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
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

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
National Consultation re paramedics
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 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 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 s 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 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

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 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

18. How to provide your feedback
Feedback on the amendments can be sent to:
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