Help strengthen public protection: Consultation on revised regulatory principles for the National Scheme now open

23 Mar 2021

The National Boards and Ahpra are seeking public feedback on revised regulatory principles for the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (National Scheme).

The regulatory principles encourage a responsive, risk-based approach to regulation across all professions within the National Scheme. They also acknowledge the importance of community confidence and working with the professions to achieve good outcomes.

The draft revised Regulatory principles reflect two recent policy directions issued by COAG Health Council which provide a clear mandate to the National Boards and Ahpra to prioritise public protection in the work of the National Scheme.

Over the past several years, Health Ministers and their departments have been carrying out work to amend the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (National Law) to strengthen public protection and ensure the effective operation of the National Scheme.

On 31 October 2019, Health Ministers approved the drafting of a further tranche of amendments to the National Law and agreed to issue two policy directions in support of reforms to improve public protection. These policy directions were released in January 2020.

‘We want the public to have trust and confidence in regulated health practitioners and to know that their safety is at the heart of everything we do in the National Scheme,' said Martin Fletcher, Ahpra CEO. ‘The revised principles reinforce that public protection is our paramount objective.’

The draft revised Regulatory principles for the National Scheme are open for public consultation until 18 May 2021. Feedback is invited from practitioners, stakeholders and the community.

For more information

• The draft revised Regulatory principles
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 9285 3010 (overseas callers)