Consultation on National Registration of Paramedics and amendments to the National Law - presentation 6 February 2017

1. February 2017

2.  Welcome
 We pay our respects to the traditional owners
 National Paramedic Stakeholder Reference
Group plus some new faces
 Housekeeping

3. Policy development:
Victorian Department of Health & Human Services
 Anne Louise Carlton
 Meredith Carter
 Vivienne Hadj and Kym Daly
Legislation
Queensland Department of Health: James Liddy
Administration
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency: Andrea
Oliver
NSW Ministry of Health: Robin Flynn

4.  Background to the National Law amendments
 Consultation purpose and process
 Overview of key reforms - paramedics
 Overview of general reforms to the National
Law
 Next steps

5.  2010 National Registration and Accreditation
Scheme established
 2012-14 National Consultation re paramedics
 2014 - 2015 Independent Review National
Scheme and Ministers’ Response
 November 2015 Ministers agree to
paramedics in National Scheme on ‘opt in’
basis
 October 2016 All Ministers agree to proceed
 2017 Development of National Law
amendments :Stage 1

6.  To inform finalisation of Bill implementing
Stage 1 reforms for Health Ministers’ approval
◦ Confidential consultation draft Bill – to be returned
at close of forums
◦ Summary of the draft Health Practitioner Regulation
National Law Amendment 2017– for public release
◦ Frequently asked questions (FAQs) – for public
release
 Written feedback to cob 22 February
 Stage 2 to commence later in 2017

7.  Phase 1:Dec 2015- April 2016
Agree scope
 Phase 2: April - October 2016
Settle policy parameters
 Phase 3: 2016 –2017
Draft amendments to National Law.
Qld passes National Law. WA, SA
 Phase 4: 2017 –2018
AHPRA to establish administrative arrangements
Registration commences late 2018

8.  Paramedicine added to the definition of
‘health profession’ in the National Law
 ‘Paramedic’ becomes a protected title
 New Part 13 includes ‘participation day’ – this
is the date registration commences

9.  New s307 and s308 establish the
Paramedicine Board of Australia
 The Board has:
◦ limited functions until the participation day
s308(1)&(3)
◦ same powers and functions as existing 14 Boards
from participation day.
 New s.308 (2) allows Ministerial Council to
appoint practitioner members to the Board
prior to participation day
◦ Schedule 4 National Law deals with recruitment of a
Board

10.  The new section 308(3) also provides the
powers for the Board to commence work.
 It will consult the field and develop:
◦ Registration standards all applicants for registration
must meet under s38 National Law:
 eg Continuing professional development, criminal
history, English language skills, recency of practice and
professional indemnity insurance, for recommendation
to Ministers; and
◦ Codes and guidelines under s39

11.  The Board’s powers include determining
whether to engage an external accreditation
body or establish a committee (new s308(d))
and
 approving the accreditation standards that
will set out the programs of study that
provide paramedics with the knowledge skills
and professional attributes to practise in
Australia.

12.  New s.310, “Grand-parenting”
 During the first three years of the scheme
provisions allow paramedics who are already
practising but do not hold a qualification
approved by the Board for general
registration under s53 to be granted general
registration
 In addition some qualifications accepted for
general registration are specified in s.311
 All applicants must meet all the other
registration standards determined by the
Board (s38 National Law)

13.  New s312 - an administrative mechanism
allowing the Board to process early applications
from a date to be determined by the Board and
bring the registration cycle for paramedics into
line with the AHPRA registration cycle.
 New s. 313 - provisions to protect applicants
against prosecution if the Board has not
considered their application for registration by
participation day, and
 Under new s.314, a 90 day period of grace
applies if an application is late.
 New s315 - mechanism allowing paramedics to
work or volunteer across borders if any
jurisdiction is delayed in joining the Scheme.

14.  Improvements in governance arrangements
◦ A new power for Ministerial Council to change the
structure of National Boards by regulation
◦ Enable appointment of either community members
or practitioners to chair National Boards
 Nursing and Midwifery recognised as separate
professions
◦ Governance continues with one Board
◦ Can continue to hold dual registration

15.  Improved communication with notifiers was a
key recommendation of Independent Review
 National Boards will now have greater
discretion to inform notifiers more fully of:
◦ Actions taken,
◦ The process and
◦ Reasons for decisions, not limited to outcomes
information on public register.
 AHPRA and Boards to develop protocols

16.  Powers to obtain broad practice information
 Broader grounds for immediate action against
practitioner or student
◦ Current test: serious risk to persons
◦ New ground added: public interest (as in NSW)
 Prohibition orders
◦ Can prohibit provision of any health service
◦ Offences: breach $30,000; $5,000 failure to inform
patients/employers (Similar to NSW)
◦ Mutual recognition in all jurisdictions
◦ Public registers to include prohibition orders

17. Health
Ministers
Australian Health
Ministers Advisory
Council
Health Workforce Principal Committee
NRAS Review Implementation Governance
Committee
Legislation Committee
Victorian Department of Health & Human Services
Project Team

18.  Feedback on the amendments can be sent to:
 NRAS.Project@dhhs.vic.gov.au
 Or posted to:
NRAS Review Implementation Project Secretariat
Workforce Regulation
Health and Human Services Workforce Branch
Department of Health and Human Services
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne VIC 3001
 By 5.00pm 22 February 2017