Consultation on National Registration of Paramedics and amendments to the National Law

1. Consultation on National Registration of Paramedics and amendments to the National Law February 2017

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

3. National Law amendment: a national exercise • 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. Today’s agenda • 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. Background • 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. Consultation purpose and process • 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. Where we are up to now: paramedics • 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. Overview of key reforms –Paramedics • 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. Paramedicine Board of Australia • 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. Developing standards • 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. Accreditation • 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. Registration • 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. Protections for applicants • 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. General reforms: Stage 1 • 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. Stronger notificationsmanagement • 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. Disciplinary and enforcement powers • 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. Next steps

18. How to provide your feedback • 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