Proposed Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Reforms

Original media release from the Department of Health, Victoria.

In February 2023, health ministers announced they would take action to ensure the management of professional misconduct by health practitioners relating to sexual misconduct and sexual boundary violations would better meet community expectations.

Health ministers are seeking feedback to determine if amendments to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law are needed to provide greater transparency to the public about health practitioners’ regulatory history when they have engaged in sexual misconduct or sexual boundary violations.

Health ministers are also seeking to introduce nationally consistent requirements for practitioners who seek re-registration following cancellation or disqualification, and stronger protections for people who make complaints to regulators, in good faith, about a health practitioner.

Consultation

The consultation is separated into three parts:

  • Part 1: Expansion of the information available on the national public register
  • Part 2: Introduction of nationally consistent reinstatement orders
  • Part 3: Strengthening protections for notifiers and prospective notifiers.

Respondents are not required to respond to each part of the consultation, and are not required to respond to every question.

The consultation aims to assist health ministers to determine whether reforms should be enacted and, if so, whether any adjustments to the proposed reforms may be required.

Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on any specific impacts which should be considered in implementing these proposed reforms, or other considerations that should be noted.

A consultation paper has been developed which provides an overview of the proposed reforms and information on how to participate in the consultation.

Background papers are also provided for each consultation part, which provide further details about the proposed reforms, issues health ministers are seeking to address and further information respondents should consider when completing their submissions.

Submissions

Respondents may complete their submissions by using the online surveys provided below, or by emailing their submission using the response template provided in the consultation paper to NRAS.Consultation@health.vic.gov.au.

Contact

If you have any queries regarding the consultation, please contact the project team via email at NRAS.Consultation@health.vic.gov.au.

Part 1 – Expansion of the information available on the national public register

Start survey

Part 2 – Establishing nationally consistent reinstatement orders

Start survey

Part 3 – Strengthening protections for notifiers and prospective notifiers

Start survey

Documents