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

Welcome Welcome We pay our respects to the traditional owners National Paramedic Stakeholder Reference Group plus some new faces Housekeeping Welcome everyone many of you have been to meetings with us before as members of the National Paramedic Registration Stakeholder Group. We’ve expanded that group slightly today so there may be some new faces and some people are on the telephone. We’d like to welcome you all including our consumer rep Jo Root at the end of the phone and all the paramedic and professional groups here today. I would also like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders both past and present, and any Elders here today. Housekeeping – toilets, emergency exits, coffee and tea, finish time should be about 4pm Reading the draft Bill Where we refer to specific amendments in the PowerPoint slides we have listed the relevant clause and page number of the Bill in brackets so that you can quickly locate these in your copy of the Bill if need Recording consultation feedback We will be recording the feedback raised at the consultation session today and the other forums. Your feedback will be considered when finalising the draft Bill Given that this is a national consultation forum, a summary of the feedback will be provided to the relevant intergovernmental committees, comprising all States and Territories and the Commonwealth. The format today will involve us presenting on each of the key areas of reform in the Bill, with plenty of opportunity for discussion throughout As we have a lot to cover, we will be appreciative of succinct questions and comments If you have a question, please raise your hand, state your name and organisation. Due to time constraints, we will need to keep discussions moving

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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)

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.

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

Stronger notifications management 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

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

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

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