Submissions

Our office uses insights from complaints we receive to contribute to broader conversations about how health regulation and other relevant areas of law and policy could be improved.

The submissions we make draw on our complaints data, case studies from complaints we receive, and our expertise in identifying and addressing systemic issues in the regulation of Australia’s registered health practitioners.

Submissions

Regulation of Australia’s health professions: keeping the National Law fit for purpose (October 2018)

Our office provided a detailed submission to the consultation paper on several potential reforms to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (the National Law).

Through our submission, we expressed general support for the suggested amendments, which aimed to deliver a strong and fair National Scheme.

Response to the review of the Western Australian Carers Recognition Act 2004 (December 2018)

Our office supported the commitment to recognising carers in the community and providing a mechanism for involving carers in providing services that impact on them and their role.

Australia’s health workforce: strengthening the education foundation (March 2019)

Our office provided a detailed submission to inform the health ministers’ response to the final report of the Independent Review of Accreditation Systems within the National Scheme for health practitioners.

This consultation was an important opportunity to highlight that it would be appropriate for our office to handle complaints about the administrative actions of accreditation entities for reasons including:

• It is a more efficient use of resources to extend our remit, rather than establish a new external complaint-handling mechanism.
• People are already approaching us with concerns about accreditation-related matters, which suggests there is some feeling that our office is the appropriate entity to handle these complaints.

Response to the public consultation on a joint review on a draft definition of cultural safety to be used in the context of the National Scheme and for the purposes of the National Health Leadership Forum (May 2019)

Our office supported the proposed draft definition, recognising that what constitutes culturally safe practice should be determined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities.

Response to the public consultation on the review of the guidelines for advertising a regulated health service.

Our office supported, with additional suggestions, the proposed revised guidelines. developed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the 15 National Health Practitioner Boards (National Boards).

Response to the public consultation on proposed revised guidelines for mandatory notifications

Our office supported, with additional suggestions, the revised guidelines developed by Ahpra and the National Boards.