b)(ii), if a National Board requires an individual to undertake an examination or assessment, the examination or assessment must be conducted by an accreditation authority for the health profession, unless the Board decides otherwise.

55.Unsuitability to hold general registration

(1)A National Board may decide an individual is not a suitable person to hold general registration in a health profession if —

(a)in the Board’s opinion, the individual has an impairment that would detrimentally affect the individual’s capacity to practise the profession to such an extent that it would or may place the safety of the public at risk; or

(b)having regard to the individual’s criminal history to the extent that is relevant to the individual’s practice of the profession, the individual is not, in the Board’s opinion, an appropriate person to practise the profession or it is not in the public interest for the individual to practise the profession; or

(c)the individual has previously been registered under a relevant law and during the period of that registration proceedings under Part 8, or proceedings that substantially correspond to proceedings under Part 8, were started against the individual but not finalised; or

(d)in the Board’s opinion, the individual’s competency in speaking or otherwise communicating in English is not sufficient for the individual to practise the profession; or

(e)the individual’s registration (however described) in the health profession in a jurisdiction that is not a participating jurisdiction, whether in Australia or elsewhere, is currently suspended or cancelled on a ground for which an adjudication body could suspend or cancel a health practitioner’s registration in Australia; or

(f)the nature, extent, period and recency of any previous practice of the profession is not sufficient to meet the requirements specified in an approved registration standard relevant to general registration in the profession; or

(g)the individual fails to meet any other requirement in an approved registration standard for the profession about the suitability of individuals to be registered in the profession or to competently and safely practise the profession; or

(h)in the Board’s opinion, the individual is for any other reason —

(i)not a fit and proper person for general registration in the profession; or

(ii)unable to practise the profession competently and safely.

(2)In this section —

relevant law means —

(a)this Law or a corresponding prior Act; or

(b)the law of another jurisdiction, whether in Australia or elsewhere.

56.Period of general registration

(1)The period of registration that is to apply to a health practitioner granted general registration in a health profession is the period (the registration period), not more than 12 months, decided by the National Board established for the profession and published on the Board’s website.

(2)If the National Board decides to register a health practitioner in the health profession during a registration period, the registration —

(a)starts —

(i)when the Board makes the decision; or

(ii)on the later day stated by the Board, not more than 90 days after the day the Board makes the decision;

and

(b)expires at the end of the last day of the registration period.

[Section 56 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 22.]

Division 2 — Specialist registration

57.Eligibility for specialist registration

(1)An individual is eligible for specialist registration in a recognised specialty in a health profession if —

(a)the individual is qualified for registration in the specialty; and

(b)the individual has successfully completed —

(i)any period of supervised practice in the specialty required by an approved registration standard for the health profession; or

(ii)any examination or assessment required by an approved registration standard for the health profession to assess the individual’s ability to competently and safely practise the specialty;

and

(c)the individual is a suitable person to hold registration in the health profession; and

(d)the individual is not disqualified under this Law or a law of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction from applying for registration, or being registered, in the specialty; and

(e)the individual meets any other requirements for registration stated in an approved registration standard for the specialty.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the National Board may decide the individual is eligible for registration in the recognised specialty by imposing conditions on the registration under section 83.

58.Qualifications for specialist registration

An individual is qualified for specialist registration in a recognised specialty in a health profession if the individual —

(a)holds an approved qualification for the specialty; or

(b)holds another qualification the National Board established for the health profession considers to be substantially equivalent, or based on similar competencies, to an approved qualification for the specialty; or

(c)holds a qualification, not referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), relevant to the specialty and has successfully completed an examination or other assessment required by the National Board for the purpose of registration in the specialty; or

(d)the individual —

(i)holds a qualification, not referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), that under this Law or a corresponding prior Act qualified the individual for specialist registration (however described) in the specialty; and

(ii)was previously registered under this Law or the corresponding prior Act on the basis of holding that qualification for the specialty.

59.Examination or assessment for specialist registration

For the purposes of section 57(1)(b)(ii), if the National Board requires an individual to undertake an examination or assessment, the examination or assessment must be conducted by an accreditation authority for the health profession, unless the Board decides otherwise.

60.Unsuitability to hold specialist registration

(1)Section 55 applies to the making of a decision by a National Board that an individual is not a suitable person to hold specialist registration in a recognised specialty.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), a reference in section 55 to —

(a)general registration in the health profession is taken to be a reference to specialist registration in a recognised specialty; and

(b)the health profession is taken to be a reference to the recognised specialty.

61.Period of specialist registration

(1)The period of registration that is to apply to a health practitioner granted specialist registration in a recognised specialty in a health profession is the period (the registration period), not more than 12 months, decided by the National Board established for the profession and published on the Board’s website.

(2)If the National Board decides to register a health practitioner in a recognised specialty for the health profession during a registration period, the specialist registration —

(a)starts when the Board makes the decision; and

(b)expires at the end of the last day of the registration period.

Division 3 — Provisional registration

62.Eligibility for provisional registration

(1)An individual is eligible for provisional registration in a health profession, to enable the individual to complete a period of supervised practice that the individual requires to be eligible for general registration in the health profession, if —

(a)the individual is qualified for general registration in the profession; and

(b)the individual is a suitable person to hold provisional registration in the profession; and

(c)the individual is not disqualified under this Law or a law of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction from applying for, or being registered in, the profession; and

(d)the individual meets any other requirements for registration stated in an approved registration standard for the health profession.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the National Board established for the health profession may decide the individual is eligible for provisional registration in the health profession by imposing conditions on the registration under section 83.

63.Unsuitability to hold provisional registration

(1)Section 55 applies to a decision by a National Board that an individual is not a suitable person to hold provisional registration in a health profession.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), a reference in section 55 to general registration in the health profession is taken to be a reference to provisional registration in the health profession.

64.Period of provisional registration

(1)The period of registration (the registration period) that is to apply to a health practitioner granted provisional registration in a health profession is —

(a)the period decided by the National Board established for the profession, but not more than 12 months, and published on the Board’s website; or

(b)the longer period prescribed by a regulation.

(2)If the National Board decides to register a health practitioner in the health profession during a registration period, the registration —

(a)starts when the Board makes the decision; and

(b)expires at the end of the last day of the registration period.

(3)Provisional registration may not be renewed more than twice.

Note:If an individual were not able to complete the supervised practice the individual requires for general registration in a health profession during the period consisting of the individual’s initial period of registration and 2 renewals of that registration, the individual would need to make a new application for provisional registration in the profession.

Division 4 — Limited registration

65.Eligibility for limited registration

(1)An individual is eligible for limited registration in a health profession if —

(a)the individual is not qualified for general registration in the profession or specialist registration in a recognised specialty in the profession; and

(b)the individual is qualified under this Division for limited registration; and

(c)the individual is a suitable person to hold limited registration in the profession; and

(d)the individual is not disqualified under this Law or a law of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction from applying for registration, or being registered, in the health profession; and

(e)the individual meets any other requirements for registration stated in an approved registration standard for the health profession.

(1A)Subsection (1B) applies if —

(a)an individual is registered in a health profession for which divisions are included in the National Register kept for the profession; and

(b)the individual holds general or limited registration in a division.

(1B)Despite subsection (1)(a) and (b), the individual is eligible for limited registration in another division of the profession if the individual —

(a)is not qualified for general registration under the other division; and

(b)is qualified under this Division for limited registration under the other division.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the National Board established for the health profession may decide the individual is eligible for registration in the profession by imposing conditions on the registration under section 83.

[Section 65 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 23.]

66.Limited registration for postgraduate training or supervised practice

(1)An individual may apply for limited registration to enable the individual to undertake a period of postgraduate training or supervised practice in a health profession, or to undertake assessment or sit an examination, approved by the National Board established for the profession.

(2)The individual is qualified for the limited registration applied for if the National Board is satisfied the individual has completed a qualification that is relevant to, and suitable for, the postgraduate training, supervised practice, assessment or examination.

67.Limited registration for area of need

(1)An individual may apply for limited registration to enable the individual to practise a health profession in an area of need decided by the responsible Minister under subsection (5).

(2)The individual is qualified for the limited registration applied for if the National Board is satisfied the individual’s qualifications and experience are relevant to, and suitable for, the practice of the profession in the area of need.

(3)The National Board must consider the application but is not required to register the individual merely because there is an area of need.

(4)If the National Board grants the individual limited registration to enable the individual to practise the profession in the area of need, the individual must not practise the profession other than in the area of need specified in the individual’s certificate of registration.

(5)A responsible Minister for a participating jurisdiction may decide there is an area of need for health services in the jurisdiction, or part of the jurisdiction, if the Minister considers there are insufficient health practitioners practising in a particular health profession in the jurisdiction or the part of the jurisdiction to provide services that meet the needs of people living in the jurisdiction or the part of the jurisdiction.

(6)If a responsible Minister decides there is an area of need under subsection (5), the responsible Minister must give the National Board established for the health profession written notice of the decision.

(7)A responsible Minister may delegate the Minister’s power under this section to an appropriately qualified person.

(8)In this section —

appropriately qualified means having the qualifications, experience or standing appropriate to the exercise of the power;

health services means the provision of services by health practitioners in a particular health profession.

68.Limited registration in public interest

(1)An individual may apply for limited registration to enable the individual to practise a health profession for a limited time, or for a limited scope, in the public interest.

(2)The individual is qualified for the limited registration applied for if the National Board established for the health profession is satisfied it is in the public interest for an individual with the individual’s qualifications and experience to practise the profession for that time or scope.

69.Limited registration for teaching or research

(1)An individual may apply for limited registration in a health profession to enable the individual to fill a teaching or research position.

(2)The individual is qualified for the limited registration applied for if the National Board established for the health profession is satisfied the individual’s qualifications are relevant to, and suitable for, the position.

70.Unsuitability to hold limited registration

(1)Section 55 applies to a decision by a National Board that an individual is not a suitable person to hold limited registration in a health profession.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), a reference in section 55 to general registration in the health profession is taken to be a reference to limited registration in the health profession.

71.Limited registration not to be held for more than one purpose

(1)Subsection (2) applies to a health profession for which a division is not included in the National Register kept for the profession.

(2)An individual registered in the health profession may not hold limited registration in the same health profession for more than one purpose under this Division at the same time.

(3)Subsection (4) applies to a health profession for which divisions are included in the National Register kept for the profession.

(4)An individual registered in the health profession may not hold limited registration in the same division of the profession for more than one purpose under this Division at the same time.

[Section 71 inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 24.]

72.Period of limited registration

(1)The period of registration that is to apply to a health practitioner granted limited registration in a health profession is the period (the registration period), not more than 12 months, decided by the National Board established for the profession and published on the Board’s website.

(2)If the National Board decides to register a health practitioner in the health profession during a registration period, the registration —

(a)starts when the Board makes the decision; and

(b)expires at the end of the last day of the registration period.

(3)Limited registration may not be renewed more than 3 times.

Note:If an individual had been granted limited registration in a health profession for a purpose under this Division, had subsequently renewed the registration in the profession for that purpose 3 times and at the end of the period wished to continue holding limited registration in the profession for that purpose, the individual would need to make a new application for limited registration in the profession for that purpose.

Division 5 — Non‑practicing registration

73.Eligibility for non‑practicing registration

An individual is eligible for non‑practicing registration in a health profession if —

(a)the individual —

(i)holds or has held general registration in the health profession under this Law; or

(ii)holds or has held specialist registration in a recognised specialty in the health profession under this Law; or

(iii)held registration in the health profession under a corresponding prior Act that was equivalent to general registration or specialist registration in the health profession under this Law;

and

(b)the individual is a suitable person to hold non‑practicing registration in the profession.

74.Unsuitability to hold non‑practicing registration

A National Board may decide an individual is not a suitable person to hold non‑practicing registration in a health profession if —

(a)having regard to the individual’s criminal history to the extent that is relevant to the individual’s practice of the profession, the individual is not, in the Board’s opinion, an appropriate person to hold registration in the profession or it is not in the public interest for the individual to hold registration in the profession; or

(b)in the Board’s opinion, the individual is for any other reason not a fit and proper person to hold non‑practicing registration in the profession.

75.Registered health practitioner who holds non‑practicing registration must not practise the profession

(1)A registered health practitioner who holds non‑practicing registration in a health profession must not practise the profession.

(2)A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

76.Period of non‑practicing registration

(1)The period of registration that is to apply to a health practitioner granted non‑practicing registration in a health profession is the period (the registration period), not more than 12 months, decided by the National Board established for the profession and published on the Board’s website.

(2)If the National Board decides to register a health practitioner in the health profession during a registration period, the registration —

(a)starts when the Board makes the decision; and

(b)expires at the end of the last day of the registration period.

Division 6 — Application for registration

77.Application for registration

(1)An individual may apply to a National Board for registration in a health profession for which the Board is established.

(2)An application must —

(a)be in the form approved by the National Board; and

(b)be accompanied by the relevant fee; and

(c)be accompanied by proof of the applicant’s identity; and

(d)be accompanied by any other information reasonably required by the Board.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2)(a), a form approved by a National Board for the purposes of that subsection must require an applicant —

(a)to provide a declaration about —

(i)the address at which the applicant will predominantly practise the profession; or

(ii)if the applicant will not be practising the profession or will not predominantly practise the profession at one address, the address that is the applicant’s principal place of residence;

and

(b)to provide an address to be used by the Board in corresponding with the applicant; and

(c)to disclose the applicant’s criminal history; and

(d)to authorise the Board to obtain the applicant’s criminal history.

Note:See the definition of criminal history which applies to offences in participating jurisdictions and elsewhere, including outside Australia.

(4)A criminal history law does not apply to the requirement under subsection (3)(c) for the applicant to disclose the applicant’s criminal history.

(5)Information in the application must, if the approved form requires, be verified by a statutory declaration.

[Section 77 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 25.]

78.Power to check applicant’s proof of identity

(1)If an applicant for registration gives a National Board a document as evidence of the applicant’s identity under this section, the Board may, by written notice, ask the entity that issued the document —

(a)to confirm the validity of the document; or

(b)to give the Board other information relevant to the applicant’s identity.

(2)An entity given a notice under subsection (1) is authorised to give the National Board the information requested in the notice.

79.Power to check applicant’s criminal history

(1)Before deciding an application for registration, a National Board must check the applicant’s criminal history.

(2)For the purposes of checking an applicant’s criminal history, a National Board may obtain a written report about the criminal history of the applicant from any of the following —

(a)the ACC;

(b)a police commissioner;

(c)an entity in a jurisdiction outside Australia that has access to records about the criminal history of persons in that jurisdiction.

(3)A criminal history law does not apply to a report about an applicant’s criminal history under subsection (2).

[Section 79 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 26.]

80.Boards’ other powers before deciding application for registration

(1)Before deciding an application for registration, a National Board may —

(a)investigate the applicant, including, for example, by asking an entity —

(i)to give the Board information about the applicant; or

(ii)to verify information or a document that relates to the applicant;

and

Examples: If the applicant is or has been registered by another registration authority, the National Board may ask the registration authority for information about the applicant’s registration status.

The National Board may ask an entity that issued qualifications that the applicant believes qualifies the applicant for registration for confirmation that the qualification was issued to the applicant.

(b)by written notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to give the Board, within a reasonable time stated in the notice, further information or a document the Board reasonably requires to decide the application; and

(c)by written notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to attend before the Board, within a reasonable time stated in the notice and at a reasonable place, to answer any questions of the Board relating to the application; and

(d)by written notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to undergo an examination or assessment, within a reasonable time stated in the notice and at a reasonable place, to assess the applicant’s ability to practise the health profession in which registration is sought; and

(e)by written notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to undergo a health assessment, within a reasonable time stated in the notice and at a reasonable place.

(2)The National Board may require the information or document referred to in subsection (1)(b) to be verified by a statutory declaration.

(3)If the National Board requires an applicant to undertake an examination or assessment under subsection (1)(d) to assess the applicant’s ability to practise the health profession —

(a)the examination or assessment must be conducted by an accreditation authority for the health profession, unless the Board decides otherwise; and

(b)the National Agency may require the applicant to pay the relevant fee.

(4)A notice under subsection (1)(d) or (e) must state —

(a)the reason for the examination or assessment; and

(b)the name and qualifications of the person appointed by the National Board to conduct the examination or assessment; and

(c)the place where, and the day and time at which, the examination or assessment is to be conducted.

(5)The applicant is taken to have withdrawn the application if, within the stated time, the applicant does not comply with a requirement under subsection (1).

81.Applicant may make submissions about proposed refusal of application or imposition of condition

(1)If, after considering an application for registration, a National Board is proposing to refuse to register the applicant or to register the applicant subject to a condition, the Board must give the applicant written notice of the proposal.

(2)The notice must —

(a)state the reasons for the proposal; and

(b)invite the applicant to make a written or verbal submission to the Board by the date stated in the notice, being not less than 30 days after the day the notice is given to the applicant, about the proposal.

82.Decision about application

(1)After considering an application for registration and any submissions made in accordance with a notice under section 81, a National Board established for a health profession must —

(a)decide to grant the applicant the type of registration in the health profession applied for if the applicant is eligible for that type of registration under a relevant section; or

(b)decide to grant the applicant a type of registration in the health profession, other than the type of registration applied for, for which the applicant is eligible under a relevant section; or

(c)decide to refuse to grant the applicant registration in the health profession if —

(i)the applicant is ineligible for registration in the profession under a relevant section because the applicant —

(I)is not qualified for registration; or

(II)has not completed a period of supervised practice in the health profession, or an examination or assessment required by the Board to assess the individual’s ability to practise the profession; or

(III)is not a suitable person to hold registration; or

(IV)is disqualified under this Law from applying for registration, or being registered, in the health profession; or

(V)does not meet a requirement for registration stated in an approved registration standard for the profession;

or

(ii)it would be improper to register the applicant because the applicant or someone else gave the National Board information or a document in relation to the application that was false or misleading in a material particular.

(2)In this section —

relevant section means section 52, 57, 62, 65 or 73.

83.Conditions of registration

(1)If a National Board decides to register a person in a health profession for which the Board is established, the registration is subject to any condition the Board considers necessary or desirable in the circumstances.

Note:A failure by a registered health practitioner to comply with a condition of the practitioner’s registration does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(2)If the National Board decides to register the person subject to a condition referred to in subsection (1), the Board must decide a review period for the condition.

[Section 83 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 27.]

84.Notice to be given to applicant

(1)Within 30 days after making the decision under section 82, the National Board must —

(a)give the applicant written notice of the Board’s decision; and

(b)if the Board decides to register the applicant, give the applicant a certificate of registration.

(2)If the Board decides not to register the applicant, or decides to register the applicant in a type of registration other than the registration applied for or subject to a condition, the notice under subsection (1)(a) must state —

(a)the reasons for the decision; and

(b)that the applicant may appeal against the decision; and

(c)how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

85.Failure to decide application

If a National Board fails to decide an application for registration within 90 days after its receipt, or the longer period agreed between the Board and the applicant, the failure by the Board to make a decision is taken to be a decision to refuse to register the applicant.

Division 7 — Student registration

Subdivision 1 — Persons undertaking approved programmes of study

86.Terms used

In this Subdivision —

approved programme of study, for a health profession, does not include an approved programme of study that provides a qualification for endorsement of registration in the profession but does not qualify a person for registration in the profession;

particulars means particulars required to be included in the student register.

87.National Board must register persons undertaking approved programme of study

(1)The National Board established for a health profession must decide whether persons who are undertaking an approved programme of study for the health profession must be registered —

(a)for the entire period during which the persons are enrolled in the approved programme of study; or

(b)for the period starting when the persons begin a particular part of the approved programme of study and ending when the persons complete, or otherwise cease to be enrolled in, the programme.

(2)In deciding whether to register persons undertaking an approved programme of study for the entire period of the programme of study or only part of the period, the National Board must have regard to —

(a)the likelihood that persons undertaking the approved programme of study will, in the course of undertaking the programme, have contact with members of the public; and

(b)if it is likely that the persons undertaking the approved programme of study will have contact with members of the public —

(i)when in the approved programme of study it is likely the persons will have contact with members of the public; and

(ii)the potential risk that contact may pose to members of the public.

88.National Board may ask education provider for list of persons undertaking approved programme of study

(1)For the purposes of registering persons as required by section 87, a National Board may, at any time by written notice given to an education provider, ask the provider for the following —

(a)the particulars of all persons who are undertaking an approved programme of study for a health profession for which the Board is established;

(b)the particulars of all persons who will be undertaking the part of the approved programme of study specified in the notice.

(2)An education provider given a notice under subsection (1) must not fail, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the notice.

(3)A contravention of subsection (2) does not constitute an offence.

(4)However, if an education provider does not comply with a notice under subsection (1) —

(a)the National Board that gave the education provider the notice must publish details of the failure to comply with the notice on the Board’s website; and

(b)the National Agency may, on the recommendation of the National Board, include a statement about the failure to comply with the notice in the Agency’s annual report.

[Section 88 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 28.]

89.Registration of students

(1)On receipt of the particulars of persons undertaking an approved programme of study, or part of an approved programme of study, under section 88 —

(a)the National Board may register the persons as students in the health profession by entering the persons’ particulars in the student register kept by the Board; or

(b)the National Board may —

(i)by written notice given to each person, require the person to complete an application for registration as a student in the form approved by the National Board; and

(ii)on receipt of the person’s application form, register the person as a student in the health profession by entering the person’s particulars in the student register kept by the Board.

(2)The National Board must not register a person as a student if the person is undertaking an approved programme of study for a health profession in which the person already holds registration under Division 6.

(3)The National Board must not require a person to pay a fee for registration as a student.

(4)As soon as practicable after registering a person as a student, a National Board must give written notice of the registration to —

(a)the education provider that provided the student’s particulars to the Board; and

(b)if the Board required the person to complete an application form for registration, the student.

(5)As soon as practicable after receiving notice that a student has been registered under subsection (1)(a), the education provider must give written notice of the registration to the student.

90.Period of student registration

The period of registration for a student —

(a)starts when the student is registered under section 89; and

(b)expires at the end of the day on which the student completes, or otherwise ceases to be enrolled in, the approved programme of study.

Subdivision 2 — Other persons to be registered as students

91.Education provider to provide lists of persons

(1)If an education provider arranges clinical training in a health profession for a person who is not enrolled in an approved programme of study for the profession, the education provider must give the National Board established for the profession written notice about the arrangement.

(2)Subsection (1) does not apply if the person is a registered health practitioner who is registered in the health profession in which the clinical training is being undertaken.

(3)A notice under subsection (1) must include —

(a)the particulars of the person undertaking the clinical training; and

(b)particulars of the arrangement for the person to undertake the clinical training.

(4)On receipt of a notice under subsection (1) —

(a)the National Board may register the persons as students in the health profession by entering the persons’ particulars in the student register kept by the Board; or

(b)the National Board may —

(i)by written notice given to each person, require the person to complete an application for registration as a student in the form approved by the National Board; and

(ii)on receipt of the person’s application form, register the person as a student in the health profession by entering the person’s particulars in the student register kept by the Board.

(5)As soon as practicable after registering a person as a student under subsection (4), a National Board must give written notice of the registration to the education provider that provided the student’s particulars to the Board.

(6)The National Board must not require a person to pay a fee for registration as a student.

(7)A student’s period of registration under this section —

(a)starts when the student is registered under subsection (4); and

(b)expires at the end of the day on which the person completes, or otherwise ceases to undertake, the period of clinical training.

Subdivision 3 — General provisions applicable to students

92.Notice to be given if student registration suspended or condition imposed

(1)This section applies if, at any time, any of the following events occurs —

(a)a person’s registration as a student under this Law is suspended;

(b)a condition is imposed on a person’s registration as a student under this Law or a condition to which a person’s registration is subject is changed or removed;

(c)a National Board accepts an undertaking from a person who is a student.

(2)The National Board established for the person’s health profession must, as soon as practicable after the event occurs, give written notice of the event to the education provider with which the person is undertaking the approved programme of study.

(3)If an education provider is given a notice under subsection (2) about a person, the education provider must, as soon as practicable after receiving the notice, give notice of the event to any entity with whom the person is undertaking training as part of the approved programme of study.

[Section 92 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 29.]

93.Report to National Board of cessation of status as student

(1)This section applies if —

(a)a student completes, or otherwise ceases to be enrolled in, an approved programme of study for a health profession provided by an education provider; or

(b)a student completes, or otherwise ceases to undertake, clinical training in a health profession arranged by an education provider.

(2)The education provider must give written notice of the student ceasing to be enrolled in the programme of study, or to undertake the clinical training, to the National Board established for the health profession within 60 days of it occurring.

(3)A contravention of subsection (2) does not constitute an offence.

(4)However, if an education provider contravenes subsection (2) —

(a)the National Board must publish details of the contravention on the Board’s website; and

(b)the National Agency may, on the recommendation of the National Board, include a statement about the contravention in the Agency’s annual report.

Division 8 — Endorsement of registration

Subdivision 1 — Endorsement in relation to scheduled medicines

94.Endorsement for scheduled medicines

(1)A National Board may, in accordance with an approval given by the Ministerial Council under section 14, endorse the registration of a registered health practitioner registered in a health profession for which the Board is established as being qualified to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use a scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines if the practitioner —

(a)holds either of the following qualifications relevant to the endorsement —

(i)an approved qualification;

(ii)another qualification that, in the Board’s opinion, is substantially equivalent to, or based on similar competencies to, an approved qualification;

and

(b)complies with any approved registration standard relevant to the endorsement.

Note:The endorsement of a health practitioner’s registration under this section indicates the practitioner is qualified to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use the scheduled medicine or class of medicines specified in the endorsement but does not authorise the practitioner to do so. The authorisation of a health practitioner to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use scheduled medicines in a participating jurisdiction will be provided for by or under another Act of that jurisdiction.

Health practitioners registered in certain health professions will be authorised to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use scheduled medicines by or under an Act of a participating jurisdiction without the need for the health practitioners to hold an endorsement under this Law.

(2)An endorsement under subsection (1) must state —

(a)the scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines to which the endorsement relates; and

(b)whether the registered health practitioner is qualified to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use the scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines; and

(c)if the endorsement is for a limited period, the date the endorsement expires.

[Section 94 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 30.]

Subdivision 2 — Endorsement in relation to nurse practitioners

95.Endorsement as nurse practitioner

(1)The National Board for the nursing profession may endorse the registration of a registered health practitioner whose name is included in the Register of Nurses as being qualified to practise as a nurse practitioner if the practitioner —

(a)holds either of the following qualifications relevant to the endorsement —

(i)an approved qualification;

(ii)another qualification that, in the Board’s opinion, is substantially equivalent to, or based on similar competencies to, an approved qualification;

and

(b)complies with any approved registration standard relevant to the endorsement.

(2)An endorsement under subsection (1) must state —

(a)that the registered health practitioner is entitled to use the title “nurse practitioner”; and

(b)any conditions applicable to the practice by the registered health practitioner as a nurse practitioner.

[Section 95 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 31.]

Subdivision 3 — Endorsement in relation to midwife practitioners

96.Endorsement as midwife practitioner

(1)The National Board for the midwifery profession may endorse the registration of a registered health practitioner whose name is included in the Register of Midwives as being qualified to practise as a midwife practitioner if the practitioner —

(a)holds either of the following qualifications relevant to the endorsement —

(i)an approved qualification;

(ii)another qualification that, in the Board’s opinion, is substantially equivalent to, or based on similar competencies to, an approved qualification;

and

(b)complies with any approved registration standard relevant to the endorsement.

(2)An endorsement under subsection (1) must state —

(a)that the registered health practitioner is entitled to use the title “midwife practitioner”; and

(b)any conditions applicable to the practice by the registered health practitioner as a midwife practitioner.

[Section 96 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 32.]

Subdivision 4 — Endorsement in relation to acupuncture

97.Endorsement for acupuncture

(1)A National Board may endorse the registration of a registered health practitioner registered in a health profession for which the Board is established as being qualified to practise as an acupuncturist if the practitioner —

(a)holds either of the following qualifications relevant to the endorsement —

(i)an approved qualification;

(ii)another qualification that, in the Board’s opinion, is substantially equivalent to, or based on similar competencies to, an approved qualification;

and

(b)complies with an approved registration standard relevant to the endorsement.

(2)An endorsement under subsection (1) must state —

(a)that the registered health practitioner is entitled to use the title “acupuncturist”; and

(b)any conditions applicable to the practice of acupuncture by the registered health practitioner.

[Section 97 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 33.]

Subdivision 5 — Endorsements in relation to approved areas of practice

98.Endorsement for approved area of practice

(1)A National Board established for a health profession may, in accordance with an approval given by the Ministerial Council under section 15, endorse the registration of a registered health practitioner registered in a health profession for which the Board is established as being qualified to practise in an approved area of practice for the health profession if the practitioner —

(a)holds either of the following qualifications relevant to the endorsement —

(i)an approved qualification;

(ii)another qualification that, in the Board’s opinion, is substantially equivalent to, or based on similar competencies to, an approved qualification;

and

(b)complies with an approved registration standard relevant to the endorsement.

(2)An endorsement under subsection (1) must state —

(a)the approved area of practice to which the endorsement relates; and

(b)any conditions applicable to the practice by the registered health practitioner in the approved area of practice.

[Section 98 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 34.]

Subdivision 6 — Application for endorsement

99.Application for endorsement

(1)An individual may apply to a National Board for endorsement of the individual’s registration.

(2)The application must —

(a)be in the form approved by the National Board; and

(b)be accompanied by the relevant fee; and

(c)be accompanied by any other information reasonably required by the Board.

(3)For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), the information a National Board may require an applicant to provide includes —

(a)evidence of the qualifications in the health profession the applicant believes qualifies the applicant for endorsement; and

(b)evidence of successful completion of any period of supervised practice required by an approved registration standard; and

(c)if the applicant is required to complete an examination or assessment set by or on behalf of the Board, evidence of the successful completion of the examination or assessment.

100.Boards’ other powers before deciding application for endorsement

(1)Before deciding an application for endorsement, a National Board may —

(a)investigate the applicant, including, for example, by asking an entity —

(i)to give the Board information about the applicant; or

(ii)to verify information or a document that relates to the applicant;

or

(b)by written notice to the applicant, require the applicant to give the Board, within a reasonable time stated in the notice, further information or a document the Board reasonably requires to decide the application; or

(c)by written notice to the applicant, require the applicant to attend before the Board, within a reasonable time stated in the notice and at a reasonable place, to answer any questions of the Board relating to the application; or

(d)by written notice to the applicant, require the applicant to undergo a written, oral or practical examination, within a reasonable time stated in the notice and at a reasonable place.

(2)The purpose of an examination under subsection (1)(d) must be to assess the applicant’s ability to practise the health profession in accordance with the endorsement sought.

(3)The applicant is taken to have withdrawn the application if, within the stated time, the applicant does not comply with a requirement under subsection (1).

101.Applicant may make submissions about proposed refusal of application or imposition of condition

(1)If, after considering an application for endorsement of a registration, a National Board is proposing to refuse to endorse the applicant’s registration or to endorse the applicant’s registration subject to a condition, the Board must give the applicant written notice of the proposal.

(2)The notice must —

(a)state the reasons for the proposal; and

(b)invite the applicant to make a written or verbal submission to the Board by the date stated in the notice, being not less than 30 days after the day the notice is given to the applicant, about the proposal.

102.Decision about application

(1)After considering an application for endorsement and any submissions made in accordance with a notice under section 101, a National Board must decide to endorse, or refuse to endorse, the applicant’s registration as sought.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), a National Board may refuse to endorse an applicant’s registration if —

(a)the applicant is not qualified for the endorsement under a relevant section; or

(b)the Board considers the applicant is not competent to practise the health profession in accordance with the endorsement sought.

(3)In this section —

relevant section means section 94, 95, 96, 97 or 98.

103.Conditions of endorsement

(1)If a National Board decides to endorse the applicant’s registration under section 102, the Board may decide to impose on the endorsement the conditions the Board considers necessary or desirable in the circumstances.

Note:A failure by a registered health practitioner to comply with a condition of the practitioner’s registration does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(2)If the National Board decides to impose a condition on the endorsement, the Board must also decide a review period for the condition.

104.Notice of decision to be given to applicant

(1)As soon as practicable after making the decision under section 102, the National Board must —

(a)give the applicant written notice of the Board’s decision; and

(b)if the Board decides to endorse the applicant’s registration, give the applicant a new certificate of registration.

(2)If the Board decides not to endorse the applicant’s registration or decides to endorse the applicant’s registration subject to a condition, the notice under subsection (1)(a) must state —

(a)the reasons for the decision; and

(b)that the applicant may appeal against the decision; and

(c)how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

105.Period of endorsement

If a National Board decides to endorse a registered health practitioner’s registration, the endorsement —

(a)starts when the Board makes the decision; and

(b)expires when the practitioner’s registration ends.

106.Failure to decide application for endorsement

If a National Board fails to decide an application for endorsement within 90 days after its receipt, or the longer period agreed between the Board and the applicant, the failure by the Board to make a decision is taken to be a decision to refuse to endorse the applicant’s registration.

Division 9 — Renewal of registration

107.Application for renewal of registration or endorsement

(1)A registered health practitioner may apply to the National Board established for the practitioner’s health profession for renewal of the health practitioner’s registration.

(2)An application for renewal of a registered health practitioner’s registration must be made not later than one month after the practitioner’s period of registration ends.

(3)If the registered health practitioner’s registration has been endorsed by the National Board, the application for renewal of the practitioner’s registration is taken to also be an application for a renewal of the endorsement.

(4)The application for renewal of registration must —

(a)be in the form approved by the National Board; and

(b)be accompanied by the relevant fee; and

(c)if the application for renewal is made after the registered health practitioner’s period of registration ends, be accompanied by the relevant fee for a late application; and

(d)be accompanied by the annual statement required under section 109; and

(e)be accompanied by any other information reasonably required by the Board.

[Section 107 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 35.]

108.Registration taken to continue in force

(1)If a registered health practitioner applies under section 107 to renew the practitioner’s registration, the applicant’s registration, including any endorsement of the registration, is taken to continue in force from the day it would, apart from this section, have ended until —

(a)if the National Board decides to renew the applicant’s registration, the day a new certificate of registration is issued to the applicant; or

(b)if the National Board decides to refuse to renew the applicant’s registration, the day the applicant is given notice of the decision.

(2)If a health practitioner does not apply to renew the practitioner’s registration before the practitioner’s period of registration ends, the registration, including any endorsement of the registration, is taken to continue in force until —

(a)the end of the day that is one month after the day the period of registration would, apart from this subsection, have ended; or

(b)if the health practitioner applies for renewal of the registration not later than one month after the practitioner’s period of registration ends, the day referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b).

(3)Subsection (1) or (2) does not apply if the registration is earlier cancelled under this Law.

109.Annual statement

(1)An application for renewal of registration must include or be accompanied by a statement that includes the following —

(a)a declaration by the applicant that —

(i)the applicant does not have an impairment; and

(ii)the applicant has met any recency of practice requirements stated in an approved registration standard for the health profession; and

(iii)the applicant has completed the continuing professional development the applicant was required by an approved registration standard to undertake during the applicant’s preceding period of registration; and

(iv)the applicant has not practised the health profession during the preceding period of registration without appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements being in place in relation to the applicant; and

(v)if the applicant’s registration is renewed the applicant will not practise the health profession unless appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements are in place in relation to the applicant;

(b)details of any change in the applicant’s criminal history that occurred during the applicant’s preceding period of registration;

Note:See the definition of criminal history which applies to offences in participating jurisdictions and elsewhere, including outside Australia.

(c)if the applicant’s right to practise at a hospital or another facility at which health services are provided was withdrawn or restricted during the applicant’s preceding period of registration because of the applicant’s conduct, professional performance or health, details of the withdrawal or restriction of the right to practise;

(d)if the applicant’s billing privileges were withdrawn or restricted under the Medicare Australia Act 1973 3 (Commonwealth) during the applicant’s preceding period of registration because of the applicant’s conduct, professional performance or health, details of the withdrawal or restriction of the privileges;

(e)details of any complaint made about the applicant to a registration authority or another entity having functions relating to professional services provided by health practitioners or the regulation of health practitioners;

(f)any other information required by an approved registration standard.

(2)Subsection (1)(a)(ii), (iii) and (iv), (c) and (d) does not apply to an applicant who is applying for the renewal of non‑practicing registration.

110.National Board’s powers before making decision

Before deciding an application for renewal of registration, a National Board may exercise a power under section 80 as if the application were an application for registration made under section 77.

111.Applicant may make submissions about proposed refusal of application for renewal or imposition of condition

(1)If, after considering an application for renewal of registration, a National Board is proposing to refuse to renew the applicant’s registration or to renew the applicant’s registration subject to a new condition, the Board must give the applicant written notice of the proposal.

(2)The notice must —

(a)state the reasons for the proposal; and

(b)invite the applicant to make a written or verbal submission to the Board by the date stated in the notice, being not less than 30 days after the day the notice is given to the applicant, about the proposal.

112.Decision about application for renewal

(1)After considering an application for renewal of registration and any submissions made in accordance with a notice under section 111, a National Board may decide to renew, or refuse to renew, the applicant’s registration or the endorsement.

(2)The National Board may refuse to renew the applicant’s registration or any endorsement on the applicant’s registration —

(a)on any ground on which the Board could refuse to grant the registration or endorsement under section 82 or 102 if the application were for a grant of registration or endorsement; or

(b)if the applicant contravened any condition to which the applicant’s previous registration or endorsement was subject; or

(c)if, during the applicant’s previous period of registration, the applicant failed to have appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements or failed to complete the continuing professional development required by an approved registration standard for the profession; or

(d)if a statement made by the applicant in the applicant’s annual statement was false or misleading in a material particular; or

(e)if the application is for the renewal of provisional registration and the applicant’s provisional registration has previously been renewed twice; or

(f)if the application is for the renewal of limited application and the applicant’s limited registration has previously been renewed 3 times.

(3)If the National Board renews a registration, including any endorsement on the registration, the registration or endorsement is subject to —

(a)any condition to which the registration was subject immediately before the renewal; and

(b)any condition the Board considers necessary or desirable in the circumstances.

Note:A failure by a registered health practitioner to comply with a condition of the practitioner’s registration does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(4)If the National Board decides to renew a registered health practitioner’s registration or an endorsement of the registration subject to a condition under subsection (3)(b), the Board must decide a review period for the condition.

(5)If a National Board decides to refuse to renew an applicant’s registration or the endorsement of the applicant’s registration, or to renew the registration or the endorsement subject to a condition under subsection (3)(b), the Board must give the applicant a notice that states —

(a)the decision made by the Board; and

(b)the reasons for the decision; and

(c)that the applicant may appeal against the decision; and

(d)how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

(6)A registration, including any endorsement of the registration, renewed under this Division —

(a)starts on the day immediately after the applicant’s previous period of registration ends or ended; and

(b)expires at the end of the day that is 12 months after the day it starts.

Division 10 — Title and practice protections

Subdivision 1 — Title protections

113.Restriction on use of protected titles

(1)A person must not knowingly or recklessly —

(a)take or use a title in the Table to this section, in a way that could be reasonably expected to induce a belief the person is registered under this Law in the health profession listed beside the title in the Table, unless the person is registered in the profession; or

(b)take or use a prescribed title for a health profession, in a way that could be reasonably expected to induce a belief the person is registered under this Law in the profession, unless the person is registered in the profession.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $30 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $60 000.

(2)A person must not knowingly or recklessly —

(a)take or use a title in the Table in relation to another person (the second person), in a way that could be reasonably expected to induce a belief the second person is registered under this Law in the health profession listed beside the title in the Table, unless the second person is registered in the profession; or

(b)take or use a prescribed title for a health profession in relation to another person (the second person), in a way that could be reasonably expected to induce a belief the second person is registered under this Law in the profession, unless the second person is registered in the profession.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $30 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $60 000.

(3)Subsections (1) and (2) apply whether or not the title is taken or used with or without any other words and whether in English or any other language.

Table — Protected Titles

Profession

Title

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner, Aboriginal health practitioner, Torres Strait Islander health practitioner

Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine practitioner, Chinese herbal dispenser, Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, Oriental medicine practitioner, acupuncturist

Chiropractic

chiropractor

Dental

dentist, dental therapist, dental hygienist, dental prosthetist, oral health therapist

Medical

medical practitioner, physician

Medical Radiation Practice

medical radiation practitioner, diagnostic radiographer, medical imaging technologist, radiographer, nuclear medicine scientist, nuclear medicine technologist, radiation therapist

Midwifery

midwife, midwife practitioner

Nursing

nurse, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, enrolled nurse

Occupational Therapy

occupational therapist

Optometry

optometrist, optician

Osteopathy

osteopath

Paramedicine

paramedic

Pharmacy

pharmacist, pharmaceutical chemist

Physiotherapy

physiotherapist, physical therapist

Podiatry

podiatrist, chiropodist

Psychology

psychologist

[Section 113 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 36 and 98(1).]

114.Use of title “acupuncturist”

(1)A registered health practitioner whose registration is endorsed under section 97 by a National Board as being qualified to practise as an acupuncturist does not commit an offence against section 113(1)(a) merely because the individual takes or uses the title “acupuncturist”.

(2)A person does not commit an offence against section 113(2)(a) merely because the person takes or uses the title “acupuncturist” in relation to another person who is a registered health practitioner whose registration is endorsed under section 97 by a National Board as being qualified to practise as an acupuncturist.

115.Restriction on use of specialist titles

(1)A person must not knowingly or recklessly take or use —

(a)the title “dental specialist” unless the person is registered under this Law in a recognised specialty in the dentists division of the dental profession; or

(b)the title “medical specialist” unless the person is registered in a recognised specialty in the medical profession; or

(c)a specialist title for a recognised specialty unless the person is registered under this Law in the specialty.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $30 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $60 000.

(2)A person must not knowingly or recklessly take or use —

(a)the title “dental specialist” in relation to another person unless the other person is registered under this Law in a recognised specialty in the dentists division of the dental profession; or

(b)the title “medical specialist” in relation to another person unless the person is registered in a recognised specialty in the medical profession; or

(c)a specialist title for a recognised specialty in relation to another person unless the person is registered under this Law in the specialty.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $30 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $60 000.

(3)Subsection (1) applies whether or not the title is taken or used with or without any other words and whether in English or any other language.

[Section 115 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 98(1).]

116.Claims by persons as to registration as health practitioner

(1)A person who is not a registered health practitioner must not knowingly or recklessly —

(a)take or use the title of “registered health practitioner”, whether with or without any other words; or

(b)take or use a title, name, initial, symbol, word or description that, having regard to the circumstances in which it is taken or used, indicates or could be reasonably understood to indicate —

(i)the person is a health practitioner; or

(ii)the person is authorised or qualified to practise in a health profession;

or

(c)claim to be registered under this Law or hold himself or herself out as being registered under this Law; or

(d)claim to be qualified to practise as a health practitioner.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $30 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $60 000.

(2)A person must not knowingly or recklessly —

(a)take or use the title of “registered health practitioner”, whether with or without any other words, in relation to another person who is not a registered health practitioner; or

(b)take or use a title, name, initial, symbol, word or description that, having regard to the circumstances in which it is taken or used, indicates or could be reasonably understood to indicate —

(i)another person is a health practitioner if the other person is not a health practitioner; or

(ii)another person is authorised or qualified to practise in a health profession if the other person is not a registered health practitioner in that health profession;

or

(c)claim another person is registered under this Law, or hold the other person out as being registered under this Law, if the other person is not registered under this Law; or

(d)claim another person is qualified to practise as a health practitioner if the other person is not a registered health practitioner.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $30 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $60 000.

[Section 116 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 98(1).]

117.Claims by persons as to registration in particular profession or division

(1)A registered health practitioner must not knowingly or recklessly —

(a)claim to be registered under this Law in a health profession or a division of a health profession in which the practitioner is not registered, or hold himself or herself out as being registered in a health profession or a division of a health profession if the person is not registered in that health profession or division; or

(b)claim to be qualified to practise as a practitioner in a health profession or a division of a health profession in which the practitioner is not registered; or

(c)take or use any title that could be reasonably understood to induce a belief the practitioner is registered under this Law in a health profession or a division of a health profession in which the practitioner is not registered.

(2)A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(3)A person must not knowingly or recklessly —

(a)claim another person is registered under this Law in a health profession or a division of a health profession in which the other person is not registered, or hold the other person out as being registered in a health profession or a division of a health profession if the other person is not registered in that health profession or division; or

(b)claim another person is qualified to practise as a health practitioner in a health profession or division of a health profession in which the other person is not registered; or

(c)take or use any title in relation to another person that could be reasonably understood to induce a belief the other person is registered under this Law in a health profession or a division of a health profession in which the person is not registered.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $30 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $60 000.

Note:A contravention of this subsection by a registered health practitioner may also constitute unprofessional conduct for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

[Section 117 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 98(1).]

118.Claims by persons as to specialist registration

(1)A person who is not a specialist health practitioner must not knowingly or recklessly —

(a)take or use the title of “specialist health practitioner”, whether with or without any other words; or

(b)take or use a title, name, initial, symbol, word or description that, having regard to the circumstances in which it is taken or used, indicates or could be reasonably understood to indicate —

(i)the person is a specialist health practitioner; or

(ii)the person is authorised or qualified to practise in a recognised specialty;

or

(c)claim to be registered under this Law in a recognised specialty or hold himself or herself out as being registered under this Law in a recognised specialty; or

(d)claim to be qualified to practise as a specialist health practitioner.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $30 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $60 000.

(2)A person must not knowingly or recklessly —

(a)take or use the title of “specialist health practitioner”, whether with or without any other words, in relation to another person who is not a specialist health practitioner; or

(b)take or use a title, name, initial, symbol, word or description in relation to another person who is not a specialist health practitioner that, having regard to the circumstances in which it is taken or used, indicates or could be reasonably understood to indicate —

(i)the other person is a specialist health practitioner; or

(ii)the other person is authorised or qualified to practise in a recognised specialty;

or

(c)claim another person is registered under this Law in a recognised specialty or hold the other person out as being registered under this Law in a recognised specialty if the other person is not registered in that recognised specialty; or

(d)claim another person is qualified to practise as a specialist health practitioner if the person is not a specialist health practitioner.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $30 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $60 000.

Note:A contravention of this section by a registered health practitioner may also constitute unprofessional conduct for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

[Section 118 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 37 and 98(1).]

119.Claims about type of registration or registration in recognised specialty

(1)A registered health practitioner must not knowingly or recklessly —

(a)claim to hold a type of registration or endorsement under this Law that the practitioner does not hold or hold himself or herself out as holding a type of registration or endorsement if the practitioner does not hold that type of registration; or

(b)claim to be qualified to hold a type of registration or endorsement the practitioner does not hold; or

(c)claim to hold specialist registration under this Law in a recognised specialty in which the practitioner does not hold specialist registration or hold himself or herself out as holding specialist registration in a recognised specialty if the person does not hold specialist registration in that specialty; or

(d)claim to be qualified to practise as a specialist health practitioner in a recognised specialty in which the practitioner is not registered.

(2)A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(3)A person must not knowingly or recklessly —

(a)claim another person holds a type of registration or endorsement under this Law that the other person does not hold or hold the other person out as holding a type of registration or endorsement if the practitioner does not hold that type of registration or endorsement; or

(b)claim another person is qualified to hold a type of registration or endorsement that the other person does not hold; or

(c)claim another person holds specialist registration under this Law in a recognised specialty which the other person does not hold or hold the other person out as holding specialist registration in a recognised specialty if the other person does not hold specialist registration in that specialty; or

(d)claim another person is qualified to practise in a recognised specialty in which the other person is not registered.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $30 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $60 000.

Note:A contravention of this subsection by a registered health practitioner may also constitute unprofessional conduct for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

[Section 119 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 98(1).]

120.Registered health practitioner registered on conditions

(1)A registered health practitioner who is registered on conditions must not knowingly or recklessly claim, or hold himself or herself out, to be registered without the conditions or any conditions.

(2)A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

Subdivision 2 — Practice protections

121.Restricted dental acts

(1)A person must not carry out a restricted dental act unless the person —

(a)is registered in the dental profession or medical profession and carries out the restricted dental act in accordance with any requirements specified in an approved registration standard; or

(b)is a student who carries out the restricted dental act in the course of activities undertaken as part of —

(i)an approved programme of study for the dental profession or medical profession; or

(ii)clinical training in the dental profession or medical profession;

or

(c)carries out the restricted dental act in the course of carrying out technical work on the written order of a person registered in the dentists or dental prosthetists division of the dental profession; or

(d)is a person, or a member of a class of persons, prescribed under a regulation as being authorised to carry out the restricted dental act or restricted dental acts generally.

Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $30 000.

(2)In this section —

restricted dental act means any of the following acts —

(a)performing any irreversible procedure on the human teeth or jaw or associated structures;

(b)correcting malpositions of the human teeth or jaw or associated structures;

(c)fitting or intra‑orally adjusting artificial teeth or corrective or restorative dental appliances for a person;

(d)performing any irreversible procedure on, or the giving of any treatment or advice to, a person that is preparatory to or for the purpose of fitting, inserting, adjusting, fixing, constructing, repairing or renewing artificial dentures or a restorative dental appliance;

technical work means the mechanical construction or the renewal or repair of artificial dentures or restorative dental appliances.

[Section 121 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 98(1).]

122.Restriction on prescription of optical appliances

(1)A person must not prescribe an optical appliance unless —

(a)the person is an optometrist or medical practitioner; or

(b)the appliance is spectacles and the person is an orthoptist who —

(i)prescribes the spectacles in the course of carrying out duties at a public health facility; or

(ii)prescribes the spectacles under the supervision of an optometrist or medical practitioner; or

(iii)prescribes the spectacles, on the written referral of an optometrist or medical practitioner, to a person who has had, within the 12 months before the referral, an ocular health examination conducted by an optometrist or medical practitioner;

or

(c)the person is a person, or a member of a class of persons, prescribed under a regulation as being authorised to prescribe an optical appliance of that type or to prescribe optical appliances generally.

Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $30 000.

(2)In this section —

optical appliance means —

(a)any appliance designed to correct, remedy or relieve any refractive abnormality or defect of sight, including, for example, spectacle lenses; or

(b)contact lenses, whether or not designed to correct, remedy or relieve any refractive abnormality or defect of sight;

optometrist means a person registered in the optometry profession;

orthoptist means a person whose name is recorded in the Register of Orthoptists kept by the Australian Orthoptists Registration Body Pty Ltd (ACN 095 11 7 678).

[Section 122 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 98(1).]

123.Restriction on spinal manipulation

(1)A person must not perform manipulation of the cervical spine unless the person —

(a)is registered in an appropriate health profession; or

(b)is a student who performs manipulation of the cervical spine in the course of activities undertaken as part of —

(i)an approved programme of study in an appropriate health profession; or

(ii)clinical training in an appropriate health profession;

or

(c)is a person, or a member of a class of persons, prescribed under a regulation as being authorised to perform manipulation of the cervical spine.

Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $30 000.

(2)In this section —

appropriate health profession means any of the following health professions —

(a)chiropractic;

(b)osteopathy;

(c)medical;

(d)physiotherapy;

manipulation of the cervical spine means moving the joints of the cervical spine beyond a person’s usual physiological range of motion using a high velocity, low amplitude thrust.

[Section 123 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 98(1).]

123A.Restricted birthing practices

(1)In this section —

midwife means a person who is registered under this Law in the midwifery profession;

restricted birthing practice means undertaking the care of a woman by managing the 3 stages of labour, or any part of those stages.

(2)A person must not carry out a restricted birthing practice unless the person —

(a)is a medical practitioner; or

(b)is a midwife; or

(c)is a student who carries out the restricted birthing practice in the course of activities undertaken as part of —

(i)an approved programme of study for the medical or midwifery profession; or

(ii)clinical training in the medical or midwifery profession;

or

(d)is acting under the supervision of a medical practitioner or midwife and in accordance with any requirements set out in a code or guideline approved, under section 39, by the National Board established for the relevant profession; or

(e)is providing emergency assistance to a woman who is in labour.

Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $30 000.

[Section 123A inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 38.]

Division 11 — Miscellaneous

Subdivision 1 — Certificates of registration

124.Issue of certificate of registration

(1)This section applies if —

(a)a National Board decides to register an individual in a health profession for which the Board is established; or

(b)a National Board decides to renew an individual’s registration in a health profession for which the Board is established; or

(c)a National Board or an adjudication body decides to impose, change or remove a condition on a registered health practitioner’s registration or otherwise change the practitioner’s registration in a material way; or

(d)a National Board or an adjudication body decides to accept an undertaking from a registered health practitioner or to change or revoke an undertaking given by the practitioner; or

(e)a National Board decides to endorse a health practitioner’s registration.

(2)The National Board must, as soon as practicable after the decision is made, give the registered health practitioner a certificate of registration in the form decided by the Board.

(3)A certificate of registration must include the following —

(a)the name of the registered health practitioner;

(b)the type of registration granted and, if the registration is endorsed, the type of endorsement granted;

(c)the date the registration or endorsement was granted;

(d)the division of the register, if any, in which the practitioner is registered;

(e)any condition to which the registration or endorsement is subject;

(f)any undertaking given by the practitioner to the National Board;

(g)the date the registration expires;

(h)any other information the Board considers appropriate.

[Section 124 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 39.]

Subdivision 2 — Review of conditions and undertakings

125.Changing or removing conditions or undertaking on application by registered health practitioner or student

(1)A registered health practitioner or student may apply to a National Board established for the practitioner’s or student’s health profession —

(a)for a registered health practitioner —

(i)to change or remove a condition imposed on the practitioner’s registration or endorsement; or

(ii)to change or revoke an undertaking given by the practitioner;

or

(b)for a student —

(i)to change or remove a condition imposed on the student’s registration; or

(ii)to change or revoke an undertaking given by the student to the Board.

(2)However, the registered health practitioner or student may not make an application —

(a)during a review period applying to the condition or undertaking, unless the practitioner or student reasonably believes there has been a material change in the practitioner’s or student’s circumstances; or

(b)for a condition imposed by an adjudication body for a co‑regulatory jurisdiction, unless the adjudication body decided, when imposing the condition or at a later time, that this Subdivision applied to the condition.

(3)An application under subsection (1) must —

(a)be in the form approved by the National Board; and

(b)be accompanied by any other information reasonably required by the Board.

(4)For the purposes of deciding the application, the National Board may exercise a power under section 80 as if the application were an application for registration as a registered health practitioner.

(5)The National Board must decide to grant the application or refuse to grant the application.

(6)If the National Board’s decision results in the registration or endorsement being subject to a condition, or an undertaking is still in place, the Board may decide a review period for the condition or undertaking.

(6A)As soon as practicable after making the decision under subsection (5), the National Board must give written notice to the registered health practitioner or student of —

(a)the decision; and

(b)if the Board has decided a review period for a condition or undertaking — details of the review period.

(7)If the National Board decides to refuse to grant the application, the notice must state —

(a)the decision made by the Board; and

(b)that the registered health practitioner or student may appeal against the decision; and

(c)how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

[Section 125 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 40.]

126.Changing conditions on Board’s initiative

(1)This section applies if a National Board reasonably believes it is necessary to change a condition imposed on the registration of a registered health practitioner or student registered in a health profession for which the Board is established.

(2)The National Board must give the registered health practitioner or student a written notice stating —

(a)that the Board proposes to change the condition; and

(b)how the Board proposes to change the condition; and

(c)the reason for the proposed change; and

(d)that the practitioner or student may, within 30 days after receipt of the notice, make written or verbal submissions to the Board about why the condition should not be changed.

(3)However, the condition may not be changed —

(a)during a review period applying to the condition, unless the National Board reasonably believes there has been a material change in the registered health practitioner’s or student’s circumstances; or

(b)if the condition was imposed by an adjudication body for a co‑regulatory jurisdiction, unless the adjudication body decided, when imposing the condition or at a later time, that this Subdivision applied to the condition.

(4)The registered health practitioner or student may make written or verbal submissions about the proposed change to the condition as stated in the notice.

(5)The National Board must consider any submissions made under subsection (4) and decide whether or not to change the condition.

(6)If the National Board’s decision results in the registration being subject to a condition, the Board may decide a review period for the condition.

(6A)As soon as practicable after making the decision under subsection (5), the National Board must give written notice to the registered health practitioner or student of —

(a)the decision; and

(b)if the Board has decided a review period for a condition — details of the review period.

(7)If the National Board decides to change the condition, the notice must state —

(a)the decision made by the Board; and

(b)that the registered health practitioner or student may appeal against the decision; and

(c)how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

[Section 126 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 41.]

127.Removal of condition or revocation of undertaking

(1)This section applies if a National Board reasonably believes —

(a)that a condition imposed on the registration of a registered health practitioner or student registered in a health profession for which the Board is established is no longer necessary; or

(b)that an undertaking given to the Board by a health practitioner or student registered in a health profession for which the Board is established is no longer necessary.

(2)The National Board may decide to remove the condition or revoke the undertaking.

(3)However, the condition or undertaking may not be removed or revoked —

(a)during a review period applying to the condition or undertaking, unless the National Board reasonably believes there has been a material change in the registered health practitioner’s or student’s circumstances; or

(b)for a condition imposed by an adjudication body for a co‑regulatory jurisdiction, unless the adjudication body decided, when imposing the condition, that this Subdivision applied to the condition.

(4)As soon as practicable after making the decision the National Board must give notice of the decision to the registered health practitioner or student.

(5)The decision takes effect on the date stated in the notice.

[Section 127 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 42.]

127A.When matters under this Subdivision may be decided by review body of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction

(1)This section applies if —

(a)a condition has been imposed on a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration or endorsement, or an undertaking has been given by the practitioner or student; and

(b)a change or removal of the condition, or change or revocation of the undertaking, would usually be decided under this Subdivision; and

(c)the National Board that imposed the condition, or to which the undertaking was given, considers the change or removal, or change or revocation, should be decided by a review body of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction.

(2)The National Board may —

(a)decide that any change or removal, or change or revocation, may be decided by the review body of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction; and

(b)give any relevant documents or information held by the Board to the review body.

(3)If a review body of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction is to decide a matter instead of the Board, the review body must decide the matter under the laws of that jurisdiction.

(4)In this section —

review body means an entity declared by an Act or regulation of a co‑regulatory jurisdiction to be a review body for this section.

[Section 127A inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 43.]

Subdivision 3 — Obligations of registered health practitioners and students

128.Continuing professional development

(1)A registered health practitioner must undertake the continuing professional development required by an approved registration standard for the health profession in which the practitioner is registered.

(2)A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(3)In this section —

registered health practitioner does not include a registered health practitioner who holds non‑practicing registration in the profession.

129.Professional indemnity insurance arrangements

(1)A registered health practitioner must not practise the health profession in which the practitioner is registered unless appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements are in force in relation to the practitioner’s practice of the profession.

(2)A National Board may, at any time by written notice, require a registered health practitioner registered in a health profession for which the Board is established to give the Board evidence of the appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements that are in force in relation to the practitioner’s practice of the profession.

(3)A registered health practitioner must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with a written notice given to the practitioner under subsection (2).

(4)A contravention of subsection (1) or (3) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(5)In this section —

registered health practitioner does not include a registered health practitioner who holds non‑practicing registration in the profession.

[Section 129 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 44.]

130.Registered health practitioner or student to give National Board notice of certain events

(1)A registered health practitioner or student must, within 7 days after becoming aware that a relevant event has occurred in relation to the practitioner or student, give the National Board established for the practitioner’s or student’s health profession written notice of the event.

(2)A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner or student does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(3)In this section —

relevant event means —

(a)in relation to a registered health practitioner —

(i)the practitioner is charged, whether in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere, with an offence punishable by 12 months imprisonment or more; or

(ii)the practitioner is convicted of or the subject of a finding of guilt for an offence, whether in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere, punishable by imprisonment; or

(iii)appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements are no longer in place in relation to the practitioner’s practice of the profession; or

(iv)the practitioner’s right to practise at a hospital or another facility at which health services are provided is withdrawn or restricted because of the practitioner’s conduct, professional performance or health; or

(v)the practitioner’s billing privileges are withdrawn or restricted under the Medicare Australia Act 1973 3 (Commonwealth) because of the practitioner’s conduct, professional performance or health; or

(vi)the practitioner’s authority under a law of a State or Territory to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use a scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines is cancelled or restricted; or

(vii)a complaint is made about the practitioner to an entity referred to in section 219(1)(a) to (e); or

(viii)the practitioner’s registration under the law of another country that provides for the registration of health practitioners is suspended or cancelled or made subject to a condition or another restriction;

or

(b)in relation to a student —

(i)the student is charged with an offence punishable by 12 months imprisonment or more; or

(ii)the student is convicted of or the subject of a finding of guilt for an offence punishable by imprisonment; or

(iii)the student’s registration under the law of another country that provides for the registration of students has been suspended or cancelled.

[Section 130 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 45.]

131.Change in principal place of practice, address or name

(1)A registered health practitioner must, within 30 days of any of the following changes happening, give the National Board established for the practitioner’s health profession written notice of the change and any evidence providing proof of the change required by the Board —

(a)a change in the practitioner’s principal place of practice;

(b)a change in the address provided by the registered health practitioner as the address the Board should use in corresponding with the practitioner;

(c)a change in the practitioner’s name.

(2)A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

[Section 131 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 46.]

132.National Board may ask registered health practitioner for practice information

(1)A National Board may, at any time by written notice given to a health practitioner registered in a health profession for which the Board is established, ask the practitioner to give the Board a written notice containing practice information for the practitioner.

(2)The registered health practitioner must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with the notice from the Board.

(3)A contravention of subsection (2) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(4)In this section —

practice information, for a registered health practitioner practising in the health profession for which the practitioner is registered, means each of the following if it applies to the practitioner —

(a)if the practitioner is self‑employed and shares premises with other registered health practitioners with whom the practitioner shares the cost of the premises —

(i)that the practitioner is self‑employed; and

(ii)the address of each of the premises at which the practitioner practises; and

(iii)if the practitioner practises under a business name or names, each business name; and

(iv)the names of the other registered health practitioners with whom the practitioner shares premises;

(b)if the practitioner is self‑employed and paragraph (a) does not apply — that the practitioner is self‑employed, the address of each of the premises at which the practitioner practises and, if the practitioner practises under a business name or names, each business name;

(c)if the practitioner is engaged by one or more entities under a contract of employment, contract for services or any other arrangement or agreement — the name, address and contact details of each entity;

(d)if the practitioner is providing services for or on behalf of one or more entities, whether in an honorary capacity, as a volunteer or otherwise, and whether or not the practitioner receives payment from an entity for the services — the name, address and contact details of each entity;

Example for paragraph (d):

A physiotherapist practises physiotherapy as a volunteer at a sporting club or charity under an arrangement with that entity.

(e)if the practitioner practises under a name or names that are not the same as the name under which the practitioner is registered under this Law — the other name or names;

premises at which the practitioner practises does not include the residential premises of a patient of the practitioner.

[Section 132 inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 47.]

Subdivision 4 — Advertising

133.Advertising

(1)A person must not advertise a regulated health service, or a business that provides a regulated health service, in a way that —

(a)is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to be misleading or deceptive; or

(b)offers a gift, discount or other inducement to attract a person to use the service or the business, unless the advertisement also states the terms and conditions of the offer; or

(c)uses testimonials or purported testimonials about the service or business; or

(d)creates an unreasonable expectation of beneficial treatment; or

(e)directly or indirectly encourages the indiscriminate or unnecessary use of regulated health services.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $5 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $10 000.

(2)A person does not commit an offence against subsection (1) merely because the person, as part of the person’s business, prints or publishes an advertisement for another person.

(3)In proceedings for an offence against this section, a court may have regard to a guideline approved by a National Board about the advertising of regulated health services.

(4)In this section —

regulated health service means a service provided by, or usually provided by, a health practitioner.

[Section 133 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 98(1).]

Subdivision 5 — Board’s powers to check identity and criminal history

134.Evidence of identity

(1)A National Board may, at any time, require a registered health practitioner to provide evidence of the practitioner’s identity.

(2)A requirement under subsection (1) must be made by written notice given to the registered health practitioner.

(3)The registered health practitioner must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with the notice.

(4)A contravention of subsection (3) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(5)If a registered health practitioner gives a National Board a document as evidence of the practitioner’s identity under this section, the Board may, by written notice, ask the entity that issued the document —

(a)to confirm the validity of the document; or

(b)to give the Board other information relevant to the practitioner’s identity.

(6)An entity given a notice under subsection (5) is authorised to provide the information requested.

135.Criminal history check

(1)A National Board may, at any time, obtain a written report about a registered health practitioner’s criminal history from any of the following —

(a)the ACC;

(b)a police commissioner;

(c)an entity in a jurisdiction outside Australia that has access to records about the criminal history of persons in that jurisdiction.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), a report may be obtained under that subsection —

(a)to check a statement made by a registered health practitioner in the practitioner’s application for renewal of registration; or

(b)as part of an audit carried out by a National Board, to check statements made by registered health practitioners.

(3)A criminal history law does not apply to a report under subsection (1).

[Section 135 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 48.]

Subdivision 6 — General

136.Directing or inciting unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct

(1)A person must not direct or incite a registered health practitioner to do anything, in the course of the practitioner’s practice of the health profession, that amounts to unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $30 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $60 000.

(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who is the owner or operator of a public health facility.

[Section 136 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 98(1).]

137.Surrender of registration

(1)A registered health practitioner may, by written notice given to the National Board established for the practitioner’s health profession, surrender the practitioner’s registration.

(2)The surrender of the registration takes effect on —

(a)the day the National Board receives the notice under subsection (1); or

(b)the later day stated in the notice.

[Section 137 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 49.]

Part 8 — Health, performance and conduct

Division 1 — Preliminary

138.Part applicable to persons formerly registered under this Law

(1)This section applies if a person was, but is no longer, registered in a health profession under this Law.

(2)A notification may be made, and proceedings may be taken, under this Part in relation to the person’s behaviour while registered as if the person were still registered under this Law by the National Board established for the health profession.

(3)For the purposes of subsection (2), this Part (other than Divisions 2 and 6) applies, with any necessary changes, to the person as if a reference to a registered health practitioner included that person.

139.Part applicable to persons formerly registered under corresponding prior Act in certain circumstances

(1)This section applies if a person —

(a)was registered in a health profession under a corresponding prior Act; and

(b)is not, and has not been, registered in the health profession under this Law.

(2)A notification may be made, and proceedings may be taken, under this Part in relation to the person’s behaviour while registered under the corresponding prior Act as if the person were registered under this Law by the National Board established for the health profession.

(3)However, subsection (2) applies only to the extent —

(a)a notification about the person’s behaviour could have been made under the corresponding prior Act; and

(b)proceedings of that type could have been taken under the corresponding prior Act.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (2), this Part (other than Divisions 2 and 7) applies, with any necessary changes, to the person as if a reference to a registered health practitioner included that person.

Division 2 — Mandatory notifications

140.Term used: notifiable conduct

In this Division —

notifiable conduct, in relation to a registered health practitioner, means the practitioner has —

(a)practised the practitioner’s profession while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs; or

(b)engaged in sexual misconduct in connection with the practice of the practitioner’s profession; or

(c)placed the public at risk of substantial harm in the practitioner’s practice of the profession because the practitioner has an impairment; or

(d)placed the public at risk of harm because the practitioner has practised the profession in a way that constitutes a significant departure from accepted professional standards.

141.Mandatory notifications by health practitioners

(1)This section applies to a registered health practitioner (the first health practitioner) who, in the course of practising the first health practitioner’s profession, forms a reasonable belief that —

(a)another registered health practitioner (the second health practitioner) has behaved in a way that constitutes notifiable conduct; or

(b)a student has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

(2)The first health practitioner must, as soon as practicable after forming the reasonable belief, notify the National Agency of the second health practitioner’s notifiable conduct or the student’s impairment.

Note:See section 237 which provides protection from civil, criminal and administrative liability for persons who, in good faith, make a notification under this Law. Section 237(3) provides that the making of a notification does not constitute a breach of professional etiquette or ethics or a departure from accepted standards of professional conduct and nor is any liability for defamation incurred.

(3)A contravention of subsection (2) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which action may be taken under this Part.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (1), the first health practitioner does not form the reasonable belief in the course of practising the profession if —

(a)the first health practitioner —

(i)is employed or otherwise engaged by an insurer that provides professional indemnity insurance that relates to the second health practitioner or student; and

(ii)forms the reasonable belief the second health practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes notifiable conduct, or the student has an impairment, as a result of a disclosure made by a person to the first health practitioner in the course of a legal proceeding or the provision of legal advice arising from the insurance policy;

or

(b)the first health practitioner forms the reasonable belief in the course of providing advice in relation to the notifiable conduct or impairment for the purposes of a legal proceeding or the preparation of legal advice; or

(c)the first health practitioner is a legal practitioner and forms the reasonable belief in the course of providing legal services to the second health practitioner or student in relation to a legal proceeding or the preparation of legal advice in which the notifiable conduct or impairment is an issue; or

(ca)the first health practitioner forms the reasonable belief in the course of providing health services to the second health practitioner or student; or

(d)the first health practitioner —

(i)forms the reasonable belief in the course of exercising functions as a member of a quality assurance committee, council or other body approved or authorised under an Act of a participating jurisdiction; and

(ii)is unable to disclose the information that forms the basis of the reasonable belief because a provision of that Act prohibits the disclosure of the information;

or

(e)the first health practitioner knows, or reasonably believes, the National Agency has been notified of the notifiable conduct or impairment that forms the basis of the reasonable belief.

[Section 141 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 50.]

142.Mandatory notifications by employers

(1)If an employer of a registered health practitioner reasonably believes the health practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes notifiable conduct, the employer must notify the National Agency of the notifiable conduct.

Note:See section 237 which provides protection from civil, criminal and administrative liability for persons who, in good faith, make a notification under this Law. Section 237(3) provides that the making of a notification does not constitute a breach of professional etiquette or ethics or a departure from accepted standards of professional conduct and nor is any liability for defamation incurred.

(2)If the National Agency becomes aware that an employer of a registered health practitioner has failed to notify the Agency of notifiable conduct as required by subsection (1), the Agency must give a written report about the failure to the responsible Minister for the participating jurisdiction in which the notifiable conduct occurred.

(3)As soon as practicable after receiving a report under subsection (2), the responsible Minister must report the employer’s failure to notify the Agency of the notifiable conduct to a health complaints entity, the employer’s licensing authority or another appropriate entity in that participating jurisdiction.

(4)In this section —

employer, of a registered health practitioner, means an entity that employs the health practitioner under a contract of employment or a contract for services;

licensing authority, of an employer, means an entity that under a law of a participating jurisdiction is responsible for licensing, registering or authorising the employer to conduct the employer’s business.

143.Mandatory notifications by education providers

(1)An education provider must notify the National Agency if the provider reasonably believes —

(a)a student enrolled in a programme of study provided by the provider has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training as part of the programme of study, may place the public at substantial risk of harm; or

(b)a student for whom the education provider has arranged clinical training has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking the clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

Note:See section 237 which provides protection from civil, criminal and administrative liability for persons who make a notification under this Law. Section 237(3) provides that the making of a notification does not constitute a breach of professional etiquette or ethics or a departure from accepted standards of professional conduct and nor is any liability for defamation incurred.

(2)A contravention of subsection (1) does not constitute an offence.

(3)However, if an education provider does not comply with subsection (1) —

(a)the National Board established for the student’s health profession must publish details of the failure on the Board’s website; and

(b)the National Agency may, on the recommendation of the National Board, include a statement about the failure in the Agency’s annual report.

[Section 143 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 51.]

Division 3 — Voluntary notifications

144.Grounds for voluntary notification

(1)A voluntary notification about a registered health practitioner may be made to the National Agency on any of the following grounds —

(a)that the practitioner’s professional conduct is, or may be, of a lesser standard than that which might reasonably be expected of the practitioner by the public or the practitioner’s professional peers;

(b)that the knowledge, skill or judgment possessed, or care exercised by, the practitioner in the practice of the practitioner’s health profession is, or may be, below the standard reasonably expected;

(c)that the practitioner is not, or may not be, a suitable person to hold registration in the health profession, including, for example, that the practitioner is not a fit and proper person to be registered in the profession;

(d)that the practitioner has, or may have, an impairment;

(e)that the practitioner has, or may have, contravened this Law;

(f)that the practitioner has, or may have, contravened a condition of the practitioner’s registration or an undertaking given by the practitioner to a National Board;

(g)that the practitioner’s registration was, or may have been, improperly obtained because the practitioner or someone else gave the National Board information or a document that was false or misleading in a material particular.

(2)A voluntary notification about a student may be made to the National Agency on the grounds that —

(a)the student has been charged with an offence, or has been convicted or found guilty of an offence, that is punishable by 12 months imprisonment or more; or

(b)the student has, or may have, an impairment; or

(c)that the student has, or may have, contravened a condition of the student’s registration or an undertaking given by the student to a National Board.

145.Who may make voluntary notification

Any entity that believes that a ground on which a voluntary notification may be made exists in relation to a registered health practitioner or a student may notify the National Agency.

Note:See section 237 which provides protection from civil, criminal and administrative liability for persons who, in good faith, make a notification under this Law.

Division 4 — Making a notification

146.How notification is made

(1)A notification may be made to the National Agency —

(a)verbally, including by telephone; or

(b)in writing, including by email or other electronic means.

(2)A notification must include particulars of the basis on which it is made.

(3)If a notification is made verbally, the National Agency must make a record of the notification.

147.National Agency to provide reasonable assistance to notifier

(1)The National Agency must, if asked by an entity, give the entity reasonable assistance to make a notification about a registered health practitioner or student.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the National Agency may assist an entity to make a notification if —

(a)the entity is not able to put the entity’s notification in writing without assistance; or

(b)the entity needs assistance to clarify the nature of the individual’s notification.

Division 5 — Preliminary assessment

148.Referral of notification to National Board or co‑regulatory authority

(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the National Agency must, as soon as practicable after receiving a notification about a registered health practitioner or a student, refer the notification to the National Board established for the practitioner’s or student’s health profession.

(2)If the behaviour that is the basis for the ground for the notification occurred, or is reasonably believed to have occurred, in a co‑regulatory jurisdiction, the National Agency —

(a)must not deal with the notification; and

(b)must, as soon as practicable after receiving the notification, refer the notification to the co‑regulatory authority for the co‑regulatory jurisdiction.

(3)If the behaviour that is the basis for the ground for the notification occurred, or is reasonably believed to have occurred, in more than one jurisdiction and one of the jurisdictions is a co‑regulatory jurisdiction, the National Agency must —

(a)if the registered health practitioner’s principal place of practice is in the co‑regulatory jurisdiction, refer the notification under subsection (2); or

(b)otherwise, refer the notification under subsection (1).

[Section 148 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 52.]

149.Preliminary assessment

(1)A National Board must, within 60 days after receipt of a notification, conduct a preliminary assessment of the notification and decide —

(a)whether or not the notification relates to a person who is a health practitioner or a student registered in a health profession for which the Board is established; and

(b)whether or not the notification relates to a matter that is a ground for notification; and

(c)if the notification is a notification referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), whether or not it is a notification that could also be made to a health complaints entity.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1)(b), the National Board may decide the notification relates to a matter that is a ground for notification under section 144 on the basis of —

(a)a single notification about a person; or

(b)a number of notifications about a person including —

(i)a number of notifications that suggest a pattern of conduct; and

(ii)notifications made to a health complaints entity.

(3)If the National Board decides the notification relates to a person who is not registered in a health profession for which the Board is established but the Board reasonably suspects the person is registered in a health profession for which another National Board is established, the Board must refer the notification to that other Board.

[Section 149 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 53.]

150.Relationship with health complaints entity

(1)If the subject matter of a notification would also provide a ground for a complaint to a health complaints entity under a law of a participating jurisdiction, the National Board that received the notification must, as soon as practicable after its receipt —

(a)notify the health complaints entity that the Board has received the notification; and

(b)give to the health complaints entity —

(i)a copy of the notification or, if the notification was not made in writing, a copy of the National Agency’s record of the details of the notification; and

(ii)any other information the Board has that is relevant to the notification.

(2)If a health complaints entity receives a complaint about a health practitioner, the health complaints entity must, as soon as practicable after its receipt —

(a)notify the National Board established for the practitioner’s health profession that the health complaints entity has received the complaint; and

(b)give to the National Board —

(i)a copy of the complaint or, if the complaint was not made in writing, a copy of the health complaints entity’s record of the details of the complaint; and

(ii)any other information the health complaints entity has that is relevant to the complaint.

(3)The National Board and the health complaints entity must attempt to reach agreement about how the notification or complaint is to be dealt with, including —

(a)whether the Board is to deal with the notification or complaint, or part of the notification or complaint, or to decide to take no further action in relation to it; and

(b)if the Board is to deal with the notification or complaint or part of the notification or complaint, the action the Board is to take.

(4)If the National Board and the health complaints entity are not able to reach agreement on how the notification or complaint, or part of the notification or complaint, is to be dealt with, the most serious action proposed by either must be taken.

(5)If an investigation or other action, other than conciliation, taken by a health complaints entity raises issues about the health, conduct or performance of a registered health practitioner, the health complaints entity must give the National Board established for the practitioner’s health profession written notice of the issues.

(6)If a notification, or part of a notification, received by a National Board is referred to a health complaints entity, the Board may decide to take no further action in relation to the notification or the part of the notification until the entity gives the Board written notice that the entity has finished dealing with it.

(7)If a National Board or an adjudication body takes health, conduct or performance action in relation to a registered health practitioner, the Board established for the practitioner’s health profession must give written notice of the action to the health complaints entity for the participating jurisdiction in which the behaviour that provided the basis for the action occurred.

(8)A written notice under subsection (5) or (7) must include —

(a)sufficient particulars to identify the registered health practitioner; and

(b)details of —

(i)the issues raised about the health, conduct or performance of the registered health practitioner; or

(ii)the health, conduct or performance action taken in relation to the registered health practitioner.

[Section 150 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 54.]

151.When National Board may decide to take no further action

(1)A National Board may decide to take no further action in relation to a notification if —

(a)the Board reasonably believes the notification is frivolous, vexatious, misconceived or lacking in substance; or

(b)given the amount of time that has elapsed since the matter the subject of the notification occurred, it is not practicable for the Board to investigate or otherwise deal with the notification; or

(c)the person to whom the notification relates has not been, or is no longer, registered in a health profession for which the Board is established and it is not in the public interest for the Board to investigate or otherwise deal with the notification; or

(d)the subject matter of the notification has already been dealt with adequately by the Board; or

(e)the subject matter of the notification —

(i)is being dealt with, or has already been dealt with, by another entity; or

(ii)has been referred by the Board to another entity to be dealt with by that entity;

or

(f)the health practitioner to whom the notification relates has taken appropriate steps to remedy the matter the subject of the notification and the Board reasonably believes no further action is required in relation to the notification.

(2)A decision by a National Board to decide to take no further action in relation to a notification does not prevent a National Board or adjudication body taking the notification into consideration at a later time as part of a pattern of conduct or practice by the health practitioner.

(3)If a National Board decides to take no further action in relation to a notification it must give written notice of the decision to the notifier.

(4)A notice under subsection (3) must state —

(a)that the National Board has decided to take no further action in relation to the notification; and

(b)the reason the Board has decided to take no further action.

[Section 151 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 55.]

152.National Board to give notice of receipt of notification

(1)A National Board must, as soon as practicable after receiving a notification about a registered health practitioner or student, give written notice of the notification to the practitioner or student.

(2)The notice must advise the registered health practitioner or student of the nature of the notification.

(3)Despite subsection (1), the National Board is not required to give the registered health practitioner or student notice of the notification if the Board reasonably believes doing so would —

(a)prejudice an investigation of the notification; or

(b)place at risk a person’s health or safety or place a person at risk of intimidation or harassment.

Division 6 — Other matters

153.National Board may deal with notifications about same person together

If the National Agency receives more than one notification about a registered health practitioner or student, the National Board established for the health profession in which the practitioner or student is registered may deal with the notifications together.

154.National Boards may deal with notifications collaboratively

(1)This section applies if a notification received by a National Board relates to —

(a)a registered health practitioner who is registered in more than one health profession; or

(b)more than one registered health practitioner and the practitioners are registered in 2 or more different health professions; or

(c)a person who is registered as a student in more than one health profession; or

(d)more than one student and the students are registered in 2 or more different health professions.

(2)The National Board may deal with the notification in conjunction with one or more other National Boards with whom the registered health practitioner or practitioners, or student or students, are registered.

Division 7 — Immediate action

155.Term used: immediate action

In this Division —

immediate action, in relation to a registered health practitioner or student, means —

(a)the suspension, or imposition of a condition on, the health practitioner’s or student’s registration; or

(b)accepting an undertaking from the health practitioner or student; or

(c)accepting the surrender of the health practitioner’s or student’s registration; or

(d)if immediate action has previously been taken suspending a health practitioner’s or student’s registration — the revocation of the suspension and the imposition of a condition on the registration; or

(e)if immediate action has previously been taken imposing a condition on a health practitioner’s or student’s registration — the suspension of the registration instead of the condition.

[Section 155 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 56.]

156.Power to take immediate action

(1)A National Board may take immediate action in relation to a registered health practitioner or student registered in a health profession for which the Board is established if —

(a)the National Board reasonably believes that —

(i)because of the registered health practitioner’s conduct, performance or health, the practitioner poses a serious risk to persons; and

(ii)it is necessary to take immediate action to protect public health or safety;

or

(b)the National Board reasonably believes that —

(i)the student poses a serious risk to persons because the student —

(I)has been charged with an offence, or has been convicted or found guilty of an offence, that is punishable by 12 months imprisonment or more; or

(II)has, or may have, an impairment; or

(III)has, or may have, contravened a condition of the student’s registration or an undertaking given by the student to a National Board;

and

(ii)it is necessary to take immediate action to protect public health or safety;

or

(c)the registered health practitioner’s registration was improperly obtained because the practitioner or someone else gave the National Board information or a document that was false or misleading in a material particular; or

(d)the registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration has been cancelled or suspended under the law of a jurisdiction, whether in Australia or elsewhere, that is not a participating jurisdiction; or

(e)the National Board reasonably believes the action is otherwise in the public interest.

Example of when action may be taken in the public interest:

A registered health practitioner is charged with a serious criminal offence, unrelated to the practitioner’s practice, for which immediate action is required to be taken to maintain public confidence in the provision of services by health practitioners.

(2)However, the National Board may take immediate action that consists of suspending, or imposing a condition on, the health practitioner’s or student’s registration only if the Board has complied with section 157.

[Section 156 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 57.]

157.Show cause process

(1)If a National Board is proposing to take immediate action that consists of suspending, or imposing a condition on, a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration under section 156, the Board must —

(a)give the practitioner or student notice of the proposed immediate action; and

(b)invite the practitioner or student to make a submission to the Board, within the time stated in the notice about the proposed immediate action.

(2)A notice given to a registered health practitioner or student under subsection (1), and any submissions made by the practitioner or student in accordance with the notice, may be written or verbal.

(3)The National Board must have regard to any submissions made by the registered health practitioner or student in accordance with this section in deciding whether to take immediate action in relation to the practitioner or student.

158.Notice to be given to registered health practitioner or student about immediate action

(1)Immediately after deciding to take immediate action in relation to a registered health practitioner or student, the National Board must —

(a)give written notice of the Board’s decision to the health practitioner or student; and

(b)take the further action under this Part the Board considers appropriate, including, for example, investigating the practitioner or student or requiring the practitioner or student to undergo a health or performance assessment.

(2)The notice must state —

(a)the immediate action the National Board has decided to take; and

(b)the reasons for the decision to take the immediate action; and

(c)the further action the National Board proposes to take under this Part in relation to the health practitioner or student; and

(d)that the registered health practitioner or student may appeal against the decision to take the immediate action if the action is to suspend, or impose a condition on, the practitioner’s or student’s registration; and

(e)how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

159.Period of immediate action

(1)The decision by the National Board to take immediate action in relation to the registered health practitioner or student takes effect on —

(a)the day the notice is given to the practitioner or student; or

(b)the later day stated in the notice.

(2)The decision continues to have effect until the earlier of the following occurs —

(a)the decision is set aside on appeal;

(b)for the suspension of, or imposition of conditions on, the registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration, the suspension is revoked, or the conditions are removed, by the National Board;

(c)for an undertaking, the National Board and the registered health practitioner or student agree to end the undertaking.

159A.Board may give information to notifier about immediate action

(1)This section applies if a notification about a registered health practitioner or student results in immediate action by a National Board under this Division in relation to the practitioner or student.

(2)After deciding to take the immediate action, the National Board may inform the notifier who made the notification of the decision and the reasons for the decision.

[Section 159A inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 58.]

Division 8 — Investigations

Subdivision 1 — Preliminary

160.When investigation may be conducted

(1)A National Board may investigate a registered health practitioner or student registered in a health profession for which the Board is established if it decides it is necessary or appropriate —

(a)because the Board has received a notification about the practitioner or student; or

(b)because the Board for any other reason believes —

(i)the practitioner or student has or may have an impairment; or

(ii)for a practitioner —

(I)the way the practitioner practises the profession is or may be unsatisfactory; or

(II)the practitioner’s conduct is or may be unsatisfactory;

or

(c)to ensure the practitioner or student —

(i)is complying with conditions imposed on the practitioner’s or student’s registration; or

(ii)is complying with an undertaking given by the practitioner or student to the Board.

(2)If a National Board decides to investigate a registered health practitioner or student it must direct an appropriate investigator to conduct the investigation.

[Section 160 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 59.]

161.Registered health practitioner or student to be given notice of investigation

(1)A National Board that decides to investigate a registered health practitioner or student must, as soon as practicable after making the decision, give the practitioner or student written notice about the investigation.

(2)The notice must advise the registered health practitioner or student of the nature of the matter being investigated.

(3)Also, the National Board must, at not less than 3 monthly intervals, give the written notice of the progress of the investigation to —

(a)the registered health practitioner or student; and

(b)if the investigation relates to a notification made about the registered health practitioner or student, the notifier.

(4)However, the National Board need not give the registered health practitioner or student a notice under subsection (1) or (3) if the Board reasonably believes giving the notice may —

(a)seriously prejudice the investigation; or

(b)place at risk a person’s health or safety; or

(c)place a person at risk of harassment or intimidation.

162.Investigation to be conducted in timely way

The National Board must ensure an investigator it directs to conduct an investigation conducts the investigation as quickly as practicable, having regard to the nature of the matter to be investigated.

Subdivision 2 — Investigators

163.Appointment of investigators

(1)A National Board may appoint the following persons as investigators —

(a)members of the National Agency’s staff;

(b)contractors engaged by the National Agency.

(2)An investigator holds office on the conditions stated in the instrument of appointment.

(3)If an investigator’s appointment provides for a term of appointment, the investigator ceases holding office at the end of the term.

(4)An investigator may resign by signed notice of resignation given to the National Board which appointed the investigator.

(5)Schedule 5 sets out provisions relating to the powers of an investigator.

164.Identity card

(1)A National Board must give an identity card to each investigator it appoints.

(2)The identity card must —

(a)contain a recent photograph of the investigator; and

(b)be signed by the investigator; and

(c)identify the person as an investigator appointed by the National Board; and

(d)include an expiry date.

(3)This section does not prevent the issue of a single identity card to a person —

(a)if the person is appointed as an investigator for this Law by more than one National Board; or

(b)for this Law and other Acts.

(4)A person who ceases to be an investigator must give the person’s identity card to the National Board that appointed the person within 7 days after the person ceases to be an investigator, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

165.Display of identity card

(1)An investigator may exercise a power in relation to someone else (the other person) only if the investigator —

(a)first produces the investigator’s identity card for the other person’s inspection; or

(b)has the identity card displayed so it is clearly visible to the other person.

(2)However, if for any reason it is not practicable to comply with subsection (1) before exercising the power, the investigator must produce the identity card for the other person’s inspection at the first reasonable opportunity.

Subdivision 3 — Procedure after investigation

166.Investigator’s report about investigation

(1)As soon as practicable after completing an investigation under this Division, an investigator must give a written report about the investigation to the National Board that directed the investigator to carry out the investigation.

(2)The report must include —

(a)the investigator’s findings about the investigation; and

(b)the investigator’s recommendations about any action to be taken in relation to the health practitioner or student the subject of the investigation.

167.Decision by National Board

After considering the investigator’s report, the National Board must decide —

(a)to take no further action in relation to the matter; or

(b)to do either or both of the following —

(i)take the action the Board considers necessary or appropriate under another Division;

(ii)refer the matter to another entity, including, for example, a health complaints entity, for investigation or other action.

167A.Board may give information to notifier about result of investigation

(1)This section applies if a notification about a registered health practitioner or student results in a decision by a National Board under section 167 in relation to the practitioner or student.

(2)After making the decision, the National Board may inform the notifier who made the notification of the decision and the reasons for the decision.

[Section 167A inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 60.]

Division 9 — Health and performance assessments

168.Term used: assessment

In this Division —

assessment means —

(a)a health assessment; or

(b)a performance assessment.

169.Requirement for health assessment

A National Board may require a registered health practitioner or student to undergo a health assessment if the Board reasonably believes, because of a notification or for any other reason, that the practitioner or student has, or may have, an impairment.

170.Requirement for performance assessment

A National Board may require a registered health practitioner to undergo a performance assessment if the Board reasonably believes, because of a notification or for any other reason, that the way the practitioner practises the profession is or may be unsatisfactory.

171.Appointment of assessor to carry out assessment

(1)If the National Board requires a registered health practitioner or student to undergo an assessment, the National Agency must appoint an assessor chosen by the Board to carry out the assessment.

(2)The assessor must be —

(a)for a health assessment, a medical practitioner or psychologist who is not a member of the National Board; or

(b)for a performance assessment, a registered health practitioner who —

(i)is a member of the same health profession as the registered health practitioner or student undergoing assessment; but

(ii)is not a member of the National Board established for that profession.

(3)The assessor may ask another health practitioner to assist the assessor in carrying out the assessment of the registered health practitioner or student.

(4)The assessor’s fee for carrying out the assessment is to be paid out of the National Board’s budget.

[Section 171 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 61.]

172.Notice to be given to registered health practitioner or student about assessment

(1)A requirement by a National Board for a registered health practitioner or student to undergo an assessment must be made by written notice given to the practitioner or student.

(2)The written notice must state —

(a)that the registered health practitioner or student is required to undergo a health assessment or performance assessment; and

(b)the nature of the assessment to be carried out; and

(c)the name and qualifications of the registered health practitioner who is to carry out the assessment; and

(d)that if the registered health practitioner or student does not undergo the assessment the National Board may continue to take proceedings in relation to the practitioner or student under this Part.

173.Assessor may require information or attendance

For the purposes of conducting an assessment of a registered health practitioner or student, an assessor may, by written notice given to the practitioner or student, require the practitioner or student to —

(a)give stated information to the assessor within a stated reasonable time and in a stated reasonable way; or

(b)attend before the assessor at a stated time and a stated place to undergo the assessment.

Example of stated place:

The registered health practitioner’s principal place of practice.

174.Inspection of documents

(1)If a document is produced to an assessor, the assessor may —

(a)inspect the document; and

(b)make a copy of, or take an extract from, the document; and

(c)keep the document while it is necessary for the assessment.

(2)If the assessor keeps the document, the assessor must permit a person otherwise entitled to possession of the document to inspect, make a copy of, or take an extract from, the document at the reasonable time and place decided by the assessor.

175.Report from assessor

The assessor must, as soon as practicable after carrying out the assessment, give to the National Board a report about the assessment.

176.Copy of report to be given to health practitioner or student

(1)The National Board must, as soon as practicable after receiving the assessor’s report, give a copy of the report to —

(a)the registered health practitioner or student to whom it relates; or

(b)if the report contains information the Board considers may, if disclosed to the practitioner or student, be prejudicial to the practitioner’s or student’s physical or mental health or wellbeing, to a medical practitioner or psychologist nominated by the practitioner or student.

(2)If a medical practitioner or psychologist is given a copy of a report about a registered health practitioner or student under subsection (1)(b), the medical practitioner or psychologist must give a copy of the report to the practitioner or student as soon as it will no longer be prejudicial to the practitioner’s or student’s health or wellbeing.

(3)After the registered health practitioner or student has been given a copy of the report under subsection (1)(a) or (2), a person nominated by the Board must —

(a)discuss the report with the practitioner or student; and

(b)if the report makes an adverse finding about the practitioner’s practice of the profession or states that the assessor finds the practitioner has an impairment, discuss with the practitioner ways of dealing with the finding, including, for a practitioner, whether the practitioner is prepared to alter the way the practitioner practises the health profession.

177.Decision by National Board

After considering the assessor’s report and the discussions held with the registered health practitioner or student under section 176(3), the National Board may decide to —

(a)take the action the Board considers necessary or appropriate under another Division; or

(b)refer the matter to another entity, including, for example, a health complaints entity, for investigation or other action; or

(c)take no further action in relation to the matter.

177A.Board may give information to notifier about decision following assessor’s report

(1)This section applies if a notification about a registered health practitioner or student results in a decision by a National Board under section 177 in relation to the practitioner or student.

(2)After making the decision, the National Board may inform the notifier who made the notification of the decision and the reasons for the decision.

[Section 177A inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 62.]

Division 10 — Action by National Board

178.National Board may take action

(1)This section applies if —

(a)a National Board reasonably believes, because of a notification or for any other reason —

(i)the way a registered health practitioner registered in a health profession for which the Board is established practises the health profession, or the practitioner’s professional conduct, is or may be unsatisfactory; or

(ii)a registered health practitioner or student registered in a health profession for which the Board is established has or may have an impairment; or

(iii)a student has been charged with an offence, or has been convicted or found guilty of an offence, that is punishable by 12 months imprisonment or more; or

(iv)a student has or may have contravened a condition of the student’s registration or an undertaking given by the student to a National Board;

and

(b)the matter is not required to be referred to a responsible tribunal under section 193; and

(c)the Board decides it is not necessary or appropriate to refer the matter to a panel.

(2)The National Board may decide to take one or more of the following actions (relevant action) in relation to the registered health practitioner or student —

(a)caution the registered health practitioner or student;

(b)accept an undertaking from the registered health practitioner or student;

(c)impose conditions on the practitioner’s or student’s registration, including, for example, in relation to a practitioner —

(i)a condition requiring the practitioner to complete specified further education or training within a specified period; or

(ii)a condition requiring the practitioner to undertake a specified period of supervised practice; or

(iii)a condition requiring the practitioner to do, or refrain from doing, something in connection with the practitioner’s practice; or

(iv)a condition requiring the practitioner to manage the practitioner’s practice in a specified way; or

(v)a condition requiring the practitioner to report to a specified person at specified times about the practitioner’s practice; or

(vi)a condition requiring the practitioner not to employ, engage or recommend a specified person, or class of persons;

(d)refer the matter to another entity, including, for example, a health complaints entity, for investigation or other action.

(3)If the National Board decides to impose a condition on the registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration, the Board must also decide a review period for the condition.

[Section 178 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 63.]

179.Show cause process

(1)If a National Board is proposing to take relevant action in relation to a registered health practitioner or student, the Board must —

(a)give the practitioner or student written notice of the proposed relevant action; and

(b)invite the practitioner or student to make a written or verbal submission to the Board, within the reasonable time stated in the notice, about the proposed relevant action.

(2)After considering any submissions made by the registered health practitioner or student in accordance with this section, the National Board must decide to —

(a)take no action in relation to the matter; or

(b)do either or both of the following —

(i)take the proposed relevant action or other relevant action;

(ii)refer the matter to another entity, including, for example, a health complaints entity, for investigation or other action.

(3)This section does not apply if —

(a)a National Board is proposing to take relevant action in relation to a registered health practitioner or student; and

(b)the National Board has, in relation to the matter that forms the basis for the relevant action —

(i)investigated the registered health practitioner or student under Division 8; or

(ii)conducted a health assessment or performance assessment of the registered health practitioner or student under Division 9.

180.Notice to be given to health practitioner or student and notifier

(1)As soon as practicable after making a decision under section 178(2) or 179(2), if section 179 does not apply, the National Board must give written notice of the decision to —

(a)the registered health practitioner or student; and

(b)if the decision was the result of a notification, the notifier.

(2)A notice under subsection (1)(b) may also include the reasons for the decision.

[Section 180 inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 64.]

Division 11 — Panels

181.Establishment of health panel

(1)A National Board may establish a health panel if —

(a)the Board reasonably believes, because of a notification or for any other reason, that a registered health practitioner or student has or may have an impairment; and

(b)the Board decides it is necessary or appropriate for the matter to be referred to a panel.

(1A)Also, a National Board must establish a health panel if the suspension of a practitioner’s or student’s registration is to be reconsidered under section 191(4A) or 191A(2)(c).

(2)A health panel must consist of the following members chosen from a list referred to in section 183 —

(a)at least one member who is a registered health practitioner in the same health profession as the registered health practitioner or student the subject of the hearing;

(b)at least one member who is a medical practitioner with expertise relevant to the matter the subject of the hearing;

(c)at least one member who is not, and has not been, a registered health practitioner in the same health profession as the registered health practitioner or student the subject of the hearing.

(3)In choosing members of the panel, the National Board must, if possible, choose a member from the jurisdiction in which the matter the subject of the hearing occurred.

(4)No more than half of the members of the panel may be registered health practitioners in the same health profession as the registered health practitioner or student the subject of the hearing.

(5)However, for subsection (4), if the subject of the hearing is a registered health practitioner who is a medical practitioner, a member of the panel referred to in subsection (2)(b) is not to be considered to be registered in the same health profession as the registered health practitioner the subject of the hearing.

(6)A person cannot be appointed to the panel if the person has been involved in any proceedings relating to the matter the subject of the hearing by the panel.

[Section 181 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 65.]

182.Establishment of performance and professional standards panel

(1)A National Board may establish a performance and professional standards panel if —

(a)the Board reasonably believes, because of a notification or for any other reason, that —

(i)the way a registered health practitioner practises the health profession is or may be unsatisfactory; or

(ii)the registered health practitioner’s professional conduct is or may be unsatisfactory;

and

(b)the Board decides it is necessary or appropriate for the matter to be referred to a panel.

(2)A performance and professional standards panel must consist of at least 3 members.

(3)In choosing members of the panel, the National Board must, if possible, choose a member from the jurisdiction in which the matter the subject of the hearing occurred.

(4)At least half, but no more than two‑thirds, of the members of the panel must be persons who are —

(a)registered health practitioners in the same health profession as the registered health practitioner the subject of the hearing; and

(b)chosen from a list approved under section 183.

(5)At least one member must be a person who represents the community and chosen from a list approved under section 183.

(6)A person may not be appointed to the panel if the person has been involved in any proceedings relating to the matter the subject of the hearing by the panel.

[Section 182 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 66.]

183.List of approved persons for appointment to panels

(1)A National Board may appoint individuals to a list of persons approved to be appointed as members of panels.

(2)To the extent practicable, individuals appointed under subsection (1) should not —

(a)for registered health practitioners, be individuals whose principal place of practice is in a co‑regulatory jurisdiction; or

(b)otherwise, be individuals who live in a co‑regulatory jurisdiction.

184.Notice to be given to registered health practitioner or student

(1)A panel must give notice of its hearing of a matter to the registered health practitioner or student the subject of the hearing.

(2)The notice must state —

(a)the day, time and place at which the hearing is to be held; and

(b)the nature of the hearing and the matters to be considered at the hearing; and

(c)that the registered health practitioner or student is required to attend the hearing; and

(d)that the registered health practitioner may be accompanied at the hearing by an Australian legal practitioner or other person; and

(e)that if the registered health practitioner or student fails to attend the hearing the hearing may continue, and the panel may make a decision, in the practitioner’s or student’s absence; and

(f)the types of decision the panel may make at the end of the hearing.

(3)For a panel established under section 181(1A), the panel —

(a)may decide the hearing may be decided entirely on the basis of documents, without parties, their representatives or witnesses appearing at the hearing; and

(b)if the hearing is to be decided entirely on the basis of documents — must give written notice of the decision to the registered health practitioner or student the subject of the hearing.

(4)The health practitioner or student may within 14 days after receiving the notice under subsection (3)(b) give a written notice to the panel —

(a)requesting a hearing; and

(b)undertaking to be available to attend the hearing within 28 days after giving the notice.

(5)If the health practitioner or student gives a notice under subsection (4), the panel must give the health practitioner or student notice under subsection (1) stating a day for the hearing that is not more than 28 days after the practitioner’s or student’s notice was given.

(6)Subsection (1) does not apply if —

(a)the panel makes a decision under subsection (3); and

(b)the health practitioner or student does not give notice under subsection (4).

[Section 184 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 67.]

185.Procedure of panel

(1)Subject to this Division, a panel may decide its own procedures.

(2)A panel is required to observe the principles of natural justice but is not bound by the rules of evidence.

(3)A panel may have regard to —

(a)a report prepared by an assessor about the registered health practitioner or student; and

(b)any other information the panel considers relevant to the hearing of the matter.

186.Legal representation

(1)At a hearing of a panel, the registered health practitioner or student the subject of the hearing may be accompanied by an Australian legal practitioner or another person.

(2)An Australian legal practitioner or other person accompanying the registered health practitioner or student may appear on behalf of the practitioner or student only with the leave of the panel.

(3)The panel may grant leave for an Australian legal practitioner or other person to appear on behalf of the registered health practitioner or student only if the panel considers it appropriate in the particular circumstances of the hearing.

187.Submission by notifier

If a matter the subject of a hearing before a panel relates to a notification, the notifier may, with the leave of the panel, make a submission to the panel about the matter.

188.Panel may proceed in absence of registered health practitioner or student

At a hearing, a panel may proceed in the absence of the registered health practitioner or student the subject of the proceedings if the panel reasonably believes the practitioner or student has been given notice of the hearing.

189.Hearing not open to the public

A hearing before a panel is not open to the public.

190.Referral to responsible tribunal

A panel must stop hearing a matter and require the National Board that established the panel to refer the matter to a responsible tribunal under section 193 if, at any time —

(a)the practitioner or student the subject of the hearing asks the panel for the matter to be referred to a responsible tribunal under section 193; or

(b)if the subject of the hearing is a registered health practitioner —

(i)the panel reasonably believes the evidence demonstrates the practitioner may have behaved in a way that constitutes professional misconduct; or

(ii)the panel reasonably believes the evidence demonstrates the practitioner’s registration may have been improperly obtained because the practitioner or someone else gave the Board information or a document that was false or misleading in a material particular.

191.Decision of panel

(1)After hearing a matter about a registered health practitioner, a panel may decide —

(a)the practitioner has no case to answer and no further action is to be taken in relation to the matter; or

(b)one or more of the following —

(i)the practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes unsatisfactory professional performance;

(ii)the practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes unprofessional conduct;

(iii)the practitioner has an impairment;

(iv)the matter must be referred to a responsible tribunal under section 193;

(v)the matter must be referred to another entity, including, for example, a health complaints entity, for investigation or other action.

(2)After hearing a matter about a student, a health panel may decide —

(a)the student has an impairment; or

(b)the matter must be referred to another entity, including, for example, a health complaints entity, for investigation or other action; or

(c)the student has no case to answer and no further action is to be taken in relation to the matter.

(3)If a panel decides a registered health practitioner or student has an impairment, or that a practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct, the panel may decide to do one or more of the following —

(a)impose conditions on the practitioner’s or student’s registration, including, for example, in relation to a practitioner —

(i)a condition requiring the practitioner to complete specified further education or training within a specified period; or

(ii)a condition requiring the practitioner to undertake a specified period of supervised practice; or

(iii)a condition requiring the practitioner to do, or refrain from doing, something in connection with the practitioner’s practice; or

(iv)a condition requiring the practitioner to manage the practitioner’s practice in a specified way; or

(v)a condition requiring the practitioner to report to a specified person at specified times about the practitioner’s practice; or

(vi)a condition requiring the practitioner not to employ, engage or recommend a specified person, or class of persons;

(b)for a health panel, suspend the practitioner’s or student’s registration;

(c)for a performance and professional standards panel, caution or reprimand the practitioner.

(4)If a panel decides to impose a condition on a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration, the panel must also decide a review period for the condition.

(4A)If a panel suspends a health practitioner’s or student’s registration, the panel must decide a date (the reconsideration date) by which the suspension must be reconsidered by a panel established under section 181(1A).

(5)A decision by a panel that a registered health practitioner has no case to answer in relation to a matter does not prevent a National Board or adjudication body taking the matter into consideration at a later time as part of a pattern of conduct or practice by the health practitioner.

[Section 191 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 68.]

191A.Decision of panel after reconsideration of suspension

(1)This section applies if the suspension of a health practitioner’s or student’s registration is reconsidered by a panel established under section 181(1A).

(2)The panel may —

(a)revoke the suspension; or

(b)revoke the suspension, impose conditions under section 191(3)(a) and decide a review period for the conditions under section 191(4); or

(c)not revoke the suspension and decide a new reconsideration date.

[Section 191A inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 69.]

191B.Change of reconsideration date for suspension of registration

(1)This section applies if the suspension of a health practitioner’s or student’s registration is to be reconsidered by a panel established under section 181(1A) on a reconsideration date.

(2)The panel may decide an earlier reconsideration date if —

(a)the health practitioner or student advises the panel of a material change in the practitioner’s or student’s circumstances and requests an earlier reconsideration date because of the change; and

(b)the panel is reasonably satisfied an earlier reconsideration date is necessary because of the change in circumstances.

(3)For subsection (2), the panel must give the practitioner or student written notice of —

(a)if the panel decides an earlier reconsideration date — the earlier date; or

(b)if the panel decides to refuse the request for an earlier reconsideration date — the panel’s decision and the reasons for the decision.

(4)The panel may decide a later reconsideration date if the panel is reasonably satisfied it is necessary to enable the panel to reconsider the suspension.

Examples of when the panel may be reasonably satisfied a later reconsideration date may be decided:

(a)the health practitioner or student is required for a hearing and cannot attend because of illness;

(b)the panel requires extra time to consider further evidence supplied by the health practitioner or student;

(c)extra time is required to appoint a panel member for a panel member who is ill.

(5)For subsection (4), the panel must give the health practitioner or student written notice of the later reconsideration date and the reasons for the decision.

(6)The suspension of the health practitioner’s or student’s registration remains in force until the panel makes a decision to revoke the suspension.

[Section 191B inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 69.]

192.Notice to be given about panel’s decision

(1)As soon as practicable after making a decision under section 191 or 191A, a panel must give notice of its decision to the National Board that established it.

(2)The National Board must, within 30 days after the panel makes its decision, give written notice of the decision to —

(a)the registered health practitioner or student the subject of the hearing; and

(b)if the hearing related to a notification, the notifier.

(3)The notice given to the registered health practitioner or student must state —

(a)the decision made by the panel; and

(b)the reasons for the decision; and

(c)that the registered health practitioner or student may appeal against the decision; and

(d)how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

(4)A notice under subsection (2)(b) may also include the reasons for the decision.

[Section 192 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 70.]

Division 12 — Referring matter to responsible tribunals

193.Matters to be referred to responsible tribunal

(1)A National Board must refer a matter about a registered health practitioner or student to a responsible tribunal if —

(a)for a registered health practitioner, the Board reasonably believes, based on a notification or for any other reason —

(i)the practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes professional misconduct; or

(ii)the practitioner’s registration was improperly obtained because the practitioner or someone else gave the Board information or a document that was false or misleading in a material particular;

or

(b)for a registered health practitioner or student, a panel established by the Board requires the Board to refer the matter to a responsible tribunal.

(2)The National Board must —

(a)refer the matter to —

(i)the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction in which the behaviour the subject of the matter occurred; or

(ii)if the behaviour occurred in more than one jurisdiction, the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction in which the practitioner’s principal place of practice is located;

and

(b)give written notice of the referral to the registered health practitioner or student to whom the matter relates.

194.Parties to the proceedings

The parties to proceedings relating to a matter being heard by a responsible tribunal are —

(a)the registered health practitioner or student who is the subject of the proceedings; and

(b)the National Board that referred the matter to the tribunal.

195.Costs

The responsible tribunal may make any order about costs it considers appropriate for the proceedings.

196.Decision by responsible tribunal about registered health practitioner

(1)After hearing a matter about a registered health practitioner, a responsible tribunal may decide —

(a)the practitioner has no case to answer and no further action is to be taken in relation to the matter; or

(b)one or more of the following —

(i)the practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes unsatisfactory professional performance;

(ii)the practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes unprofessional conduct;

(iii)the practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes professional misconduct;

(iv)the practitioner has an impairment;

(v)the practitioner’s registration was improperly obtained because the practitioner or someone else gave the National Board established for the practitioner’s health profession information or a document that was false or misleading in a material particular.

(2)If a responsible tribunal makes a decision referred to in subsection (1)(b), the tribunal may decide to do one or more of the following —

(a)caution or reprimand the practitioner;

(b)impose a condition on the practitioner’s registration, including, for example —

(i)a condition requiring the practitioner to complete specified further education or training, or to undergo counselling, within a specified period; or

(ii)a condition requiring the practitioner to undertake a specified period of supervised practice; or

(iii)a condition requiring the practitioner to do, or refrain from doing, something in connection with the practitioner’s practice; or

(iv)a condition requiring the practitioner to manage the practitioner’s practice in a specified way; or

(v)a condition requiring the practitioner to report to a specified person at specified times about the practitioner’s practice; or

(vi)a condition requiring the practitioner not to employ, engage or recommend a specified person, or class of persons;

(c)require the practitioner to pay a fine of not more than $30 000 to the National Board that registers the practitioner;

(d)suspend the practitioner’s registration for a specified period;

(e)cancel the practitioner’s registration.

(3)If the responsible tribunal decides to impose a condition on the practitioner’s registration, the tribunal must also decide a review period for the condition.

(4)If the tribunal decides to cancel a person’s registration under this Law or the person does not hold registration under this Law, the tribunal may also decide to —

(a)disqualify the person from applying for registration as a registered health practitioner for a specified period; or

(b)prohibit the person, either permanently or for a stated period, from —

(i)providing any health service or a specified health service; or

(ii)using any title or a specified title.

[Section 196 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 71.]

196A.Offences relating to prohibition orders

(1)A person must not contravene a prohibition order.

Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $30 000.

(2)A person who is subject to a prohibition order (the prohibited person) must, before providing a health service, give written notice of the order to the following persons —

(a)the person to whom the prohibited person intends to provide the health service or, if that person is under 16 years of age or under guardianship — a parent or guardian of the person;

(b)if the health service is to be provided by the prohibited person as an employee — the person’s employer;

(c)if the health service is to be provided by the prohibited person under a contract for services or any other arrangement with an entity — that entity;

(d)if the health service is to be provided by the prohibited person as a volunteer for or on behalf of an entity — that entity.

Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.

(3)A person must not advertise a health service to be provided by a prohibited person unless the advertisement states that the prohibited person is subject to a prohibition order.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $5 000; or

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $10 000.

[Section 196A inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 72.]

197.Decision by responsible tribunal about student

(1)After hearing a matter about a student, a responsible tribunal may decide —

(a)the student has an impairment; or

(b)the student has no case to answer and no further action is to be taken in relation to the matter.

(2)If the responsible tribunal decides the student has an impairment, the tribunal may decide to —

(a)impose a condition on the student’s registration; or

(b)suspend the student’s registration.

198.Relationship with Act establishing responsible tribunal

This Division applies despite any provision to the contrary of the Act that establishes the responsible tribunal but does not otherwise limit that Act.

Division 13 — Appeals

199.Appellable decisions

(1)A person who is the subject of any of the following decisions (an appellable decision) may appeal against the decision to the appropriate responsible tribunal for the appellable decision —

(a)a decision by a National Board to refuse to register the person;

(b)a decision by a National Board to refuse to endorse the person’s registration;

(c)a decision by a National Board to refuse to renew the person’s registration;

(d)a decision by a National Board to refuse to renew the endorsement of the person’s registration;

(e)a decision by a National Board to impose or change a condition on a person’s registration or the endorsement of the person’s registration, other than —

(i)a condition relating to the person’s qualification for general registration in the health profession; and

(ii)a condition imposed by section 112(3)(a);

(f)a decision by a National Board to refuse to change or remove a condition imposed on the person’s registration or the endorsement of the person’s registration;

(g)a decision by a National Board to refuse to change or revoke an undertaking given by the person to the Board;

(h)a decision by a National Board to suspend the person’s registration;

(i)a decision by a panel to impose a condition on the person’s registration;

(j)a decision by a health panel to suspend the person’s registration;

(ja)a decision by a health panel not to revoke a suspension;

(k)a decision by a performance and professional standards panel to reprimand the person.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), the appropriate responsible tribunal for an appellable decision is —

(a)for a decision to take health, conduct or performance action in relation to a registered health practitioner or student —

(i)the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction in which the behaviour the subject of the decision occurred; or

(ii)if the behaviour the subject of the decision occurred in more than one jurisdiction, the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction in which the practitioner’s principal place of practice is located;

or

(b)for another decision in relation to a registered health practitioner, the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction in which the practitioner’s principal place of practice is located; or

(c)for another decision in relation to a student, the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction in which the student is undertaking the approved programme of study or clinical training; or

(d)for a decision in relation to another person —

(i)the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction in which the person lives; or

(ii)if the person does not live in a participating jurisdiction, the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction nominated by the National Board that made the appellable decision and specified in the notice given to the person of the appellable decision.

[Section 199 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 73.]

200.Parties to the proceedings

The parties to proceedings relating to an appellable decision being heard by a responsible tribunal are —

(a)the person who is the subject of the appellable decision; and

(b)the National Board that —

(i)made the appellable decision; or

(ii)established the panel that made the appellable decision.

201.Costs

The responsible tribunal may make any order about costs it considers appropriate for the proceedings.

202.Decision

(1)After hearing the matter, the responsible tribunal may —

(a)confirm the appellable decision; or

(b)amend the appellable decision; or

(c)substitute another decision for the appellable decision.

(2)In substituting another decision for the appellable decision, the responsible tribunal has the same powers as the entity that made the appellable decision.

203.Relationship with Act establishing responsible tribunal

This Division applies despite any provision to the contrary of the Act that establishes the responsible tribunal but does not otherwise limit that Act.

Division 14 — Miscellaneous

204.Notice from adjudication body

(1)If an adjudication body, other than a court, makes a decision in relation to a health practitioner or student registered in a health profession, it must give written notice of the decision to the National Board established for the profession.

(2)The notice must state —

(a)the decision made by the adjudication body; and

(b)the reasons for the decision; and

(c)the date the decision takes effect; and

(d)any action the National Board must take to give effect to the decision.

205.Implementation of decisions

(1)A National Board must give effect to a decision of an adjudication body unless the decision is stayed on appeal.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the National Board must, if the notice given to the Board states that a health practitioner’s or student’s registration is cancelled, remove the practitioner’s or student’s name from the appropriate register kept by the Board.

206.National Board to give notice to registered health practitioner’s employer and other entities

(1)This section applies if —

(a)a National Board —

(i)decides to take health, conduct or performance action against a registered health practitioner; or

(ii)receives notice from an adjudication body that the adjudication body has decided to take health, conduct or performance action against a registered health practitioner; or

(iii)receives notice from a co‑regulatory authority that an adjudication body in the co‑regulatory jurisdiction has decided to take health, conduct or performance action against a registered health practitioner;

and

(b)the National Board has been given practice information under section 132 or becomes aware of practice information it should have been given under that section.

Note:Under section 132, a National Board may ask a registered health practitioner to give the Board information about whether or not the practitioner is employed by another entity and, if so, for the employer’s details.

(2)The National Board, as soon as practicable after making the decision or receiving the notice —

(a)if the practice information given to the Board, or of which the Board becomes aware, is information referred to in section 132(4)(a) and includes the names of other registered health practitioners — may give written notice to each of those practitioners of the decision to take health, conduct or performance action against the registered health practitioner; or

(b)if the practice information given to the Board, or of which the Board becomes aware, is information referred to in section 132(4)(c) or (d) and includes the name of an entity — must give written notice to the entity of the decision to take health, conduct or performance action against the registered health practitioner.

[Section 206 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 74.]

207.Effect of suspension

If a person’s registration as a health practitioner or student is suspended under this Law the person is taken during the period of suspension not to be registered under this Law, other than for the purposes of this Part.

Part 9 — Finance

208.Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Fund

(1)The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Fund is established.

(2)The Agency Fund is to have a separate account for each National Board.

(3)The Agency Fund is a fund to be administered by the National Agency.

(4)The National Agency may establish accounts with any financial institution for money in the Agency Fund.

(5)The Agency Fund does not form part of the consolidated fund or consolidated account of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth.

209.Payments into Agency Fund

(1)There is payable into the Agency Fund —

(a)all money appropriated by the Parliament of any participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth for the purposes of the Fund; and

(b)all fees, costs and expenses paid or recovered under this Law; and

(c)all fines paid to, or recovered by, a National Board in accordance with an order of an adjudication body; and

(d)the proceeds of the investment of money in the Fund; and

(e)all grants, gifts and donations made to the National Agency or a National Board, but subject to any trusts declared in relation to the grants, gifts or donations; and

(f)all money directed or authorised to be paid into the Fund by or under this Law, any law of a participating jurisdiction or any law of the Commonwealth; and

(g)any other money or property received by the National Agency or a National Board in connection with the exercise of its functions.

(2)Any money paid into the Agency Fund under subsection (1) for or on behalf of a National Board must be paid into the Board’s account kept within the Agency Fund.

210.Payments out of Agency Fund

(1)Payments may be made from the Agency Fund for the purpose of —

(a)paying any costs or expenses, or discharging any liabilities, incurred in the administration or enforcement of this Law; and

(b)making payments to co‑regulatory authorities; and

(c)any other payments recommended by the National Board or National Agency and approved by the Ministerial Council.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1)(a), a payment may be made from the Agency Fund to a responsible tribunal to meet the expenses of the responsible tribunal in performing functions under this Law.

(3)A payment under subsection (1) may be made from a National Board’s account kept within the Agency Fund only if the payment is in accordance with the Board’s budget or otherwise approved by the Board.

211.Investment of money in Agency Fund

(1)Subject to this section, the National Agency may invest money in the Agency Fund in the way it considers appropriate.

(2)The National Agency may invest money in a National Board’s account kept within the Agency Fund only if the Agency has consulted the Board about the investment.

(3)An investment under this section must be —

(a)in Australian money; and

(b)undertaken in Australia.

(4)The National Agency must use its best efforts to invest money in the Agency Fund in a way it considers is most appropriate in all the circumstances.

(5)The National Agency must keep records that show it has invested in the way most appropriate in the circumstances.

(6)A security, safe custody acknowledgment or other document evidencing title accepted, guaranteed or issued for an investment arrangement must be held by the National Agency.

212.Financial management duties of National Agency and National Boards

(1)The National Agency must —

(a)ensure that its operations are carried out efficiently, effectively and economically; and

(b)keep proper books and records in relation to the Agency Fund; and

(c)ensure that expenditure is made from the Agency Fund for lawful purposes only and, as far as possible, reasonable value is obtained for moneys expended from the Fund; and

(d)ensure that its procedures, including internal control procedures, afford adequate safeguards with respect to —

(i)the correctness, regularity and propriety of payments made from the Agency Fund; and

(ii)receiving and accounting for payments made to the Agency Fund; and

(iii)prevention of fraud or mistake;

and

(e)take any action necessary to ensure the preparation of accurate financial statements in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards for inclusion in its annual report; and

(f)take any action necessary to facilitate the audit of those financial statements in accordance with this Law; and

(g)arrange for any further audit by a qualified person of the books and records kept by the National Agency in relation to the Agency Fund, if directed to do so by the Ministerial Council.

(2)A National Board must —

(a)ensure that its operations are carried out efficiently, effectively and economically; and

(b)take any action necessary to ensure that the National Agency is able to comply with this section in relation to the funding of the National Board in exercising its functions.

Part 10 — Information and privacy

Division 1A — Australian Information Commissioner

[Heading inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 75.]

212A.Application of Commonwealth AIC Act

(1)The AIC Act applies as a law of a participating jurisdiction for the purposes of the national registration and accreditation scheme.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), the AIC Act applies —

(a)as if a reference to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner were a reference to the Office of the National Health Practitioner Privacy Commissioner; and

(b)as if a reference to the Information Commissioner were a reference to the National Health Practitioner Privacy Commissioner; and

(c)with any other modifications made by the regulations.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2)(c), the regulations may —

(a)provide that the AIC Act applies under subsection (1) as if a provision of the AIC Act specified in the regulations were omitted; or

(b)provide that the AIC Act applies under subsection (1) as if an amendment to the AIC Act made by a law of the Commonwealth, and specified in the regulations, had not taken effect; or

(c)confer jurisdiction on a tribunal or court of a participating jurisdiction.

(4)In this section —

AIC Act means the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 (Commonwealth), as in force from time to time.

[Section 212A inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 75.]

Division 1 — Privacy

213.Application of Commonwealth Privacy Act

(1)The Privacy Act applies as a law of a participating jurisdiction for the purposes of the national registration and accreditation scheme.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), the Privacy Act applies —

(a)as if a reference to the Commissioner were a reference to the National Health Practitioner Privacy Commissioner; and

(b)with any other modifications made by the regulations.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2)(b), the regulations may —

(a)provide that the Privacy Act applies under subsection (1) as if a provision of the Privacy Act specified in the regulations were omitted; or

(b)provide that the Privacy Act applies under subsection (1) as if an amendment to the Privacy Act made by a law of the Commonwealth, and specified in the regulations, had not taken effect; or

(c)confer jurisdiction on a tribunal or court of a participating jurisdiction.

(4)In this section —

Privacy Act means the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth), as in force from time to time.

[Section 213 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 76.]

Division 2 — Disclosure of information and confidentiality

214.Term used: protected information

In this Division —

protected information means information that comes to a person’s knowledge in the course of, or because of, the person exercising functions under this Law.

215.Application of Commonwealth FOI Act

(1)The FOI Act applies as a law of a participating jurisdiction for the purposes of the national registration and accreditation scheme.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), the FOI Act applies —

(a)as if a reference to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner were a reference to the Office of the National Health Practitioner Privacy Commissioner; and

(b)as if a reference to the Information Commissioner were a reference to the National Health Practitioner Privacy Commissioner; and

(c)with any other modifications made by the regulations.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2)(c), the regulations may —

(a)provide that the FOI Act applies under subsection (1) as if a provision of the FOI Act specified in the regulations were omitted; or

(b)provide that the FOI Act applies under subsection (1) as if an amendment to the FOI Act made by a law of the Commonwealth, and specified in the regulations, had not taken effect; or

(c)confer jurisdiction on a tribunal or court of a participating jurisdiction.

(4)In this section —

FOI Act means the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Commonwealth), as in force from time to time.

[Section 215 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 77.]

216.Duty of confidentiality

(1)A person who is, or has been, a person exercising functions under this Law must not disclose to another person protected information.

Penalty for this subsection:

(a)in the case of an individual — a fine of $5 000;

(b)in the case of a body corporate — a fine of $10 000.

(2)However, subsection (1) does not apply if —

(a)the information is disclosed in the exercise of a function under, or for the purposes of, this Law; or

(b)the disclosure —

(i)is to a co‑regulatory authority; or

(ii)is authorised or required by any law of a participating jurisdiction;

or

(c)the disclosure is otherwise required or permitted by law; or

(d)the disclosure is with the agreement of the person to whom the information relates; or

(e)the disclosure is in a form that does not identify the identity of a person; or

(f)the information relates to proceedings before a responsible tribunal and the proceedings are or were open to the public; or

(g)the information is, or has been, accessible to the public, including because it is or was recorded in a National Register; or

(h)the disclosure is otherwise authorised by the Ministerial Council.

[Section 216 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 98(1).]

217.Disclosure of information for workforce planning

(1)The Ministerial Council may, by written notice given to a National Board, ask the Board for information required by the Council for planning the workforce of health practitioners, or a class of practitioners, in Australia or a part of Australia.

(2)If a National Board receives a request under subsection (1), the Board may, by written notice given to health practitioners registered in a health profession for which the Board is established, ask the practitioners for information relevant to the request.

(3)A registered health practitioner who is asked to provide information under subsection (2) may, but is not required to, provide the information.

(4)The National Board —

(a)must give information received from a registered health practitioner to the Ministerial Council in a way that does not identify any registered health practitioner; and

(b)must not use information received under this section that identifies a registered health practitioner for any other purpose.

(5)The Ministerial Council must publish information it receives under this section in a way that is timely and ensures it is accessible to the public.

[Section 217 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 78.]

218.Disclosure of information for information management and communication purposes

(1)A person may disclose protected information to an information management agency if the disclosure is in accordance with an authorisation given by the Ministerial Council under subsection (2).

(2)The Ministerial Council may authorise the disclosure of protected information to an information management agency if the Council is satisfied —

(a)the protected information will be collected, stored and used by the information management agency in a way that ensures the privacy of the persons to whom it relates is protected; and

(b)the provision of the protected information to the information management agency is necessary to enable the agency to exercise its functions.

(3)An authorisation under subsection (2) —

(a)may apply to protected information generally or a class of protected information; and

(b)may be subject to conditions.

(4)In this section —

information management agency means a Commonwealth, State or Territory agency that has functions relating to the identification of health practitioners for information management and communication purposes, including, for example, the National E‑health Transition Authority.

219.Disclosure of information to other Commonwealth, State and Territory entities

(1)A person exercising functions under this Law may disclose protected information to the following entities —

(a)the chief executive officer under the Medicare Australia Act 1973 3 (Commonwealth);

(b)an entity performing functions under the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Commonwealth);

(c)the Secretary within the meaning of the National Health Act 1953 (Commonwealth);

(d)the Secretary to the Department in which the Migration Act 1958 (Commonwealth) is administered;

(e)another Commonwealth, State or Territory entity having functions relating to professional services provided by health practitioners or the regulation of health practitioners.

(2)However, a person may disclose protected information under subsection (1) only if the person is satisfied —

(a)the protected information will be collected, stored and used by the entity to which it is disclosed in a way that ensures the privacy of the persons to whom it relates is protected; and

(b)the provision of the protected information to the entity is necessary to enable the entity to exercise its functions.

220.Disclosure to protect health or safety of patients or other persons

(1)This section applies if a National Board reasonably believes that —

(a)a registered health practitioner poses, or may pose, a risk to public health; or

(b)the health or safety of a patient or a class of patients is or may be at risk because of a registered health practitioner’s practice as a health practitioner.

(2)The National Board may give written notice of the risk and any relevant information about the registered health practitioner to an entity of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory that the Board considers may be required to take action in relation to the risk.

221.Disclosure to registration authorities

A person exercising functions under this Law may disclose protected information to a registration authority if the disclosure is necessary for the authority to exercise its functions.

Division 3 — Registers in relation to registered health practitioner

222.Public national registers

(1)A public national register, with the name listed in column 1 of the following Table, is to be kept for each health profession.

(2)A public national register for a health profession is to include the names of all health practitioners (other than specialist health practitioners) currently registered in the profession.

(3)If divisions are listed beside the public national register in column 2 of the Table, the register is to be kept in a way that ensures it includes those divisions.

(4)In addition, a public national register for a health profession is to include —

(a)the names of all health practitioners (other than specialist health practitioners) whose registration has been cancelled by an adjudication body; and

(b)the names of all persons (other than specialist health practitioners or persons who were previously specialist health practitioners) subject to a prohibition order.

(5)A public national register required to be kept under this section is to be kept by the National Board prescribed by the regulations for the register, in conjunction with the National Agency.

Table — Public national registers

Name of public national register

Divisions of public national register

Register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners

 

Register of Chinese Medicine Practitioners

Acupuncturists, Chinese herbal medicine practitioners, Chinese herbal dispensers

Register of Chiropractors

 

Register of Dental Practitioners

Dentists, Dental therapists, Dental hygienists, Dental prosthetists, Oral health therapists

Register of Medical Practitioners

 

Register of Medical Radiation Practitioners

Diagnostic radiographers, Nuclear medicine technologists, Radiation therapists

Register of Midwives

 

Register of Nurses

Registered nurses (Division 1), Enrolled nurses (Division 2)

Register of Occupational Therapists

 

Register of Optometrists

 

Register of Osteopaths

 

Register of Paramedics

 

Register of Pharmacists

 

Register of Physiotherapists

 

Register of Podiatrists

 

Register of Psychologists

 

[Section 222 inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 79; amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 80.]

223.Specialists registers

The National Board established for a health profession for which specialist recognition operates under this Law must, in conjunction with the National Agency, keep —

(a)a public national specialists register that includes the names of all specialist health practitioners currently registered in a health profession for which the Board is established; and

(b)a public national register that includes the names of all —

(i)specialist health practitioners whose registration has been cancelled by an adjudication body; and

(ii)persons who are subject to a prohibition order.

[Section 223 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 81.]

224.Way registers are to be kept

Subject to this Division, a register a National Board is required to keep under this Division must be kept —

(a)in a way that ensures it is up‑to‑date and accurate; and

(b)otherwise in the way the National Agency considers appropriate.

225.Information to be recorded in National Register

A National Register or Specialists Register must include the following information for each registered health practitioner whose name is included in the register —

(a)the practitioner’s sex;

(b)the suburb and postcode of the practitioner’s principal place of practice;

(c)the registration number or code given to the practitioner by the National Board;

(d)the date on which the practitioner was first registered in the health profession in Australia, whether under this Law or a corresponding prior Act;

(e)the date on which the practitioner’s registration expires;

(f)the type of registration held by the practitioner;

(g)if the register includes divisions, the division in which the practitioner is registered;

(h)if the practitioner holds specialist registration, the recognised specialty in which the practitioner is registered;

(i)if the practitioner holds limited registration, the purpose for which the practitioner is registered;

(j)if the practitioner has been reprimanded, the fact that the practitioner has been reprimanded;

(k)if a condition has been imposed on the practitioner’s registration or the National Board has entered into an undertaking with the practitioner —

(i)if section 226(1) applies, the fact that a condition has been imposed or an undertaking accepted; or

(ii)otherwise, details of the condition or undertaking;

(l)if the practitioner’s registration is suspended, the fact that the practitioner’s registration has been suspended and, if the suspension is for a specified period, the period during which the suspension applies;

(m)if the practitioner’s registration has been endorsed, details of the endorsement;

(n)details of any qualifications relied on by the practitioner to obtain registration or to have the practitioner’s registration endorsed;

(o)if the practitioner has advised the National Board the practitioner fluently speaks a language other than English, details of the other language spoken;

(p)any other information the National Board considers appropriate.

226.National Board may decide not to include or to remove certain information in register

(1)A National Board may decide that a condition imposed on a registered health practitioner’s registration, or the details of an undertaking accepted from a registered health practitioner, because the practitioner has an impairment is not to be recorded in a National Register or Specialists Register in which the practitioner’s name is included if —

(a)it is necessary to protect the practitioner’s privacy; and

(b)there is no overriding public interest for the condition or the details of the undertaking to be recorded.

(2)A National Board may decide that information relating to a registered health practitioner is not to be recorded in a National Register or Specialists Register in which the practitioner’s name is included if —

(a)the practitioner asks the Board not to include the information in the register; and

(b)the Board reasonably believes the inclusion of the information in the register would present a serious risk to the health or safety of the practitioner.

(3)A National Board may decide to remove information that a registered health practitioner has been reprimanded from a National Register or Specialists Register in which the practitioner’s name is included if it considers it is no longer necessary or appropriate for the information to be recorded on the Register.

[Section 226 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 82.]

227.Register about former registered health practitioners

A register kept by a National Board under section 222 or 223(b) must include the following —

(a)for each health practitioner whose registration was cancelled by an adjudication body —

(i)the fact the practitioner’s registration was cancelled by an adjudication body; and

(ii)the grounds on which the practitioner’s registration was cancelled; and

(iii)if the adjudication body’s hearing was open to the public, details of the conduct that formed the basis of the adjudication;

(b)for each person subject to a prohibition order, a copy of the order.

[Section 227 inserted by No. 4 of 2018 s. 83.]

228.Inspection of registers

(1)The National Agency —

(a)must keep each register kept by a National Board under this Division open for inspection, free of charge, by members of the public —

(i)at its national office and each of its local offices during ordinary office hours; and

(ii)on the Agency’s website;

and

(b)must give a person an extract from the register on payment of the relevant fee; and

(c)may give a person a copy of the register on payment of the relevant fee.

(2)The National Agency may give a person a copy of the register under subsection (1)(c) only if the Agency is satisfied it would be in the public interest to do so.

(3)The National Agency may waive, wholly or partly, the payment of a fee by a person under subsection (1)(b) or (c) if the Agency considers it appropriate in the circumstances.

Division 4 — Student registers

229.Student registers

(1)Each National Board must, in conjunction with the National Agency, keep a student register that includes the name of all persons currently registered as students by the Board.

(2)A student register is not to be open to inspection by the public.

230.Information to be recorded in student register

(1)Subject to this Division, a student register kept by a National Board must be kept in the way the National Agency considers appropriate.

(2)A student register kept by a National Board must include the following information for each student whose name is included in the register —

(a)the student’s name;

(b)the student’s date of birth;

(c)the student’s sex;

(d)the student’s mailing address and any other contact details;

(e)the name of the education provider that is providing the approved programme of study being undertaken by the student;

(f)the date on which the student was first registered, whether under this law or a corresponding prior Act;

(g)the date on which the student started the approved programme of study;

(h)the date on which the student is expected to complete the approved programme of study;

(i)if the student has completed or otherwise ceased to be enrolled in the approved programme of study, the date of the completion or cessation;

(j)if a condition has been imposed on the student’s registration, details of the condition;

(k)if the Board accepts an undertaking from the student, details of the undertaking;

(l)any other information the Board considers appropriate.

Division 5 — Other records

231.Other records to be kept by National Boards

A National Board must keep a record of the following information for each health practitioner it registers —

(a)information that identifies the practitioner;

(b)the practitioner’s contact details;

(c)information about the practitioner’s registration or endorsement;

(d)information about any previous registration of the practitioner, whether in Australia or overseas;

(e)information about any notification made about the practitioner and any investigation and health, conduct or performance action taken as a result of the notification;

(f)information about the practitioner’s professional indemnity insurance arrangements;

(g)information about checks carried out by the Board about the practitioner’s criminal history and identity, including the nature of the check carried out, when it was carried out and the nature of the information provided by the check.

232.Record of adjudication decisions to be kept and made publicly available

(1)A National Board is to keep and publish on its website a record of decisions made by —

(a)panels established by the Board; and

(b)responsible tribunals that relate to registered health practitioners or students registered in a health profession for which the Board is established.

(2)The record is to be kept —

(a)in a way that does not identify persons involved in the matter, unless the decision was made by a responsible tribunal and the hearing was open to the public; and

(b)otherwise in the way decided by the National Board.

[Section 232 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 84.]

Division 6 — Unique Identifier

233.Unique identifier to be given to each registered health practitioner

(1)This section applies if —

(a)a National Board registers a person in a health profession for which the Board is established; and

(b)the person has not previously been registered by that Board or any other National Board.

(2)The National Board must, at the time of registering the person, give the person an identifying number or code (a unique identifier) that is unique to the person.

(3)The National Board must keep a record of the unique identifier given to the person.

(4)If the person is subsequently registered by the National Board or another Board the person is to continue to be identified by the unique identifier given to the person under subsection (2).

[Section 233 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 85.]

Part 11 — Miscellaneous

Division 1 — Provisions relating to persons exercising functions under law

234.General duties of persons exercising functions under this Law

(1)A person exercising functions under this Law must, when exercising the functions, act honestly and with integrity.

(2)A person exercising functions under this Law must exercise the person’s functions under this Law —

(a)in good faith; and

(b)in a financially responsible manner; and

(c)with a reasonable degree of care, diligence and skill.

(3)A person exercising functions under this Law must not make improper use of the person’s position or of information that comes to the person’s knowledge in the course of, or because of, the person’s exercise of the functions —

(a)to gain an advantage for himself or herself or another person; or

(b)to cause a detriment to the development, implementation or operation of the national registration and accreditation scheme.

235.Application of Commonwealth Ombudsman Act

(1)The Ombudsman Act applies as a law of a participating jurisdiction for the purposes of the national registration and accreditation scheme.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), the Ombudsman Act applies —

(a)as if a reference to the Commonwealth Ombudsman were a reference to the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman; and

(b)with any other modifications made by the regulations.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2), the regulations may —

(a)provide that the Ombudsman Act applies under subsection (1) as if a provision of the Ombudsman Act specified in the regulations were omitted; or

(b)provide that the Ombudsman Act applies under subsection (1) as if an amendment to the Ombudsman Act made by a law of the Commonwealth, and specified in the regulations, had not taken effect; or

(c)confer jurisdiction on a tribunal or court of a participating jurisdiction.

(4)In this section —

Ombudsman Act means the Ombudsman Act 1976 (Commonwealth), as in force from time to time.

[Section 235 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 86.]

236.Protection from personal liability for persons exercising functions

(1)A protected person is not personally liable for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith —

(a)in the exercise of a function under this Law; or

(b)in the reasonable belief that the act or omission was the exercise of a function under this Law.

(2)Any liability resulting from an act or omission that would, but for subsection (1), attach to a protected person attaches instead to the National Agency.

(3)In this section —

protected person means any of the following —

(a)a member of the Advisory Council;

(b)a member of the Agency Management Committee;

(c)a member of a National Board or a committee of the National Board;

(d)a member of an external accreditation entity;

(e)a member of the staff of the National Agency;

(f)a consultant or contractor engaged by the National Agency;

(g)a person appointed by the National Agency to conduct an examination or assessment for a National Board;

(h)a person employed or engaged by an external accreditation entity to assist it with its accreditation function.

237.Protection from liability for persons making notification or otherwise providing information

(1)This section applies to a person who, in good faith —

(a)makes a notification under this Law; or

(b)gives information in the course of an investigation or for another purpose under this Law to a person exercising functions under this Law.

(2)The person is not liable, civilly, criminally or under an administrative process, for giving the information.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2) —

(a)the making of the notification or giving of the information does not constitute a breach of professional etiquette or ethics or a departure from accepted standards of professional conduct; and

(b)no liability for defamation is incurred by the person because of the making of the notification or giving of the information.

(4)The protection given to the person by this section extends to —

(a)a person who, in good faith, provided the person with any information on the basis of which the notification was made or the information was given; and

(b)a person who, in good faith, was otherwise concerned in the making of the notification or giving of the information.

Division 2 — Inspectors

238.Functions and powers of inspectors

(1)An inspector has the function of conducting investigations to enforce compliance with this Law.

(2)Schedule 6 sets out provisions relating to the powers of an inspector.

239.Appointment of inspectors

(1)A National Board may appoint the following persons as inspectors —

(a)members of the National Agency’s staff;

(b)contractors engaged by the National Agency.

(2)An inspector holds office on the conditions stated in the instrument of appointment.

(3)If an inspector’s appointment provides for a term of appointment, the inspector ceases holding office at the end of the term.

(4)An inspector may resign by signed notice of resignation given to the National Board that appointed the inspector.

240.Identity card

(1)A National Board must give an identity card to each inspector it appoints.

(2)The identity card must —

(a)contain a recent photograph of the inspector; and

(b)be signed by the inspector; and

(c)identify the person as an inspector appointed by the National Board; and

(d)include an expiry date.

(3)This section does not prevent the issue of a single identity card to a person —

(a)if the person is appointed as an inspector for this Law by more than one National Board; or

(b)if the person is appointed as an inspector and investigator for this Law by a National Board; or

(c)for this Law and other Acts.

(4)A person who ceases to be an inspector must give the person’s identity card to the National Board that appointed the person within 7 days after the person ceases to be an inspector, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

241.Display of identity card

(1)An inspector may exercise a power in relation to someone else (the other person) only if the inspector —

(a)first produces the inspector’s identity card for the other person’s inspection; or

(b)has the identity card displayed so it is clearly visible to the other person.

(2)However, if for any reason it is not practicable to comply with subsection (1) before exercising the power, the inspector must produce the identity card for the other person’s inspection at the first reasonable opportunity.

Division 3 — Legal proceedings

242.Proceedings for offences

A proceeding for an offence against this Law is to be by way of a summary proceeding before a court of summary jurisdiction.

243.Conduct may constitute offence and be subject of disciplinary proceedings

(1)If a person’s behaviour constitutes an offence against this Law or another Act and constitutes professional misconduct, unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct under this Law —

(a)the fact that proceedings for an offence have been taken in relation to the behaviour does not prevent proceedings being taken before an adjudication body under this Law for the same behaviour; and

(b)the fact that proceedings have been taken before an adjudication body under this Law in relation to the conduct does not prevent proceedings for an offence being taken for the same behaviour.

(2)If a person’s behaviour may be dealt with by a health complaints entity under the law of a participating jurisdiction and constitutes professional misconduct, unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct under this Law —

(a)the fact that the behaviour has been dealt with by the health complaints entity does not prevent proceedings being taken before an adjudication body under this Law for the same behaviour; and

(b)the fact that proceedings have been taken before an adjudication body under this Law in relation to the behaviour does not prevent action being taken by the health complaints entity under the law of the participating jurisdiction for the same behaviour.

244.Evidentiary certificates

A certificate purporting to be signed by the chief executive officer of the National Agency and stating any of the following matters is prima facie evidence of the matter —

(a)a stated document is one of the following things made, given, issued or kept under this Law —

(i)an appointment, approval or decision;

(ii)a notice, direction or requirement;

(iii)a certificate of registration;

(iv)a register, or an extract from a register;

(v)a record, or an extract from a record;

(b)a stated document is another document kept under this Law;

(c)a stated document is a copy of a document mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b);

(d)on a stated day, or during a stated period, a stated person was or was not a registered health practitioner or a student;

(e)on a stated day, or during a stated period, a registration or endorsement was or was not subject to a stated condition;

(f)on a stated day, a registration was suspended or cancelled;

(g)on a stated day, or during a stated period, an appointment as an investigator or inspector was, or was not, in force for a stated person;

(h)on a stated day, a stated person was given a stated notice or direction under this Law;

(i)on a stated day, a stated requirement was made of a stated person.

Division 4 — Regulations

245.National regulations

(1)The Ministerial Council may make regulations for the purposes of this Law.

(2)The regulations may provide for any matter that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Law.

(3)Despite section 7(1)(d) of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Act 2010, sections 41 and 42 of the Interpretation Act 1984 apply to regulations made under subsection (1).

(4)A regulation commences on the day or days specified in the regulation for its commencement (being not earlier than the date it is published).

(5)The amendment of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Regulations 2010 by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Amendment Act 2018 does not prevent the national regulations from being amended or repealed under this section.

[Section 245 amended by No. 4 of 2018 s. 87.]

246.Parliamentary scrutiny of national regulations

Note:Clause 246 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law does not form part of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law in Western Australia.

247.Effect of disallowance of national regulation

Note:Clause 247 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law does not form part of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law in Western Australia.

Division 5 — Miscellaneous

248.Combined notice may be given

If an entity is required under this Law to give another entity (the recipient) notices under more than one provision, the entity may give the recipient a combined notice for the provisions.

249.Fees

The National Agency may, in accordance with a health profession agreement entered into with a National Board —

(a)refund a relevant fee paid into the Board’s account kept in the Agency Fund; or

(b)waive, in whole or in part, a relevant fee payable for a service provided by the Board; or

(c)require a person who pays a relevant fee late to pay an additional fee.

Part 12 — Transitional provisions

Division 1 — Preliminary

250.Terms used

In this Part —

commencement day means 1 July 2010;

local registration authority means an entity that had functions under a law of a participating jurisdiction that included the registration of persons as health practitioners;

participation day, for a participating jurisdiction, means —

(a)for a health profession other than a relevant health profession —

(i)1 July 2010; or

(ii)the later day on which the jurisdiction became a participating jurisdiction;

or

(b)for a relevant health profession, 1 July 2012;

relevant health profession means —

(a)Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice; or

(b)Chinese medicine; or

(c)medical radiation practice; or

(d)occupational therapy;

repealed Law means the Health Practitioner Regulation (Administrative Arrangements) National Law set out in the Schedule to the Health Practitioner Regulation (Administrative Arrangements) National Law Act 2008 (Queensland).