Health Professions Registration Act 2005 Implications for you

1. Health Professions Registration Act 2005 Implications for you Commenced July 1 2007

2. Single Act for 12 Registration Boards • Nurses Board of Victoria • Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria • Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria • Dental Practice Board of Victoria • Chiropractors Registration Board of Victoria • Medical Radiation Practitioners Board • Optometrists Registration Board of Victoria • Osteopaths Registration Board of Victoria • Physiotherapists Registration Board of Victoria • Podiatrists Registration Board of Victoria • Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria • Pharmacy Board of Victoria

3. Specific Reforms • Registration New categories of registration including: • General • Specific (e.g BMid graduates) • Student registration (not for nurses) • Competency to Practice- Previously known as recency of practice- was to be 2 years but an exception was granted for nurses and it reverted back to 5 years in December 2007 • Expanded Public Register, includes provision of an employment or postal address (not for nurses) • Endorsement of registration – midwives, nurse practitioners, division 2 nurses medication administration • Additional informationdetails collected on renewal of registration e.g. continuing professional development

4. Continuing Professional Development Any process or activity, planned or otherwise, that contributes to an increase in or the maintenance of: • knowledge • skills • personal qualities for learning, teaching (clinical care) and broader academic practice This includes leadership, management and administration.

5. CPD Portfolio Should contain: • Planning section • Evidence of education • Evaluation of education (Anticipated implementation by 2009) • More information… www.nbv.org.au

6. National Registration December 2005 Australian Government Productivity Commission Research Report identified workforce shortages, inflexibilities and inefficiencies as major contributors to poor health outcomes in particular regions and for particular groups. At the time their were 90 registration boards for the health professions in Australia.

7. January2006 The Commission proposed the adoption of uniform national standards for regulation of health professions across Australia in a position paper. This was met with almost universal support from participants and a number of models were canvassed.

8. March 2008 The landmark “Intergovernmental Agreement for Health Workforce Reform” was signed on 26 March 2008 as part of the COAG health reforms package. To be implemented by July 2010

9. Intent • To establish a ‘National Agency’ whose role is to manage the operational requirements of National health Professional regulation. • Each of the 9 professions currently registered in all jurisdictions would have a profession-specific national board • Each state and territory would have at least one local presence of the National Agency

10. 9 Health Professions Affected • Nurses and Midwives • Doctors • Pharmacists • Dentists • Optometrists • Psychologists • Chiropractors • Osteopaths

11. Benefits • Nationally consistent registration and accreditation standards • Improved workforce mobility e.g. national emergency, locum services • Reduced red tape • Greater safeguards for the public

12. Workforce Results • Responsive • Flexible • Sustainable • Innovative (COAG communique-13 April 2007)

13. Further Information • Nurses Board of Victoria www.nbv.org.au • STD callers 1300 362 309 • Nurses Board of Victoria 8635 1200

14. Questions?