Editorial note. The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law is applied (with modifications) as a law of NSW by the NSW Health Practitioner Regulation (Adoption of National Law) Act 2009. This version is the Law as it applies in NSW.

Part 1 Preliminary

1   Short title

This Law may be cited as the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW).

2   Commencement

This Law commences in a participating jurisdiction as provided by the Act of that jurisdiction that applies this Law as a law of that jurisdiction.

3   Objectives and guiding principles

(1)  The object of this Law is to establish a national registration and accreditation scheme for—

(a)  the regulation of health practitioners; and

(b)  the registration of students undertaking—

(i)  programs of study that provide a qualification for registration in a health profession; or

(ii)  clinical training in a health profession.

(2)  The objectives of the national registration and accreditation scheme are—

(a)  to provide for the protection of the public by ensuring that only health practitioners who are suitably trained and qualified to practise in a competent and ethical manner are registered; and

(b)  to facilitate workforce mobility across Australia by reducing the administrative burden for health practitioners wishing to move between participating jurisdictions or to practise in more than one participating jurisdiction; and

(c)  to facilitate the provision of high quality education and training of health practitioners; and

(d)  to facilitate the rigorous and responsive assessment of overseas-trained health practitioners; and

(e)  to facilitate access to services provided by health practitioners in accordance with the public interest; and

(f)  to enable the continuous development of a flexible, responsive and sustainable Australian health workforce and to enable innovation in the education of, and service delivery by, health practitioners.

(3)  The guiding principles of the national registration and accreditation scheme are as follows—

(a)  the scheme is to operate in a transparent, accountable, efficient, effective and fair way;

(b)  fees required to be paid under the scheme are to be reasonable having regard to the efficient and effective operation of the scheme;

(c)  restrictions on the practice of a health profession are to be imposed under the scheme only if it is necessary to ensure health services are provided safely and are of an appropriate quality.

4   How functions to be exercised

An entity that has functions under this Law is to exercise its functions having regard to the objectives and guiding principles of the national registration and accreditation scheme set out in section 3.

5   Definitions

In this Law—

accreditation authority means—

(a)  an external accreditation entity; or

(b)  an accreditation committee.

accreditation committee means a committee established by a National Board to exercise an accreditation function for the health profession for which the Board is established.

accreditation standard, for a health profession, means a standard used to assess whether a program of study, and the education provider that provides the program of study, provide persons who complete the program with the knowledge, skills and professional attributes necessary to practise the profession in Australia.

accredited program of study means a program of study accredited under section 48 by an accreditation authority.

adjudication body means—

(a)  a panel; or

(b)  a responsible tribunal; or

(c)  a Court; or

(d)  an entity of a co-regulatory jurisdiction that is declared in the Act applying this Law to be an adjudication body for the purposes of this Law.

Note. See section 6A of the Health Practitioner Regulation (Adoption of National Law) Act 2009 which declares that Professional Standards Committees, Councils, Performance Review Panels and Impaired Registrants Panels are all adjudication bodies for the purposes of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

Advisory Council means the Australian Health Workforce Advisory Council established by section 18.

Agency Fund means the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Fund established by section 208.

Agency Management Committee means the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Management Committee established by section 29.

appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements, in relation to a registered health practitioner, means professional indemnity insurance arrangements that comply with an approved registration standard for the health profession in which the practitioner is registered.

approved accreditation standard means an accreditation standard—

(a)  approved by a National Board under section 47(3); and

(b)  published on the Board’s website under section 47(6).

approved area of practice, for a health profession, means an area of practice approved under section 15 for the profession.

approved program of study, for a health profession or for endorsement of registration in a health profession, means an accredited program of study—

(a)  approved under section 49(1) by the National Board established for the health profession; and

(b)  included in the list published by the National Agency under section 49(5).

approved qualification—

(a)  for a health profession, means a qualification obtained by completing an approved program of study for the profession; and

(b)  for endorsement of registration in a health profession, means a qualification obtained by completing an approved program of study relevant to the endorsement.

approved registration standard means a registration standard—

(a)  approved by the Ministerial Council under section 12; and

(b)  published on the website of the National Board that developed the standard.

Australian legal practitioner means a person who—

(a)  is admitted to the legal profession under the law of a State or Territory; and

(b)  holds a current practising certificate under a law of a State or Territory authorising the person to practise the legal profession.

COAG Agreement means the agreement for a national registration and accreditation scheme for health professions, made on 26 March 2008 between the Commonwealth, the States, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

Note. A copy of the COAG Agreement is available on the Council of Australian Governments’ website.

co-regulatory authority, for a co-regulatory jurisdiction, means an entity that is declared by the Act applying this Law in the co-regulatory jurisdiction to be a co-regulatory authority for the purposes of this Law.

Note. See section 6B of the Health Practitioner Regulation (Adoption of National Law) Act 2009 which declares that each Council is a co-regulatory authority for the purposes of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

co-regulatory jurisdiction means a participating jurisdiction in which the Act applying this Law declares that the jurisdiction is not participating in the health, performance and conduct process provided by Divisions 3 to 12 of Part 8.

Note. See section 6 of the Health Practitioner Regulation (Adoption of National Law) Act 2009 which declares that this jurisdiction is not participating in the health, performance and conduct process provided by Divisions 3 to 12 of Part 8 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. As a consequence, New South Wales is a co-regulatory jurisdiction.

corresponding prior Act means a law of a participating jurisdiction that—

(a)  was in force before the day on which the jurisdiction became a participating jurisdiction; and

(b)  established an entity having functions that included—

(i)  the registration of persons as health practitioners; or

(ii)  health, conduct or performance action.

criminal history, of a person, means the following—

(a)  every conviction of the person for an offence, in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere, and whether before or after the commencement of this Law;

(b)  every plea of guilty or finding of guilt by a court of the person for an offence, in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere, and whether before or after the commencement of this Law and whether or not a conviction is recorded for the offence;

(c)  every charge made against the person for an offence, in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere, and whether before or after the commencement of this Law.

criminal history law means a law of a participating jurisdiction that provides that spent or other convictions do not form part of a person’s criminal history and prevents or does not require the disclosure of those convictions.

CrimTrac means the CrimTrac agency established under section 65 of the Public Service Act 1999 of the Commonwealth.

division, of a health profession, means a part of a health profession for which a Division is included in the National Register kept for the profession.

education provider means—

(a)  a university; or

(b)  a tertiary education institution, or another institution or organisation, that provides vocational training; or

(c)  a specialist medical college or other health profession college.

entity includes a person and an unincorporated body.

exercise a function includes perform a duty.

external accreditation entity means an entity, other than a committee established by a National Board, that exercises an accreditation function.

health assessment means an assessment of a person to determine whether the person has an impairment and includes a medical, physical, psychiatric or psychological examination or test of the person.

health complaints entity means an entity—

(a)  that is established by or under an Act of a participating jurisdiction; and

(b)  whose functions include conciliating, investigating and resolving complaints made against health service providers and investigating failures in the health system.

health, conduct or performance action means action that—

(a)  a National Board or an adjudication body may take in relation to a registered health practitioner or student at the end of a proceeding under Part 8; or

(b)  a co-regulatory authority or an adjudication body may take in relation to a registered health practitioner or student at the end of a proceeding that, under the law of a co-regulatory jurisdiction, substantially corresponds to a proceeding under Part 8.

health panel

Note. This definition is not applicable to New South Wales.

health practitioner means an individual who practises a health profession.

health profession means the following professions, and includes a recognised specialty in any of the following professions—

(a)  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice;

(b)  Chinese medicine;

(c)  chiropractic;

(d)  dental (including the profession of a dentist, dental therapist, dental hygienist, dental prosthetist and oral health therapist);

(e)  medical;

(f)  medical radiation practice;

(g)  nursing and midwifery;

(h)  occupational therapy;

(i)  optometry;

(j)  osteopathy;

(k)  pharmacy;

(l)  physiotherapy;

(m)  podiatry;

(n)  psychology.

Note. See Division 15 of Part 12 which provides for a staged commencement of the application of this Law to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice, Chinese medicine, medical radiation practice and occupational therapy professions.

health profession agreement has the meaning given by section 26.

health program means a program providing education, prevention, early intervention, treatment or rehabilitation services relating to physical or mental impairments, disabilities, conditions or disorders, including substance abuse or dependence.

health service includes the following services, whether provided as public or private services—

(a)  services provided by registered health practitioners;

(b)  hospital services;

(c)  mental health services;

(d)  pharmaceutical services;

(e)  ambulance services;

(f)  community health services;

(g)  health education services;

(h)  welfare services necessary to implement any services referred to in paragraphs (a) to (g);

(i)  services provided by dietitians, masseurs, naturopaths, social workers, speech pathologists, audiologists or audiometrists;

(j)  pathology services.

health service provider means a person who provides a health service.

impairment, in relation to a person, means the person has a physical or mental impairment, disability, condition or disorder (including substance abuse or dependence) that detrimentally affects or is likely to detrimentally affect—

(a)  for a registered health practitioner or an applicant for registration in a health profession, the person’s capacity to practise the profession; or

(b)  for a student, the student’s capacity to undertake clinical training—

(i)  as part of the approved program of study in which the student is enrolled; or

(ii)  arranged by an education provider.

local registration authority means an entity having functions under a law of a State or Territory that include the registration of persons as health practitioners.

mandatory notification means a notification an entity is required to make to the National Agency under Division 2 of Part 8.

medical practitioner means a person who is registered under this Law in the medical profession.

Ministerial Council means the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council comprising Ministers of the governments of the participating jurisdictions and the Commonwealth with portfolio responsibility for health.

National Agency means the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency established by section 23.

National Board means a National Health Practitioner Board established by section 31.

National Register means the Register kept by a National Board under section 222.

national registration and accreditation scheme means the scheme—

(a)  referred to in the COAG Agreement; and

(b)  established by this Law.

notification means—

(a)  a mandatory notification; or

(b)  a voluntary notification.

notifier means a person who makes a notification.

panel

Note. This definition is not applicable to New South Wales.

participating jurisdiction means a State or Territory—

(a)  that is a party to the COAG Agreement; and

(b)  in which—

(i)  this Law applies as a law of the State or Territory; or

(ii)  a law that substantially corresponds to the provisions of this Law has been enacted.

performance and professional standards panel

Note. This definition is not applicable to New South Wales.

performance assessment

Note. This definition is not applicable to New South Wales.

police commissioner means the commissioner of the police force or police service of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth.

principal place of practice, for a registered health practitioner, means the address declared by the practitioner to be the address—

(a)  at which the practitioner is predominantly practising the profession; or

(b)  if the practitioner is not practising the profession or is not practising the profession predominantly at one address, that is the practitioner’s principal place of residence.

professional misconduct

Note. This definition is not applicable to New South Wales.

program of study means a program of study provided by an education provider.

psychologist means a person registered under this Law in the psychology profession.

public health facility includes—

(a)  a public hospital; and

(b)  a public health, teaching or research facility.

recognised specialty means a specialty in a health profession that has been approved by the Ministerial Council under section 13(2).

registered health practitioner means an individual who—

(a)  is registered under this Law to practise a health profession, other than as a student; or

(b)  holds non-practising registration under this Law in a health profession.

registration authority means—

(a)  a local registration authority; or

(b)  an entity of a jurisdiction outside Australia that has responsibility for registering health practitioners in that jurisdiction.

registration standard means a registration standard developed by a National Board under section 38.

registration status, in relation to an applicant for registration, includes—

(a)  any undertakings given by the applicant to a registration authority, whether before or after the commencement of this Law; and

(b)  any conditions previously imposed on the applicant’s registration by a registration authority, whether before or after the commencement of this Law; and

(c)  any decisions made by a registration authority, a tribunal, a court or another entity having functions relating to the regulation of health practitioners about the applicant’s practice of the profession, whether before or after the commencement of this Law; and

(d)  any investigation commenced by a registration authority or a health complaints entity into the applicant’s conduct, performance or possible impairment but not finalised at the time of the application.

relevant action

Note. This definition is not applicable to New South Wales.

relevant fee, for a service provided by a National Board, means the fee—

(a)  set under a health profession agreement between the Board and the National Agency for the service; and

(b)  published on the Board’s website under section 26(3).

responsible Minister means a Minister responsible for the administration of this Law in a participating jurisdiction.

responsible tribunal means a tribunal or court that—

(a)  is declared, by the Act applying this Law in a participating jurisdiction, to be the responsible tribunal for that jurisdiction for the purposes of this Law as applied in that jurisdiction, or

(b)  is declared, by a law that substantially corresponds to this Law enacted in a participating jurisdiction, to be the responsible tribunal for that jurisdiction for the purposes of the law of that jurisdiction.

Note. See section 6C of the Health Practitioner Regulation (Adoption of National Law) Act 2009 which declares that each Tribunal is a responsible Tribunal for the purposes of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

review period, for a condition or undertaking, means the period during which the condition may not be changed or removed, or the undertaking may not be changed or revoked, under section 125, 126 or 127.

scheduled medicine means a substance included in a Schedule to the current Poisons Standard within the meaning of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 of the Commonwealth.

specialist health practitioner means a person registered under this Law in a recognised specialty.

Specialists Register means a register kept by a National Board under section 223.

specialist title, in relation to a recognised specialty, means a title that is approved by the Ministerial Council under section 13 as being a specialist title for that recognised specialty.

State or Territory Board has the meaning given by section 36.

student means a person whose name is entered in a student register as being currently registered under this Law.

student register, for a health profession, means a register kept under section 229 by the National Board established for the profession.

unprofessional conduct

Note. This definition is not applicable to New South Wales.

unsatisfactory professional performance

Note. This definition is not applicable to New South Wales.

voluntary notification means a complaint or other notification made under Part 8, other than a mandatory notification.

6   Interpretation generally

Schedule 7 applies in relation to this Law.

7   Single national entity

(1)  It is the intention of the Parliament of this jurisdiction that this Law as applied by an Act of this jurisdiction, together with this Law as applied by Acts of the other participating jurisdictions, has the effect that an entity established by this Law is one single national entity, with functions conferred by this Law as so applied.

(2)  An entity established by this Law has power to do acts in or in relation to this jurisdiction in the exercise of a function expressed to be conferred on it by this Law as applied by Acts of each participating jurisdiction.

(3)  An entity established by this Law may exercise its functions in relation to—

(a)  one participating jurisdiction; or

(b)  2 or more or all participating jurisdictions collectively.

(4)  In this section, a reference to this Law as applied by an Act of a jurisdiction includes a reference to a law that substantially corresponds to this Law enacted in a jurisdiction.

8   Extraterritorial operation of Law

It is the intention of the Parliament of this jurisdiction that the operation of this Law is to, as far as possible, include operation in relation to the following—

(a)  things situated in or outside the territorial limits of this jurisdiction;

(b)  acts, transactions and matters done, entered into or occurring in or outside the territorial limits of this jurisdiction;

(c)  things, acts, transactions and matters (wherever situated, done, entered into or occurring) that would, apart from this Law, be governed or otherwise affected by the law of another jurisdiction.

9   Trans-Tasman mutual recognition principle

This Law does not affect the operation of an Act of a participating jurisdiction providing for the application of the Trans-Tasman mutual recognition principle to occupations.

10   Law binds the State

(1)  This Law binds the State.

(2)  In this section—

State means the Crown in right of this jurisdiction, and includes—

(a)  the Government of this jurisdiction; and

(b)  a Minister of the Crown in right of this jurisdiction; and

(c)  a statutory corporation, or other entity, representing the Crown in right of this jurisdiction.

Part 2 Ministerial Council

11   Policy directions

(1)  The Ministerial Council may give directions to the National Agency about the policies to be applied by the National Agency in exercising its functions under this Law.

(2)  The Ministerial Council may give directions to a National Board about the policies to be applied by the National Board in exercising its functions under this Law.

(3)  Without limiting subsections (1) and (2), a direction under this section may relate to—

(a)  a matter relevant to the policies of the National Agency or a National Board; or

(b)  an administrative process of the National Agency or a National Board; or

(c)  a procedure of the National Agency or a National Board; or

(d)  a particular proposed accreditation standard, or a particular proposed amendment of an accreditation standard, for a health profession.

(4)  However, the Ministerial Council may give a National Board a direction under subsection (3)(d) only if—

(a)  in the Council’s opinion, the proposed accreditation standard or amendment will have a substantive and negative impact on the recruitment or supply of health practitioners; and

(b)  the Council has first given consideration to the potential impact of the Council’s direction on the quality and safety of health care.

(5)  A direction under this section cannot be about—

(a)  a particular person; or

(b)  a particular qualification; or

(c)  a particular application, notification or proceeding.

(6)  The National Agency or a National Board must comply with a direction given to it by the Ministerial Council under this section.

12   Approval of registration standards

(1)  The Ministerial Council may approve a registration standard about—

(a)  the registration, or renewal of registration, of persons in a health profession; or

(b)  the endorsement, or renewal of the endorsement, of the registration of registered health practitioners.

(2)  The Ministerial Council may approve a registration standard for a health profession only if—

(a)  its approval is recommended by the National Board established for the health profession; and

(b)  it does not provide for a matter about which an accreditation standard may provide.

Note. An accreditation standard for a health profession is a standard used to assess whether a program of study, and the education provider that provides the program, provide persons who complete the program with the knowledge, skills and professional attributes to practise the profession in Australia. Accreditation standards are developed and approved under Division 3 of Part 6.

(3)  The Ministerial Council may, at any time, ask a National Board to review an approved or proposed registration standard for the health profession for which the National Board is established.

13   Approvals in relation to specialist registration

(1)  The following health professions, or divisions of health professions, are health professions for which specialist recognition operates under this Law—

(a)  the medical profession;

(b)  the dentists division of the dental profession;

(c)  any other health profession approved by the Ministerial Council, on the recommendation of the National Board established for the profession.

(2)  If a health profession is a profession for which specialist recognition operates, the Ministerial Council may, on the recommendation of the National Board established for the profession—

(a)  approve a list of specialties for the profession; and

(b)  approve one or more specialist titles for each specialty in the list.

(3)  In making a recommendation to the Ministerial Council for the purposes of subsection (1)(c) or (2), a National Board established for a health profession may have regard to any relevant advice provided by—

(a)  an accreditation authority for the profession; or

(b)  a specialist college for the profession.

(4)  The Ministerial Council may provide guidance to a National Board established for a health profession for which specialist recognition will operate in relation to the criteria for the approval of specialties for the profession by the Council.

14   Approval of endorsement in relation to scheduled medicines

(1)  The Ministerial Council may, on the recommendation of a National Board, decide that the Board may endorse the registration of health practitioners practising the profession for which the Board is established as being qualified to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use a scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines.

Note. See section 94 which provides for the endorsement of health practitioners’ registration in relation to scheduled medicines.

(2)  An approval under subsection (1) is to specify—

(a)  the class of health practitioners registered by the Board to which the approval relates; and

(b)  whether the National Board may endorse the registration of the class of health practitioners as being qualified in relation to a particular scheduled medicine or a class of scheduled medicines; and

(c)  whether the National Board may endorse the registration of the class of health practitioners in relation to administering, obtaining, possessing, prescribing, selling, supplying or using the scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines.

15   Approval of areas of practice for purposes of endorsement

The Ministerial Council may, on the recommendation of a National Board, approve an area of practice in the health profession for which the Board is established as being an area of practice for which the registration of a health practitioner registered in the profession may be endorsed.

Note. See section 98 which provides for the endorsement of health practitioners’ registration in relation to approved areas of practice.

16   How Ministerial Council exercises functions

(1)  The Ministerial Council is to give a direction or approval, or make a recommendation, request or appointment, for the purposes of a provision of this Law by resolution of the Council passed in accordance with procedures determined by the Council.

(2)  An act or thing done by the Ministerial Council (whether by resolution, instrument or otherwise) does not cease to have effect merely because of a change in the Council’s membership.

17   Notification and publication of directions and approvals

(1)  A copy of any direction given by the Ministerial Council to the National Agency—

(a)  is to be given to the Chairperson of the Agency Management Committee; and

(b)  must be published by the National Agency on its website as soon as practicable after being received by the Chairperson.

(2)  A copy of a direction or approval given by the Ministerial Council to a National Board—

(a)  is to be given to the Chairperson of the National Board; and

(b)  if the direction is given under section 11(3)(d), is to include reasons for the direction; and

(c)  must be published by the National Board on its website as soon as practicable after being received by the Chairperson.

(3)  A copy of a direction or approval given by the Ministerial Council to the National Agency or to a National Board is to be published in the annual report of the National Agency.

Part 3 Australian Health Workforce Advisory Council

18   Establishment of Advisory Council

The Australian Health Workforce Advisory Council is established.

19   Function of Advisory Council

(1)  The function of the Advisory Council is to provide independent advice to the Ministerial Council about the following—

(a)  any matter relating to the national registration and accreditation scheme that is referred to it by the Ministerial Council;

(b)  if asked by the Ministerial Council, any matter relating to the national registration and accreditation scheme on which the Ministerial Council has been unable to reach a decision;

(c)  any other matter relating to the national registration and accreditation scheme that it considers appropriate.

(2)  Advice under this section cannot be about—

(a)  a particular person; or

(b)  a particular qualification; or

(c)  a particular application, notification or proceeding.

20   Publication of advice

(1)  The Ministerial Council is to make arrangements for the publication of advice given to it by the Advisory Council as soon as practicable after the Ministerial Council has had the opportunity to consider the advice, in accordance with the COAG Agreement.

(2)  However, the Ministerial Council may decide not to publish an advice or part of an advice if the Advisory Council recommends that the Council not publish it in the interests of protecting the privacy of any person.

21   Powers of Advisory Council

The Advisory Council has the powers necessary to enable it to exercise its function.

22   Membership of Advisory Council

(1)  The Advisory Council is to consist of 7 members.

(2)  Members of the Advisory Council are to be appointed by the Ministerial Council.

(3)  One of the members of the Advisory Council is to be appointed as Chairperson, being a person who—

(a)  is not a registered health practitioner; and

(b)  has not been registered as a health practitioner under this Law or a corresponding prior Act within the last 5 years.

(4)  At least 3 of the other members of the Advisory Council are to be persons who have expertise in health, or education and training, or both.

(5)  Schedule 1 sets out provisions relating to the Advisory Council.

Part 4 Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

Division 1 National Agency

23   National Agency

(1)  The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency is established.

(2)  The National Agency—

(a)  is a body corporate with perpetual succession; and

(b)  has a common seal; and

(c)  may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

(3)  The National Agency represents the State.

(4)  Schedule 3 sets out provisions relating to the National Agency.

24   General powers of National Agency

The National Agency has all the powers of an individual and, in particular, may—

(a)  enter into contracts; and

(b)  acquire, hold, dispose of, and deal with, real and personal property; and

(c)  do anything necessary or convenient to be done in the exercise of its functions.

25   Functions of National Agency

The functions of the National Agency are as follows—

(a)  to provide administrative assistance and support to the National Boards, and the Boards’ committees, in exercising their functions;

(b)  in consultation with the National Boards, to develop and administer procedures for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective operation of the National Boards;

(c)  to establish procedures for the development of accreditation standards, registration standards and codes and guidelines approved by National Boards, for the purpose of ensuring the national registration and accreditation scheme operates in accordance with good regulatory practice;

(d)  to negotiate in good faith with, and attempt to come to an agreement with, each National Board on the terms of a health profession agreement;

(e)  to establish and administer an efficient procedure for receiving and dealing with applications for registration as a health practitioner and other matters relating to the registration of registered health practitioners;

(f)  in conjunction with the National Boards, to keep up-to-date and publicly accessible national registers of registered health practitioners for each health profession;

(g)  in conjunction with the National Boards, to keep up-to-date national registers of students for each health profession;

(h)  to keep an up-to-date and publicly accessible list of approved programs of study for each health profession;

(i)  to establish an efficient procedure for receiving and dealing with notifications against persons who are or were registered health practitioners and persons who are students, including by establishing a national process for receiving notifications about registered health practitioners in all professions;

(j)  to provide advice to the Ministerial Council in connection with the administration of the national registration and accreditation scheme;

(k)  if asked by the Ministerial Council, to give to the Ministerial Council the assistance or information reasonably required by the Ministerial Council in connection with the administration of the national registration and accreditation scheme;

(l)  any other function given to the National Agency by or under this Law.

26   Health profession agreements

(1)  The National Agency must enter into an agreement (a health profession agreement) with a National Board that makes provision for the following—

(a)  the fees that will be payable under this Law by health practitioners and others in respect of the health profession for which the Board is established (including arrangements relating to refunds of fees, waivers of fees and additional fees for late payment);

(b)  the annual budget of the National Board (including the funding arrangements for its committees and accreditation authorities);

(c)  the services to be provided to the National Board by the National Agency to enable the National Board to carry out its functions under this Law.

(2)  If the National Agency and a National Board are unable to agree on a matter relating to a health profession agreement or a proposed health profession agreement, the Ministerial Council may give directions to the National Agency and National Board about how the dispute is to be resolved.

(3)  Each National Board must publish on its website the fees for which provision has been made in a health profession agreement between the Board and the National Agency.

26A   Setting of fees in health profession agreements [NSW]

(1)  For the purposes of section 26, if the Ministerial Council gives a fees policy direction that provides a registration fee is to separately identify a registration and accreditation element and a complaints element, the amount of the complaints element for registration fees payable by NSW health practitioners for a particular health profession is to be decided by the Council established for that profession, with the approval of the Minister.

Note. The Ministerial Council gave a fees policy direction on 13 November 2009 that provided that the registration fees payable under this Law were to separately identify the registration and accreditation elements and the complaints element of the fees.

(2)  In this section—

complaints element means a component for the costs of operating the health, performance and conduct process under Part 8.

fees policy direction means a direction given to the National Agency and the National Boards about the policies to be applied in entering into a health profession agreement about registration fees.

NSW health practitioner means—

(a)  a registered health practitioner whose principal place of practice is in this jurisdiction; or

(b)  an applicant for registration whose application for registration includes a declaration under section 77(3) that—

(i)  the applicant will predominantly practise the profession in this jurisdiction; or

(ii)  the applicant’s principal place of residence is in this jurisdiction.

registration fee means a relevant fee payable by a health practitioner for registration or renewal of registration under this Law.

Note. This section is an additional New South Wales provision.

27   Co-operation with participating jurisdictions and Commonwealth

(1)  The National Agency may exercise any of its functions in co-operation with or with the assistance of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth, including in co-operation with or with the assistance of any of the following—

(a)  a government agency of a participating jurisdiction or of the Commonwealth;

(b)  a local registration authority;

(c)  a co-regulatory authority;

(d)  a health complaints entity;

(e)  an educational body or other body established by or under a law of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth.

(2)  In particular, the National Agency may—

(a)  ask an entity referred to in subsection (1) for information that the Agency requires to exercise its functions under this Law; and

(b)  use the information to exercise its functions under this Law.

(3)  An entity referred to in subsection (1) that receives a request for information from the National Agency is authorised to give the information to the National Agency.

28   Office of National Agency

(1)  The National Agency is to establish a national office.

(2)  The National Agency is also to establish at least one local office in each participating jurisdiction.

Division 2 Agency Management Committee

29   Agency Management Committee

(1)  The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Management Committee is established.

(2)  The Agency Management Committee is to consist of at least 5 members appointed by the Ministerial Council.

(3)  Of the members—

(a)  one is to be a person appointed by the Ministerial Council as Chairperson, being a person who—

(i)  is not a registered health practitioner; and

(ii)  has not been registered as a health practitioner under this Law or a corresponding prior Act within the last 5 years; and

(b)  at least 2 others are to be persons who have expertise in health, or education and training, or both; and

(c)  at least 2 others are to be persons who are not current or former registered health practitioners and who have business or administrative expertise.

(4)  Schedule 2 sets out provisions relating to the Agency Management Committee.

30   Functions of Agency Management Committee

(1)  The functions of the Agency Management Committee are as follows—

(a)  subject to any directions of the Ministerial Council, to decide the policies of the National Agency;

(b)  to ensure that the National Agency performs its functions in a proper, effective and efficient way;

(c)  any other function given to the Committee by or under this Law.

(2)  The affairs of the National Agency are to be controlled by the Agency Management Committee and all acts and things done in the name of, or on behalf of, the National Agency by or with the authority of the Agency Management Committee are taken to have been done by the National Agency.

Part 5 National Boards

Division 1 National Boards

31   Establishment of National Boards

(1)  Each of the following National Health Practitioner Boards is established for the health profession listed beside that Board in the following Table—

Table—National Boards

Name of Board	Health profession
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice
Chinese Medicine Board of Australia	Chinese medicine
Chiropractic Board of Australia	chiropractic
Dental Board of Australia	dental (including the profession of a dentist, dental therapist, dental hygienist, dental prosthetist or oral health therapist)
Medical Board of Australia	medical
Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia	medical radiation practice
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia	nursing and midwifery
Occupational Therapy Board of Australia	occupational therapy
Optometry Board of Australia	optometry
Osteopathy Board of Australia	osteopathy
Pharmacy Board of Australia	pharmacy
Physiotherapy Board of Australia	physiotherapy
Podiatry Board of Australia	podiatry
Psychology Board of Australia	psychology

(2)  A National Board—

(a)  is a body corporate with perpetual succession; and

(b)  has a common seal; and

(c)  may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

(3)  A National Board represents the State.

32   Powers of National Board

(1)  Subject to subsection (2), a National Board has the powers necessary to enable it to exercise its functions.

(2)  A National Board does not have power to—

(a)  enter into contracts; or

(b)  employ staff; or

(c)  acquire, hold, dispose of, and deal with, real property.

(3)  The National Board may exercise any of its functions in co-operation with or with the assistance of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth, including in co-operation with or with the assistance of any of the following—

(a)  a government agency of a participating jurisdiction or of the Commonwealth;

(b)  a local registration authority;

(c)  a co-regulatory authority;

(d)  a health complaints entity;

(e)  an educational body or other body established by or under a law of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth.

(4)  In particular, the National Board may—

(a)  ask an entity referred to in subsection (3) for information that the Board requires to exercise its functions under this Law; and

(b)  use the information to exercise its functions under this Law.

(5)  An entity referred to in subsection (3) that receives a request for information from the National Board is authorised to give the information to the National Board.

33   Membership of National Boards

(1)  A National Board is to consist of members appointed in writing by the Ministerial Council.

(2)  Members of a National Board are to be appointed as practitioner members or community members.

(3)  Subject to this section, the Ministerial Council may decide the size and composition of a National Board.

(4)  At least half, but not more than two-thirds, of the members of a National Board must be persons appointed as practitioner members.

(5)  The practitioner members of a National Board must consist of—

(a)  at least one member from each large participating jurisdiction; and

(b)  at least one member from a small participating jurisdiction.

(6)  At least 2 of the members of a National Board must be persons appointed as community members.

(7)  At least one of the members of a National Board must live in a regional or rural area.

(8)  A person cannot be appointed as a member of a National Board if the person is a member of the Agency Management Committee.

(9)  One of the practitioner members of the National Board is to be appointed as Chairperson of the Board by the Ministerial Council.

(10)  Schedule 4 sets out provisions relating to a National Board.

(11)  In this section—

large participating jurisdiction means any of the following States that is a participating jurisdiction—

(a)  New South Wales;

(b)  Queensland;

(c)  South Australia;

(d)  Victoria;

(e)  Western Australia.

small participating jurisdiction means any of the following States or Territories that is a participating jurisdiction—

(a)  the Australian Capital Territory;

(b)  the Northern Territory;

(c)  Tasmania.

34   Eligibility for appointment

(1)  In deciding whether to appoint a person as a member of a National Board, the Ministerial Council is to have regard to the skills and experience of the person that are relevant to the Board’s functions.

(2)  A person is eligible to be appointed as a practitioner member only if the person is a registered health practitioner in the health profession for which the Board is established.

(3)  A person is eligible to be appointed as a community member of a National Board only if the person—

(a)  is not a registered health practitioner in the health profession for which the Board is established; and

(b)  has not at any time been registered as a health practitioner in the health profession under this Law or a corresponding prior Act.

(4)  A person is not eligible to be appointed as a member of a National Board if—

(a)  in the case of appointment as a practitioner member, the person has ceased to be registered as a health practitioner in the health profession for which the Board is established, whether before or after the commencement of this Law, as a result of the person’s misconduct, impairment or incompetence; or

(b)  in any case, the person has, at any time, been found guilty of an offence (whether in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere) that, in the opinion of the Ministerial Council, renders the person unfit to hold the office of member.

Division 2 Functions of National Boards

35   Functions of National Boards

(1)  The functions of a National Board established for a health profession are as follows—

(a)  to register suitably qualified and competent persons in the health profession and, if necessary, to impose conditions on the registration of persons in the profession;

(b)  to decide the requirements for registration or endorsement of registration in the health profession, including the arrangements for supervised practice in the profession;

(c)  to develop or approve standards, codes and guidelines for the health profession, including—

(i)  the approval of accreditation standards developed and submitted to it by an accreditation authority; and

(ii)  the development of registration standards for approval by the Ministerial Council; and

(iii)  the development and approval of codes and guidelines that provide guidance to health practitioners registered in the profession;

(d)  to approve accredited programs of study as providing qualifications for registration or endorsement in the health profession;

(e)  to oversee the assessment of the knowledge and clinical skills of overseas trained applicants for registration in the health profession whose qualifications are not approved qualifications for the profession, and to determine the suitability of the applicants for registration in Australia;

(f)  to negotiate in good faith with, and attempt to come to an agreement with, the National Agency on the terms of a health profession agreement;

(g)  to oversee the receipt, assessment and investigation of notifications about persons who—

(i)  are or were registered as health practitioners in the health profession under this Law or a corresponding prior Act; or

(ii)  are students in the health profession;

(h)  to establish panels to conduct hearings about—

(i)  health and performance and professional standards matters in relation to persons who are or were registered in the health profession under this Law or a corresponding prior Act; and

(ii)  health matters in relation to students registered by the Board;

(i)  to refer matters about health practitioners who are or were registered under this Law or a corresponding prior Act to responsible tribunals for participating jurisdictions;

(j)  to oversee the management of health practitioners and students registered in the health profession, including monitoring conditions, undertaking and suspensions imposed on the registration of the practitioners or students;

(k)  to make recommendations to the Ministerial Council about the operation of specialist recognition in the health profession and the approval of specialties for the profession;

(l)  in conjunction with the National Agency, to keep up-to-date and publicly accessible national registers of registered health practitioners for the health profession;

(m)  in conjunction with the National Agency, to keep an up-to-date national register of students for the health profession;

(n)  at the Board’s discretion, to provide financial or other support for health programs for registered health practitioners and students;

(o)  to give advice to the Ministerial Council on issues relating to the national registration and accreditation scheme for the health profession;

(p)  if asked by the Ministerial Council, to give to the Ministerial Council the assistance or information reasonably required by the Ministerial Council in connection with the national registration and accreditation scheme;

(q)  to do anything else necessary or convenient for the effective and efficient operation of the national registration and accreditation scheme;

(r)  any other function given to the Board by or under this Law.

(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1)(g)–(j), the Board’s functions do not include receiving notifications and taking action referred to in those paragraphs in relation to behaviour by a registered health practitioner or student that occurred, or is reasonably believed to have occurred, in a co-regulatory jurisdiction.

36   State and Territory Boards

(1)  A National Board may establish a committee (a State or Territory Board) for a participating jurisdiction to enable the Board to exercise its functions in the jurisdiction in a way that provides an effective and timely local response to health practitioners and other persons in the jurisdiction.

(2)  A State or Territory Board is to be known as the “[Name of participating jurisdiction for which it is established] Board” of the National Board.

(3)  The members of a State or Territory Board are to be appointed by the responsible Minister for the participating jurisdiction.

Example. 

(a)  The Pharmacy Board of Australia decides to establish a State or Territory Board for New South Wales. The State or Territory Board will be known as the New South Wales Board of the Pharmacy Board of Australia. The members of the State or Territory Board will be appointed by the responsible Minister for New South Wales.

(b)  The Podiatry Board of Australia decides to establish a State or Territory Board for Queensland and the Northern Territory. The State or Territory Board will be known as the Queensland and Northern Territory Board of the Podiatry Board of Australia. The members of the State or Territory Board will be appointed jointly by the responsible Ministers for Queensland and the Northern Territory.

(4)  In deciding whether to appoint a person as a member of a State or Territory Board, the responsible Minister is to have regard to the skills and experience of the person that are relevant to the Board’s functions.

(5)  At least half, but not more than two-thirds, of the members of a State or Territory Board must be persons appointed as practitioner members.

(6)  At least 2 of the members of a State or Territory Board must be persons appointed as community members.

Note. See section 299 which provides that subsections (5) and (6) do not apply to a State or Territory Board for a jurisdiction for the first 12 months after the jurisdiction becomes a participating jurisdiction.

(7)  Before a responsible Minister appoints a member of a State or Territory Board the vacancy to be filled is to be publicly advertised.

(8)  The National Agency may assist a responsible Minister in the process of appointing members of a State or Territory Board, including in the advertising of vacancies.

(9)  It is not necessary to advertise a vacancy in the membership of a State or Territory Board before appointing a person to act in the office of a member.

Note. The general interpretation provisions applicable to this Law under section 6 confer power to appoint acting members of a State or Territory Board.

(10)  This section does not limit clause 11 of Schedule 4.

Note. Clause 11 of Schedule 4 confers power for the establishment of other committees.

37   Delegation of functions

(1)  A National Board may delegate any of its functions, other than this power of delegation, to—

(a)  a committee; or

(b)  the National Agency; or

(c)  a member of the staff of the National Agency; or

(d)  a person engaged as a contractor by the National Agency.

(2)  The National Agency may subdelegate any function delegated to the National Agency by a National Board to a member of the staff of the National Agency.

Division 3 Registration standards and codes and guidelines

38   National board must develop registration standards

(1)  A National Board must develop and recommend to the Ministerial Council one or more registration standards about the following matters for the health profession for which the Board is established—

(a)  requirements for professional indemnity insurance arrangements for registered health practitioners registered in the profession;

(b)  matters about the criminal history of applicants for registration in the profession, and registered health practitioners and students registered by the Board, including, the matters to be considered in deciding whether an individual’s criminal history is relevant to the practice of the profession;

(c)  requirements for continuing professional development for registered health practitioners registered in the profession;

(d)  requirements about the English language skills necessary for an applicant for registration in the profession to be suitable for registration in the profession;

(e)  requirements in relation to the nature, extent, period and recency of any previous practice of the profession by applicants for registration in the profession.

(2)  Subject to subsection (3), a National Board may also develop, and recommend to the Ministerial Council, one or more registration standards about the following—

(a)  the physical and mental health of—

(i)  applicants for registration in the profession; and

(ii)  registered health practitioners and students;

(b)  the scope of practice of health practitioners registered in the profession;

(c)  any other issue relevant to the eligibility of individuals for registration in the profession or the suitability of individuals to competently and safely practise the profession.

(3)  A registration standard may not be about a matter for which an accreditation standard may provide.

Note. An accreditation standard for a health profession is used to assess whether a program of study, and the education provider that provides the program of study, provide persons who complete the program with the knowledge, skills and professional attributes to practise the profession. Accreditation standards are developed and approved under Division 3 of Part 6.

39   Codes and guidelines

A National Board may develop and approve codes and guidelines—

(a)  to provide guidance to the health practitioners it registers; and

(b)  about other matters relevant to the exercise of its functions.

Example. A National Board may develop guidelines about the advertising of regulated health services by health practitioners registered by the Board or other persons for the purposes of section 133.

40   Consultation about registration standards, codes and guidelines

(1)  If a National Board develops a registration standard or a code or guideline, it must ensure there is wide-ranging consultation about its content.

(2)  A contravention of subsection (1) does not invalidate a registration standard, code or guideline.

(3)  The following must be published on a National Board’s website—

(a)  a registration standard developed by the Board and approved by the Ministerial Council;

(b)  a code or guideline approved by the National Board.

(4)  An approved registration standard or a code or guideline takes effect—

(a)  on the day it is published on the National Board’s website; or

(b)  if a later day is stated in the registration standard, code or guideline, on that day.

41   Use of registration standards, codes or guidelines in disciplinary proceedings

An approved registration standard for a health profession, or a code or guideline approved by a National Board, is admissible in proceedings under this Law or a law of a co-regulatory jurisdiction against a health practitioner registered by the Board as evidence of what constitutes appropriate professional conduct or practice for the health profession.

Part 5A New South Wales Councils [NSW]

Note. This Part is an additional New South Wales provision.

Division 1 Preliminary [NSW]

41A   Definitions [NSW]

In this Part—

Council means a Council established under section 41B.

Executive Officer means the Executive Officer of a Council.

NSW regulation means a regulation made under section 247A.

Division 2 Councils [NSW]

41B   Establishment of Councils [NSW]

(1)  Each of the following Councils is established for the health profession listed beside that Council in the following Table—

Table—State Councils

Name of Council	Health profession
Chiropractic Council of New South Wales	chiropractic
Dental Council of New South Wales	dental (including the profession of a dentist, dental hygienist, dental prosthetist, dental therapist or oral health therapist)
Medical Council of New South Wales	medical
Nursing and Midwifery Council of New South Wales	nursing and midwifery
Optometry Council of New South Wales	optometry
Osteopathy Council of New South Wales	osteopathy
Pharmacy Council of New South Wales	pharmacy
Physiotherapy Council of New South Wales	physiotherapy
Podiatry Council of New South Wales	podiatry
Psychology Council of New South Wales	psychology

(2)  The Governor may, by order published on the NSW legislation website, amend the Table to subsection (1) by inserting, altering or omitting the name of a Council or health profession.

(3)  A Council—

(a)  is a body corporate with perpetual succession; and

(b)  has a common seal; and

(c)  may sue and be sued.

41C   General powers of Councils [NSW]

(1)  A Council has all the powers of an individual and, in particular, may do anything necessary or convenient to be done in the exercise of its functions.

(2)  However, a Council cannot employ staff.

41D   Functions of Councils [NSW]

A Council has and may exercise the functions conferred or imposed on it by or under this Law or another Act.

41E   Membership of Councils [NSW]

(1)  Each Council consists of the following members—

(a)  for a relevant Council—

(i)  the members prescribed by the NSW regulations; or

(ii)  if the members are not prescribed by the NSW regulations, the members specified in Part 1 of Schedule 5C for the relevant Council;

(b)  for a Council that is not a relevant Council, the members prescribed by the NSW regulations.

(2)  In this section—

relevant Council means each of the following Councils—

(a)  the Dental Council of New South Wales;

(b)  the Medical Council of New South Wales;

(c)  the Nursing and Midwifery Council of New South Wales;

(d)  the Pharmacy Council of New South Wales;

(e)  the Physiotherapy Council of New South Wales;

(f)  the Psychology Council of New South Wales.

41F   Committees [NSW]

(1)  A Council may establish committees to assist it in connection with the exercise of any of its functions.

(2)  The members of a committee need not be members of the Council.

(3)  The procedure for the calling of meetings of a committee and for the conduct of business at the meetings is—

(a)  as decided by the Council; or

(b)  subject to a decision of the Council, as decided by the committee.

41G   Councils’ complaint functions may be exercised by 2 or more members [NSW]

(1)  A Council may appoint any 2 or more members of the Council to exercise the functions of the Council under Division 3 of Part 8.

(2)  The referral of a complaint by the members appointed is taken to be a referral by the Council.

41H   Annual report [NSW]

(1)  An annual report prepared by a Council under the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 must include particulars of the following for the year to which it relates—

(a)  all complaints received by the Council during the year or received by the Council before that year but which, in the Council’s opinion had not, at the start of the year, been finally disposed of;

(b)  the action taken during the year in relation to complaints received by the Council and the results of that action up to the end of that year;

(c)  all matters referred to a Performance Review Panel for performance review during the year, or referred to a Panel before the year but which, in the Council’s opinion had not, at the start of the year, been finally disposed of;

(d)  the results of all performance reviews conducted by Performance Review Panels that were finally disposed of during the year.

(2)  Two or more Councils may decide to prepare a joint annual report under the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984.

(3)  This section does not require the identity of a complainant, a person who notifies a professional performance matter to a Council, a person about whom a complaint is made or who is the subject of a performance review or any other person to be disclosed in an annual report.

41I   Information to be made available to public [NSW]

(1)  A Council for a health profession must ensure the following information, in relation to a registered health practitioner registered in the profession, is made available to the public on request—

(a)  any conditions imposed on the registration of the practitioner;

(b)  any other order made in respect of the practitioner under this Law.

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), the Council is taken to have complied with that subsection if the information is available on the Register kept by the National Board for the health profession.

(3)  This section does not require a Council to disclose anything the Council considers relates solely or principally to the physical or mental capacity of a person to practise the person’s profession.

41J   Delegation by Council and Executive Officer [NSW]

(1)  A Council may delegate to a person the exercise of any of its functions, other than this power of delegation.

(2)  An Executive Officer of a Council may delegate to a person the exercise of—

(a)  any of the functions of the Executive Officer under this Law, other than this power of delegation; or

(b)  any functions delegated to the Executive Officer by the Council, unless the Council otherwise provides in its instrument of delegation to the Executive Officer.

(3)  In this section, a reference to a person includes a reference to a group of persons, including a committee.

41K   Service of documents on Councils [NSW]

(1)  A document (other than a complaint made under Part 8) may be served on a Council by leaving it at or sending it by post to an office of the Council.

(2)  This does not affect the operation of any provision of a law or of the rules of a court authorising a document to be served on a Council in another way.

41L   Authentication of certain documents [NSW]

A certificate, summons, process, demand, order, notice, statement, direction or other document requiring authentication by a Council may be sufficiently authenticated without the seal of the Council if signed by—

(a)  the President or the Executive Officer of the Council; or

(b)  an officer of the Council authorised to do so by the Executive Officer.

41M   Recovery of charges, fines, fees and other money by Councils [NSW]

A charge, fine, fee or other money due to a Council may be recovered by the Council as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.

41N   Proof of certain matters not required [NSW]

In any legal proceedings, proof is not required (until evidence is given to the contrary) of—

(a)  the establishment of a Council; or

(b)  any resolution of a Council; or

(c)  the appointment of, or the holding of office by, a member of a Council; or

(d)  the presence of a quorum at a meeting of a Council.

Division 3 Proceedings of Councils [NSW]

41O   Other matters to be taken into account [NSW]

In the exercise of any of its functions under Subdivision 2 or 7 of Division 3 of Part 8 with respect to a complaint about a registered health practitioner or a student, a Council must have regard to any of the following matters, to the extent the Council reasonably considers the matter to be relevant to the complaint—

(a)  another complaint or notification about the practitioner or student made to the Council or the National Agency, or made to a former Board under a repealed Act, including a complaint—

(i)  in respect of which the Council, the Commission or a National Board has decided no further action should be taken; and

(ii)  that is not required to be referred, or that the Council or the Commission decides not to refer, under Division 3 of Part 8;

(b)  a previous finding or decision of a Council inquiry in relation to the practitioner or student;

(c)  a previous finding or decision of a board inquiry, professional standards committee or a tribunal established under a repealed Act in respect of the practitioner or student;

(d)  a written report made by an assessor following an assessment of the practitioner’s professional performance;

(e)  a recommendation made, or written statement of decision on a performance review provided, by a Performance Review Panel in relation to the practitioner.

41P   Exercise of functions with consent [NSW]

(1)  A Council may exercise any of its functions under this Law with respect to a registered health practitioner or student with the written consent of the practitioner or student.

(2)  A function exercised by the Council with the consent of the registered health practitioner or student may be exercised even though a condition otherwise required to be met or procedures otherwise required to be followed before its exercise have not been met or followed.

(3)  If the registered health practitioner or student withdraws the practitioner’s or student’s consent, the Council must take the action necessary to give effect to the withdrawal.

Division 4 Administration [NSW]

41Q   Executive Officer [NSW]

(1)  There is an Executive Officer of each Council.

(2)  The Executive Officer—

(a)  is responsible, as the chief executive officer of the Council, for the management of the affairs of the Council subject to any directions of the Council; and

(b)  has and may exercise other functions conferred or imposed on the Executive Officer by or under this Law or any other Act.

(3)  The Executive Officer of a Council must keep a record of—

(a)  all proceedings and decisions of Committees to which the Council refers matters; and

(b)  all proceedings and decisions of the Tribunal established for the health profession for which the Council is established; and

(c)  all inquiries held by the Council.

Division 5 Finance [NSW]

41R   Financial provisions [NSW]

The Executive Officer of a Council must give to the Health Administration Corporation constituted under the Health Administration Act 1982, for payment into an account established under section 13A of that Act, all money received by the Council.

41S   Education and Research Account [NSW]

(1)  A Council may establish an account named the ‘[name of Council] Education and Research Account’.

(2)  The Council must pay into its Education and Research Account the amounts decided by the Minister from time to time.

(3)  The Minister may not decide an amount under this section without first consulting with the Council.

(4)  Money in the Education and Research Account may be expended by the Council for or towards the following purposes—

(a)  any purpose relating to education and research about the health, performance and conduct of registered health practitioners or students registered in the health profession for which the Council is established;

(b)  meeting administrative expenditure incurred with respect to the Education and Research Account and the purposes for which it is used.

(5)  An expenditure of money under this section must not be made unless it is authorised by a resolution of the Council supported by two-thirds of the members of the Council.

41T   Medical Council to pay expenses of Medical Services Committee [NSW]

The reasonable expenses of the Medical Services Committee established under the Health Administration Act 1982 are to be paid out of the account established under section 13A of that Act for the Medical Council of New South Wales.

Part 6 Accreditation

Division 1 Preliminary

42   Definition

In this Part—

accreditation function means—

(a)  developing accreditation standards for approval by a National Board; or

(b)  assessing programs of study, and the education providers that provide the programs of study, to determine whether the programs meet approved accreditation standards; or

(c)  assessing authorities in other countries who conduct examinations for registration in a health profession, or accredit programs of study relevant to registration in a health profession, to decide whether persons who successfully complete the examinations or programs of study conducted or accredited by the authorities have the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes necessary to practise the profession in Australia; or

(d)  overseeing the assessment of the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes of overseas qualified health practitioners who are seeking registration in a health profession under this Law and whose qualifications are not approved qualifications for the health profession; or

(e)  making recommendations and giving advice to a National Board about a matter referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).

Division 2 Accreditation authorities

43   Accreditation authority to be decided

(1)  The National Board established for a health profession must decide whether an accreditation function for the health profession for which the Board is established is to be exercised by—

(a)  an external accreditation entity; or

(b)  a committee established by the Board.

Note. See sections 253 and 301 which provide for the performance of accreditation functions for a health profession by external accreditation authorities appointed by the Ministerial Council for a period after the commencement of this Law.

(2)  The National Agency may charge an entity the relevant fee for the exercise of an accreditation function by an accreditation committee.

44   National Agency may enter into contracts with external accreditation entities

The National Agency may enter into a contract with an external accreditation entity for the performance by the entity of an accreditation function for a health profession only if the terms of the contract are in accordance with the health profession agreement between the National Agency and the National Board established for that profession.

45   Accreditation processes to be published

Each accreditation authority must publish on its website or, if the authority is an accreditation committee, the website of the National Board that established the committee, how it will exercise its accreditation function.

Division 3 Accreditation functions

46   Development of accreditation standards

(1)  An accreditation standard for a health profession may be developed by—

(a)  an external accreditation entity for the health profession; or

(b)  an accreditation committee established by the National Board established for the health profession.

(2)  In developing an accreditation standard for a health profession, an accreditation authority must undertake wide-ranging consultation about the content of the standard.

47   Approval of accreditation standards

(1)  An accreditation authority must, as soon as practicable after developing an accreditation standard for a health profession, submit it to the National Board established for the health profession.

(2)  As soon as practicable after a National Board receives an accreditation standard under subsection (1), the Board must decide to—

(a)  approve the accreditation standard; or

(b)  refuse to approve the accreditation standard; or

(c)  ask the accreditation authority to review the standard.

(3)  If the National Board decides to approve the accreditation standard it must give written notice of the approval to—

(a)  the National Agency; and

(b)  the accreditation authority that submitted the standard to the Board.

(4)  If the National Board decides to refuse to approve the accreditation standard—

(a)  it must give written notice of the refusal, including the reasons for the refusal, to the accreditation authority that submitted the standard; and

(b)  the accreditation authority is entitled to publish any information or advice it gave the Board about the standard.

(5)  If the National Board decides to ask the accreditation authority to review the standard it must give the authority a written notice that—

(a)  states that the authority is being asked to review the standard; and

(b)  identifies the matters the authority is to address before again submitting the standard to the Board.

(6)  An accreditation standard approved by a National Board must be published on its website.

(7)  An accreditation standard takes effect—

(a)  on the day it is published on the National Board’s website; or

(b)  if a later day is stated in the standard, on that day.

48   Accreditation of programs of study

(1)  An accreditation authority for a health profession may accredit a program of study if, after assessing the program, the authority is reasonably satisfied—

(a)  the program of study, and the education provider that provides the program of study, meet an approved accreditation standard for the profession; or

(b)  the program of study, and the education provider that provides the program of study, substantially meet an approved accreditation standard for the profession and the imposition of conditions on the approval will ensure the program meets the standard within a reasonable time.

(2)  If the accreditation authority decides to accredit a program of study, with or without conditions, it must give to the National Board established for the health profession a report about the authority’s accreditation of the program.

(3)  If the accreditation authority decides to refuse to accredit a program of study it must give written notice of the decision to the education provider that provides the program of study.

(4)  The notice must state—

(a)  the reasons for the decision; and

(b)  that, within 30 days after receiving the notice, the education provider may apply to the accreditation authority for an internal review of the decision; and

(c)  how the education provider may apply for the review.

(5)  An education provider given a notice under subsection (3) may apply, as stated in the notice, for an internal review of the accreditation authority’s decision to refuse to accredit the program of study.

(6)  The internal review must not be carried out by a person who assessed the program of study for the accreditation authority.

49   Approval of accredited programs of study

(1)  If a National Board is given a report by an accreditation authority about the authority’s accreditation of a program of study, the Board may approve, or refuse to approve, the accredited program of study as providing a qualification for the purposes of registration in the health profession for which the Board is established.

(2)  An approval under subsection (1) may be granted subject to the conditions the National Board considers necessary or desirable in the circumstances.

(3)  If the National Board decides to approve the accredited program of study it must give written notice of the approval to—

(a)  the National Agency for inclusion of the program of study in the list under subsection (5); and

(b)  the accreditation authority that submitted the program to the Board.

(4)  If the National Board decides to refuse to approve the accredited program of study—

(a)  it must give written notice of the refusal, including the reasons for the refusal, to the accreditation authority that submitted the program; and

(b)  the accreditation authority is entitled to publish any information or advice it gave the Board about the program.

(5)  A list of the programs of study approved by a National Board as providing a qualification for registration in the health profession for which the Board is established must be published on the National Agency’s website.

(6)  The list of approved programs of study published under subsection (5) must include, for each program of study, the name of the university, specialist medical or other college or other education provider that provides the approved program of study.

(7)  An approval under subsection (1) does not take effect until the program of study is included in the list published under subsection (5).

50   Accreditation authority to monitor approved programs of study

(1)  The accreditation authority that accredited an approved program of study must monitor the program and the education provider that provides the program to ensure the authority continues to be satisfied the program and provider meet an approved accreditation standard for the health profession.

(2)  If the accreditation authority reasonably believes the program of study and education provider no longer meet an approved accreditation standard for the health profession, the accreditation authority must—

(a)  decide to—

(i)  impose the conditions on the accreditation that the accreditation authority considers necessary to ensure the program of study will meet the standard within a reasonable time; or

(ii)  revoke the accreditation of the program of study; and

(b)  give the National Board that approved the accredited program of study written notice of the accreditation authority’s decision.

51   Changes to approval of program of study

(1)  If a National Board is given notice under section 50(2)(b) that an accreditation authority has revoked the accreditation of a program of study approved by the Board, the Board’s approval of the program is taken to have been cancelled at the same time the accreditation was revoked.

(2)  If a National Board reasonably believes, because of a notice given to the Board under section 50(2)(b) or for any other reason, that an accredited program of study approved by the Board no longer provides a qualification for the purposes of registration in the health profession for which the Board is established, the Board may decide to—

(a)  impose the conditions the Board considers necessary or desirable on the approval of the accredited program of study to ensure the program provides a qualification for the purposes of registration; or

(b)  cancel its approval of the accredited program of study.

(3)  If a National Board makes a decision under subsection (2), it must give written notice of the decision, including the reasons for the decision, to the accreditation authority that accredited the program.

Part 7 Registration of health practitioners

Division 1 General registration

52   Eligibility for general registration

(1)  An individual is eligible for general registration in a health profession if—

(a)  the individual is qualified for general registration in the health profession; and

(b)  the individual has successfully completed—

(i)  any period of supervised practice in the health profession required by an approved registration standard for the health profession; or

(ii)  any examination or assessment required by an approved registration standard for the health profession to assess the individual’s ability to competently and safely practise the profession; and

(c)  the individual is a suitable person to hold general registration in the health profession; and

(d)  the individual is not disqualified under this Law or a law of a co-regulatory jurisdiction from applying for registration, or being registered, in the health profession; and

(e)  the individual meets any other requirements for registration stated in an approved registration standard for the health profession.

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), the National Board established for the health profession may decide the individual is eligible for general registration in the profession by imposing conditions on the registration under section 83.

53   Qualifications for general registration

An individual is qualified for general registration in a health profession if—

(a)  the individual holds an approved qualification for the health profession; or

(b)  the individual holds a qualification the National Board established for the health profession considers to be substantially equivalent, or based on similar competencies, to an approved qualification; or

(c)  the individual holds a qualification, not referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), relevant to the health profession and has successfully completed an examination or other assessment required by the National Board for the purpose of general registration in the health profession; or

(d)  the individual—

(i)  holds a qualification, not referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), that under this Law or a corresponding prior Act qualified the individual for general registration (however described) in the health profession; and

(ii)  was previously registered under this Law or the corresponding prior Act on the basis of holding that qualification.

54   Examination or assessment for general registration

For the purposes of section 52(1)(b)(ii), if a National Board requires an individual to undertake an examination or assessment, the examination or assessment must be conducted by an accreditation authority for the health profession, unless the Board decides otherwise.

55   Unsuitability to hold general registration

(1)  A National Board may decide an individual is not a suitable person to hold general registration in a health profession if—

(a)  in the Board’s opinion, the individual has an impairment that would detrimentally affect the individual’s capacity to practise the profession to such an extent that it would or may place the safety of the public at risk; or

(b)  having regard to the individual’s criminal history to the extent that is relevant to the individual’s practice of the profession, the individual is not, in the Board’s opinion, an appropriate person to practise the profession or it is not in the public interest for the individual to practise the profession; or

(c)  the individual has previously been registered under a relevant law and during the period of that registration proceedings under Part 8, or proceedings that substantially correspond to proceedings under Part 8, were started against the individual but not finalised; or

(d)  in the Board’s opinion, the individual’s competency in speaking or otherwise communicating in English is not sufficient for the individual to practise the profession; or

(e)  the individual’s registration (however described) in the health profession in a jurisdiction that is not a participating jurisdiction, whether in Australia or elsewhere, is currently suspended or cancelled on a ground for which an adjudication body could suspend or cancel a health practitioner’s registration in Australia; or

(f)  the nature, extent, period and recency of any previous practice of the profession is not sufficient to meet the requirements specified in an approved registration standard relevant to general registration in the profession; or

(g)  the individual fails to meet any other requirement in an approved registration standard for the profession about the suitability of individuals to be registered in the profession or to competently and safely practise the profession; or

(h)  in the Board’s opinion, the individual is for any other reason—

(i)  not a fit and proper person for general registration in the profession; or

(ii)  unable to practise the profession competently and safely.

(2)  In this section—

relevant law means—

(a)  this Law or a corresponding prior Act; or

(b)  the law of another jurisdiction, whether in Australia or elsewhere.

56   Period of general registration

(1)  The period of registration that is to apply to a health practitioner granted general registration in a health profession is the period (the registration period), not more than 12 months, decided by the National Board established for the profession and published on the Board’s website.

(2)  If the National Board decides to register a health practitioner in the health profession during a registration period, the registration—

(a)  starts when the Board makes the decision; and

(b)  expires at the end of the last day of the registration period.

Division 2 Specialist registration

57   Eligibility for specialist registration

(1)  An individual is eligible for specialist registration in a recognised specialty in a health profession if—

(a)  the individual is qualified for registration in the specialty; and

(b)  the individual has successfully completed—

(i)  any period of supervised practice in the specialty required by an approved registration standard for the health profession; or

(ii)  any examination or assessment required by an approved registration standard for the health profession to assess the individual’s ability to competently and safely practise the specialty; and

(c)  the individual is a suitable person to hold registration in the health profession; and

(d)  the individual is not disqualified under this Law or a law of a co-regulatory jurisdiction from applying for registration, or being registered, in the specialty; and

(e)  the individual meets any other requirements for registration stated in an approved registration standard for the specialty.

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), the National Board may decide the individual is eligible for registration in the recognised specialty by imposing conditions on the registration under section 83.

58   Qualifications for specialist registration

An individual is qualified for specialist registration in a recognised specialty in a health profession if the individual—

(a)  holds an approved qualification for the specialty; or

(b)  holds another qualification the National Board established for the health profession considers to be substantially equivalent, or based on similar competencies, to an approved qualification for the specialty; or

(c)  holds a qualification, not referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), relevant to the specialty and has successfully completed an examination or other assessment required by the National Board for the purpose of registration in the specialty; or

(d)  the individual—

(i)  holds a qualification, not referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), that under this Law or a corresponding prior Act qualified the individual for specialist registration (however described) in the specialty; and

(ii)  was previously registered under this Law or the corresponding prior Act on the basis of holding that qualification for the specialty.

59   Examination or assessment for specialist registration

For the purposes of section 57(1)(b)(ii), if the National Board requires an individual to undertake an examination or assessment, the examination or assessment must be conducted by an accreditation authority for the health profession, unless the Board decides otherwise.

60   Unsuitability to hold specialist registration

(1)  Section 55 applies to the making of a decision by a National Board that an individual is not a suitable person to hold specialist registration in a recognised specialty.

(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), a reference in section 55 to—

(a)  general registration in the health profession is taken to be a reference to specialist registration in a recognised specialty; and

(b)  the health profession is taken to be a reference to the recognised specialty.

61   Period of specialist registration

(1)  The period of registration that is to apply to a health practitioner granted specialist registration in a recognised specialty in a health profession is the period (the registration period), not more than 12 months, decided by the National Board established for the profession and published on the Board’s website.

(2)  If the National Board decides to register a health practitioner in a recognised specialty for the health profession during a registration period, the specialist registration—

(a)  starts when the Board makes the decision; and

(b)  expires at the end of the last day of the registration period.

Division 3 Provisional registration

62   Eligibility for provisional registration

(1)  An individual is eligible for provisional registration in a health profession, to enable the individual to complete a period of supervised practice that the individual requires to be eligible for general registration in the health profession, if—

(a)  the individual is qualified for general registration in the profession; and

(b)  the individual is a suitable person to hold provisional registration in the profession; and

(c)  the individual is not disqualified under this Law or a law of a co-regulatory jurisdiction from applying for, or being registered in, the profession; and

(d)  the individual meets any other requirements for registration stated in an approved registration standard for the health profession.

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), the National Board established for the health profession may decide the individual is eligible for provisional registration in the health profession by imposing conditions on the registration under section 83.

63   Unsuitability to hold provisional registration

(1)  Section 55 applies to a decision by a National Board that an individual is not a suitable person to hold provisional registration in a health profession.

(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), a reference in section 55 to general registration in the health profession is taken to be a reference to provisional registration in the health profession.

64   Period of provisional registration

(1)  The period of registration (the registration period) that is to apply to a health practitioner granted provisional registration in a health profession is—

(a)  the period decided by the National Board established for the profession, but not more than 12 months, and published on the Board’s website; or

(b)  the longer period prescribed by a regulation.

(2)  If the National Board decides to register a health practitioner in the health profession during a registration period, the registration—

(a)  starts when the Board makes the decision; and

(b)  expires at the end of the last day of the registration period.

(3)  Provisional registration may not be renewed more than twice.

Note. If an individual were not able to complete the supervised practice the individual requires for general registration in a health profession during the period consisting of the individual’s initial period of registration and 2 renewals of that registration, the individual would need to make a new application for provisional registration in the profession.

Division 4 Limited registration

65   Eligibility for limited registration

(1)  An individual is eligible for limited registration in a health profession if—

(a)  the individual is not qualified for general registration in the profession or specialist registration in a recognised speciality in the profession; and

(b)  the individual is qualified under this Division for limited registration; and

(c)  the individual is a suitable person to hold limited registration in the profession; and

(d)  the individual is not disqualified under this Law or a law of a co-regulatory jurisdiction from applying for registration, or being registered, in the health profession; and

(e)  the individual meets any other requirements for registration stated in an approved registration standard for the health profession.

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), the National Board established for the health profession may decide the individual is eligible for registration in the profession by imposing conditions on the registration under section 83.

66   Limited registration for postgraduate training or supervised practice

(1)  An individual may apply for limited registration to enable the individual to undertake a period of postgraduate training or supervised practice in a health profession, or to undertake assessment or sit an examination, approved by the National Board established for the profession.

(2)  The individual is qualified for the limited registration applied for if the National Board is satisfied the individual has completed a qualification that is relevant to, and suitable for, the postgraduate training, supervised practice, assessment or examination.

67   Limited registration for area of need

(1)  An individual may apply for limited registration to enable the individual to practise a health profession in an area of need decided by the responsible Minister under subsection (5).

(2)  The individual is qualified for the limited registration applied for if the National Board is satisfied the individual’s qualifications and experience are relevant to, and suitable for, the practice of the profession in the area of need.

(3)  The National Board must consider the application but is not required to register the individual merely because there is an area of need.

(4)  If the National Board grants the individual limited registration to enable the individual to practise the profession in the area of need, the individual must not practise the profession other than in the area of need specified in the individual’s certificate of registration.

(5)  A responsible Minister for a participating jurisdiction may decide there is an area of need for health services in the jurisdiction, or part of the jurisdiction, if the Minister considers there are insufficient health practitioners practising in a particular health profession in the jurisdiction or the part of the jurisdiction to provide services that meet the needs of people living in the jurisdiction or the part of the jurisdiction.

(6)  If a responsible Minister decides there is an area of need under subsection (5), the responsible Minister must give the National Board established for the health profession written notice of the decision.

(7)  A responsible Minister may delegate the Minister’s power under this section to an appropriately qualified person.

(8)  In this section—

appropriately qualified means having the qualifications, experience or standing appropriate to the exercise of the power.

health services means the provision of services by health practitioners in a particular health profession.

68   Limited registration in public interest

(1)  An individual may apply for limited registration to enable the individual to practise a health profession for a limited time, or for a limited scope, in the public interest.

(2)  The individual is qualified for the limited registration applied for if the National Board established for the health profession is satisfied it is in the public interest for an individual with the individual’s qualifications and experience to practise the profession for that time or scope.

69   Limited registration for teaching or research

(1)  An individual may apply for limited registration in a health profession to enable the individual to fill a teaching or research position.

(2)  The individual is qualified for the limited registration applied for if the National Board established for the health profession is satisfied the individual’s qualifications are relevant to, and suitable for, the position.

70   Unsuitability to hold limited registration

(1)  Section 55 applies to a decision by a National Board that an individual is not a suitable person to hold limited registration in a health profession.

(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), a reference in section 55 to general registration in the health profession is taken to be a reference to limited registration in the health profession.

71   Limited registration not to be held for more than one purpose

An individual may not hold limited registration in the same health profession for more than one purpose under this Division at the same time.

72   Period of limited registration

(1)  The period of registration that is to apply to a health practitioner granted limited registration in a health profession is the period (the registration period), not more than 12 months, decided by the National Board established for the profession and published on the Board’s website.

(2)  If the National Board decides to register a health practitioner in the health profession during a registration period, the registration—

(a)  starts when the Board makes the decision; and

(b)  expires at the end of the last day of the registration period.

(3)  Limited registration may not be renewed more than 3 times.

Note. If an individual had been granted limited registration in a health profession for a purpose under this Division, had subsequently renewed the registration in the profession for that purpose 3 times and at the end of the period wished to continue holding limited registration in the profession for that purpose, the individual would need to make a new application for limited registration in the profession for that purpose.

Division 5 Non-practising registration

73   Eligibility for non-practising registration

An individual is eligible for non-practising registration in a health profession if—

(a)  the individual—

(i)  holds or has held general registration in the health profession under this Law; or

(ii)  holds or has held specialist registration in a recognised speciality in the health profession under this Law; or

(iii)  held registration in the health profession under a corresponding prior Act that was equivalent to general registration or specialist registration in the health profession under this Law;

(b)  the individual is a suitable person to hold non-practising registration in the profession.

74   Unsuitability to hold non-practising registration

A National Board may decide an individual is not a suitable person to hold non-practising registration in a health profession if—

(a)  having regard to the individual’s criminal history to the extent that is relevant to the individual’s practise of the profession, the individual is not, in the Board’s opinion, an appropriate person to hold registration in the profession or it is not in the public interest for the individual to hold registration in the profession; or

(b)  in the Board’s opinion, the individual is for any other reason not a fit and proper person to hold non-practising registration in the profession.

75   Registered health practitioner who holds non-practising registration must not practise the profession

(1)  A registered health practitioner who holds non-practising registration in a health profession must not practise the profession.

(2)  A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

76   Period of non-practising registration

(1)  The period of registration that is to apply to a health practitioner granted non-practising registration in a health profession is the period (the registration period), not more than 12 months, decided by the National Board established for the profession and published on the Board’s website.

(2)  If the National Board decides to register a health practitioner in the health profession during a registration period, the registration—

(a)  starts when the Board makes the decision; and

(b)  expires at the end of the last day of the registration period.

Division 6 Application for registration

77   Application for registration

(1)  An individual may apply to a National Board for registration in the health profession for which the Board is established.

(2)  An application must—

(a)  be in the form approved by the National Board; and

(b)  be accompanied by the relevant fee; and

(c)  be accompanied by proof of the applicant’s identity; and

(d)  be accompanied by any other information reasonably required by the Board.

(3)  Without limiting subsection (2)(a), a form approved by a National Board for the purposes of that subsection must require an applicant—

(a)  to provide a declaration about—

(i)  the address at which the applicant will predominantly practise the profession; or

(ii)  if the applicant will not be practising the profession or will not predominantly practise the profession at one address, the address that is the applicant’s principal place of residence; and

(b)  to provide an address to be used by the Board in corresponding with the applicant; and

(c)  to disclose the applicant’s criminal history; and

(d)  to authorise the Board to obtain the applicant’s criminal history.

Note. See the definition of criminal history which applies to offences in participating jurisdictions and elsewhere, including outside Australia.

(4)  A criminal history law does not apply to the requirement under subsection (3)(c) for the applicant to disclose the applicant’s criminal history.

(5)  Information in the application must, if the approved form requires, be verified by a statutory declaration.

78   Power to check applicant’s proof of identity

(1)  If an applicant for registration gives a National Board a document as evidence of the applicant’s identity under this section, the Board may, by written notice, ask the entity that issued the document—

(a)  to confirm the validity of the document; or

(b)  to give the Board other information relevant to the applicant’s identity.

(2)  An entity given a notice under subsection (1) is authorised to give the National Board the information requested in the notice.

79   Power to check applicant’s criminal history

(1)  Before deciding an application for registration, a National Board must check the applicant’s criminal history.

(2)  For the purposes of checking an applicant’s criminal history, a National Board may obtain a written report about the criminal history of the applicant from any of the following—

(a)  CrimTrac;

(b)  a police commissioner;

(c)  an entity in a jurisdiction outside Australia that has access to records about the criminal history of persons in that jurisdiction.

(3)  A criminal history law does not apply to a report about an applicant’s criminal history under subsection (2).

80   Boards’ other powers before deciding application for registration

(1)  Before deciding an application for registration, a National Board may—

(a)  investigate the applicant, including, for example, by asking an entity—

(i)  to give the Board information about the applicant; or

(ii)  to verify information or a document that relates to the applicant;

Examples. If the applicant is or has been registered by another registration authority, the National Board may ask the registration authority for information about the applicant’s registration status.

The National Board may ask an entity that issued qualifications that the applicant believes qualifies the applicant for registration for confirmation that the qualification was issued to the applicant.

(b)  by written notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to give the Board, within a reasonable time stated in the notice, further information or a document the Board reasonably requires to decide the application; and

(c)  by written notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to attend before the Board, within a reasonable time stated in the notice and at a reasonable place, to answer any questions of the Board relating to the application; and

(d)  by written notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to undergo an examination or assessment, within a reasonable time stated in the notice and at a reasonable place, to assess the applicant’s ability to practise the health profession in which registration is sought; and

(e)  by written notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to undergo a health assessment, within a reasonable time stated in the notice and at a reasonable place.

(2)  The National Board may require the information or document referred to in subsection (1)(b) to be verified by a statutory declaration.

(3)  If the National Board requires an applicant to undertake an examination or assessment under subsection (1)(d) to assess the applicant’s ability to practise the health profession—

(a)  the examination or assessment must be conducted by an accreditation authority for the health profession, unless the Board decides otherwise; and

(b)  the National Agency may require the applicant to pay the relevant fee.

(4)  A notice under subsection (1)(d) or (e) must state—

(a)  the reason for the examination or assessment; and

(b)  the name and qualifications of the person appointed by the National Board to conduct the examination or assessment; and

(c)  the place where, and the day and time at which, the examination or assessment is to be conducted.

(5)  The applicant is taken to have withdrawn the application if, within the stated time, the applicant does not comply with a requirement under subsection (1).

81   Applicant may make submissions about proposed refusal of application or imposition of condition

(1)  If, after considering an application for registration, a National Board is proposing to refuse to register the applicant or to register the applicant subject to a condition, the Board must give the applicant written notice of the proposal.

(2)  The notice must—

(a)  state the reasons for the proposal; and

(b)  invite the applicant to make a written or verbal submission to the Board by the date stated in the notice, being not less than 30 days after the day the notice is given to the applicant, about the proposal.

82   Decision about application

(1)  After considering an application for registration and any submissions made in accordance with a notice under section 81, a National Board established for a health profession must—

(a)  decide to grant the applicant the type of registration in the health profession applied for if the applicant is eligible for that type of registration under a relevant section; or

(b)  decide to grant the applicant a type of registration in the health profession, other than the type of registration applied for, for which the applicant is eligible under a relevant section; or

(c)  decide to refuse to grant the applicant registration in the health profession if—

(i)  the applicant is ineligible for registration in the profession under a relevant section because the applicant—

(A)  is not qualified for registration; or

(B)  has not completed a period of supervised practice in the health profession, or an examination or assessment required by the Board to assess the individual’s ability to practise the profession; or

(C)  is not a suitable person to hold registration; or

(D)  is disqualified under this Law from applying for registration, or being registered, in the health profession; or

(E)  does not meet a requirement for registration stated in an approved registration standard for the profession; or

(ii)  it would be improper to register the applicant because the applicant or someone else gave the National Board information or a document in relation to the application that was false or misleading in a material particular.

(2)  In this section—

relevant section means section 52, 57, 62, 65 or 73.

83   Conditions of registration

(1)  If a National Board decides to register a person in the health profession for which the Board is established, the registration is subject to any condition the Board considers necessary or desirable in the circumstances.

Note. A failure by a registered health practitioner to comply with a condition of the practitioner’s registration does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(2)  If the National Board decides to register the person subject to a condition referred to in subsection (1), the Board must decide a review period for the condition.

84   Notice to be given to applicant

(1)  Within 30 days after making the decision under section 82, the National Board must—

(a)  give the applicant written notice of the Board’s decision; and

(b)  if the Board decides to register the applicant, give the applicant a certificate of registration.

(2)  If the Board decides not to register the applicant, or decides to register the applicant in a type of registration other than the registration applied for or subject to a condition, the notice under subsection (1)(a) must state—

(a)  the reasons for the decision; and

(b)  that the applicant may appeal against the decision; and

(c)  how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

85   Failure to decide application

If a National Board fails to decide an application for registration within 90 days after its receipt, or the longer period agreed between the Board and the applicant, the failure by the Board to make a decision is taken to be a decision to refuse to register the applicant.

Division 7 Student registration

Subdivision 1 Persons undertaking approved programs of study

86   Definitions

In this Subdivision—

approved program of study, for a health profession, does not include an approved program of study that provides a qualification for endorsement of registration in the profession but does not qualify a person for registration in the profession.

particulars means particulars required to be included in the student register.

87   National Board must register persons undertaking approved program of study

(1)  The National Board established for a health profession must decide whether persons who are undertaking an approved program of study for the health profession must be registered—

(a)  for the entire period during which the persons are enrolled in the approved program of study; or

(b)  for the period starting when the persons begin a particular part of the approved program of study and ending when the persons complete, or otherwise cease to be enrolled in, the program.

(2)  In deciding whether to register persons undertaking an approved program of study for the entire period of the program of study or only part of the period, the National Board must have regard to—

(a)  the likelihood that persons undertaking the approved program of study will, in the course of undertaking the program, have contact with members of the public; and

(b)  if it is likely that the persons undertaking the approved program of study will have contact with members of the public—

(i)  when in the approved program of study it is likely the persons will have contact with members of the public; and

(ii)  the potential risk that contact may pose to members of the public.

88   National Board may ask education provider for list of persons undertaking approved program of study

(1)  For the purposes of registering persons as required by section 87, a National Board may, at any time by written notice given to an education provider, ask the provider for the following—

(a)  the particulars of all persons who are undertaking an approved program of study for the health profession for which the Board is established;

(b)  the particulars of all persons who will be undertaking the part of the approved program of study specified in the notice.

(2)  An education provider given a notice under subsection (1) must not fail, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the notice.

(3)  A contravention of subsection (2) does not constitute an offence.

(4)  However, if an education provider does not comply with a notice under subsection (1)—

(a)  the National Board that gave the education provider the notice must publish details of the failure to comply with the notice on the Board’s website; and

(b)  the National Agency may, on the recommendation of the National Board, include a statement about the failure to comply with the notice in the Agency’s annual report.

89   Registration of students

(1)  On receipt of the particulars of persons undertaking an approved program of study, or part of an approved program of study, under section 88—

(a)  the National Board may register the persons as students in the health profession by entering the persons’ particulars in the student register kept by the Board; or

(b)  the National Board may—

(i)  by written notice given to each person, require the person to complete an application for registration as a student in the form approved by the National Board; and

(ii)  on receipt of the person’s application form, register the person as a student in the health profession by entering the person’s particulars in the student register kept by the Board.

(2)  The National Board must not register a person as a student if the person is undertaking an approved program of study for a health profession in which the person already holds registration under Division 6.

(3)  The National Board must not require a person to pay a fee for registration as a student.

(4)  As soon as practicable after registering a person as a student, a National Board must give written notice of the registration to—

(a)  the education provider that provided the student’s particulars to the Board; and

(b)  if the Board required the person to complete an application form for registration, the student.

(5)  As soon as practicable after receiving notice that a student has been registered under subsection (1)(a), the education provider must give written notice of the registration to the student.

90   Period of student registration

The period of registration for a student—

(a)  starts when the student is registered under section 89; and

(b)  expires at the end of the day on which the student completes, or otherwise ceases to be enrolled in, the approved program of study.

Subdivision 2 Other persons to be registered as students

91   Education provider to provide lists of persons

(1)  If an education provider arranges clinical training in a health profession for a person who is not enrolled in an approved program of study for the profession, the education provider must give the National Board established for the profession written notice about the arrangement.

(2)  Subsection (1) does not apply if the person is a registered health practitioner who is registered in the health profession in which the clinical training is being undertaken.

(3)  A notice under subsection (1) must include—

(a)  the particulars of the person undertaking the clinical training, and

(b)  particulars of the arrangement for the person to undertake the clinical training.

(4)  On receipt of a notice under subsection (1)—

(a)  the National Board may register the persons as students in the health profession by entering the persons’ particulars in the student register kept by the Board; or

(b)  the National Board may—

(i)  by written notice given to each person, require the person to complete an application for registration as a student in the form approved by the National Board; and

(ii)  on receipt of the person’s application form, register the person as a student in the health profession by entering the person’s particulars in the student register kept by the Board.

(5)  As soon as practicable after registering a person as a student under subsection (4), a National Board must give written notice of the registration to the education provider that provided the student’s particulars to the Board.

(6)  The National Board must not require a person to pay a fee for registration as a student.

(7)  A student’s period of registration under this section—

(a)  starts when the student is registered under subsection (4); and

(b)  expires at the end of the day on which the person completes, or otherwise ceases to undertake, the period of clinical training.

Subdivision 3 General provisions applicable to students

92   Notice to be given if student registration suspended or condition imposed

(1)  This section applies if, at any time, any of the following events occurs—

(a)  a person’s registration as a student under this Law is suspended;

(b)  a condition is imposed on a person’s registration as a student under this Law or a condition to which a person’s registration is subject is changed or removed;

(c)  a National Board accepts an undertaking from a person who is a student.

(2)  The National Board that registered the person must, as soon as practicable after the event occurs, give written notice of the event to the education provider with which the person is undertaking the approved program of study.

(3)  If an education provider is given a notice under subsection (2) about a person, the education provider must, as soon as practicable after receiving the notice, give notice of the event to any entity with whom the person is undertaking training as part of the approved program of study.

93   Report to National Board of cessation of status as student

(1)  This section applies if—

(a)  a student completes, or otherwise ceases to be enrolled in, an approved program of study for a health profession provided by an education provider; or

(b)  a student completes, or otherwise ceases to undertake, clinical training in a health profession arranged by an education provider.

(2)  The education provider must give written notice of the student ceasing to be enrolled in the program of study, or to undertake the clinical training, to the National Board established for the health profession within 60 days of it occurring.

(3)  A contravention of subsection (2) does not constitute an offence.

(4)  However, if an education provider contravenes subsection (2)—

(a)  the National Board must publish details of the contravention on the Board’s website; and

(b)  the National Agency may, on the recommendation of the National Board, include a statement about the contravention in the Agency’s annual report.

Division 8 Endorsement of registration

Subdivision 1 Endorsement in relation to scheduled medicines

94   Endorsement for scheduled medicines

(1)  A National Board may, in accordance with an approval given by the Ministerial Council under section 14, endorse the registration of a registered health practitioner registered by the Board as being qualified to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use a scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines if the practitioner—

(a)  holds either of the following qualifications relevant to the endorsement—

(i)  an approved qualification;

(ii)  another qualification that, in the Board’s opinion, is substantially equivalent to, or based on similar competencies to, an approved qualification; and

(b)  complies with any approved registration standard relevant to the endorsement.

Note. The endorsement of a health practitioner’s registration under this section indicates the practitioner is qualified to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use the scheduled medicine or class of medicines specified in the endorsement but does not authorise the practitioner to do so. The authorisation of a health practitioner to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use scheduled medicines in a participating jurisdiction will be provided for by or under another Act of that jurisdiction.

Health practitioners registered in certain health professions will be authorised to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use scheduled medicines by or under an Act of a participating jurisdiction without the need for the health practitioners to hold an endorsement under this Law.

(2)  An endorsement under subsection (1) must state—

(a)  the scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines to which the endorsement relates; and

(b)  whether the registered health practitioner is qualified to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use the scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines; and

(c)  if the endorsement is for a limited period, the date the endorsement expires.

Subdivision 2 Endorsement in relation to nurse practitioners

95   Endorsement as nurse practitioner

(1)  The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia may endorse the registration of a registered health practitioner whose name is included in the Register of Nurses as being qualified to practise as a nurse practitioner if the practitioner—

(a)  holds either of the following qualifications relevant to the endorsement—

(i)  an approved qualification;

(ii)  another qualification that, in the Board’s opinion, is substantially equivalent to, or based on similar competencies to, an approved qualification; and

(b)  complies with any approved registration standard relevant to the endorsement.

(2)  An endorsement under subsection (1) must state—

(a)  that the registered health practitioner is entitled to use the title “nurse practitioner”; and

(b)  any conditions applicable to the practice by the registered health practitioner as a nurse practitioner.

Subdivision 3 Endorsement in relation to midwife practitioners

96   Endorsement as midwife practitioner

(1)  The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia may endorse the registration of a registered health practitioner whose name is included in the Register of Midwives as being qualified to practise as a midwife practitioner if the practitioner—

(a)  holds either of the following qualifications relevant to the endorsement—

(i)  an approved qualification;

(ii)  another qualification that, in the Board’s opinion, is substantially equivalent to, or based on similar competencies to, an approved qualification; and

(b)  complies with any approved registration standard relevant to the endorsement.

(2)  An endorsement under subsection (1) must state—

(a)  that the registered health practitioner is entitled to use the title “midwife practitioner”; and

(b)  any conditions applicable to the practice by the registered health practitioner as a midwife practitioner.

Subdivision 4 Endorsement in relation to acupuncture

97   Endorsement for acupuncture

(1)  A National Board may endorse the registration of a registered health practitioner registered by the Board as being qualified to practise as an acupuncturist if the practitioner—

(a)  holds either of the following qualifications relevant to the endorsement—

(i)  an approved qualification;

(ii)  another qualification that, in the Board’s opinion, is substantially equivalent to, or based on similar competencies to, an approved qualification; and

(b)  complies with an approved registration standard relevant to the endorsement.

(2)  An endorsement under subsection (1) must state—

(a)  that the registered health practitioner is entitled to use the title “acupuncturist”; and

(b)  any conditions applicable to the practice of acupuncture by the registered health practitioner.

Subdivision 5 Endorsements in relation to approved areas of practice

98   Endorsement for approved area of practice

(1)  A National Board established for a health profession may, in accordance with an approval given by the Ministerial Council under section 15, endorse the registration of a registered health practitioner registered by the Board as being qualified to practise in an approved area of practice for the health profession if the practitioner—

(a)  holds either of the following qualifications relevant to the endorsement—

(i)  an approved qualification;

(ii)  another qualification that, in the Board’s opinion, is substantially equivalent to, or based on similar competencies to, an approved qualification; and

(b)  complies with an approved registration standard relevant to the endorsement.

(2)  An endorsement under subsection (1) must state—

(a)  the approved area of practice to which the endorsement relates; and

(b)  any conditions applicable to the practice by the registered health practitioner in the approved area of practice.

Subdivision 6 Application for endorsement

99   Application for endorsement

(1)  An individual may apply to a National Board for endorsement of the individual’s registration.

(2)  The application must—

(a)  be in the form approved by the National Board; and

(b)  be accompanied by the relevant fee; and

(c)  be accompanied by any other information reasonably required by the Board.

(3)  For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), the information a National Board may require an applicant to provide includes—

(a)  evidence of the qualifications in the health profession the applicant believes qualifies the applicant for endorsement; and

(b)  evidence of successful completion of any period of supervised practice required by an approved registration standard; and

(c)  if the applicant is required to complete an examination or assessment set by or on behalf of the Board, evidence of the successful completion of the examination or assessment.

100   Boards’ other powers before deciding application for endorsement

(1)  Before deciding an application for endorsement, a National Board may—

(a)  investigate the applicant, including, for example, by asking an entity—

(i)  to give the Board information about the applicant; or

(ii)  to verify information or a document that relates to the applicant; or

(b)  by written notice to the applicant, require the applicant to give the Board, within a reasonable time stated in the notice, further information or a document the Board reasonably requires to decide the application; or

(c)  by written notice to the applicant, require the applicant to attend before the Board, within a reasonable time stated in the notice and at a reasonable place, to answer any questions of the Board relating to the application; or

(d)  by written notice to the applicant, require the applicant to undergo a written, oral or practical examination, within a reasonable time stated in the notice and at a reasonable place.

(2)  The purpose of an examination under subsection (1)(d) must be to assess the applicant’s ability to practise the health profession in accordance with the endorsement sought.

(3)  The applicant is taken to have withdrawn the application if, within the stated time, the applicant does not comply with a requirement under subsection (1).

101   Applicant may make submissions about proposed refusal of application or imposition of condition

(1)  If, after considering an application for endorsement of a registration, a National Board is proposing to refuse to endorse the applicant’s registration or to endorse the applicant’s registration subject to a condition, the Board must give the applicant written notice of the proposal.

(2)  The notice must—

(a)  state the reasons for the proposal; and

(b)  invite the applicant to make a written or verbal submission to the Board by the date stated in the notice, being not less than 30 days after the day the notice is given to the applicant, about the proposal.

102   Decision about application

(1)  After considering an application for endorsement and any submissions made in accordance with a notice under section 101, a National Board must decide to endorse, or refuse to endorse, the applicant’s registration as sought.

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), a National Board may refuse to endorse an applicant’s registration if—

(a)  the applicant is not qualified for the endorsement under a relevant section; or

(b)  the Board considers the applicant is not competent to practise the health profession in accordance with the endorsement sought.

(3)  In this section—

relevant section means section 94, 95, 96, 97 or 98.

103   Conditions of endorsement

(1)  If a National Board decides to endorse the applicant’s registration under section 102, the Board may decide to impose on the endorsement the conditions the Board considers necessary or desirable in the circumstances.

Note. A failure by a registered health practitioner to comply with a condition of the practitioner’s registration does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(2)  If the National Board decides to impose a condition on the endorsement, the Board must also decide a review period for the condition.

104   Notice of decision to be given to applicant

(1)  As soon as practicable after making the decision under section 102, the National Board must—

(a)  give the applicant written notice of the Board’s decision; and

(b)  if the Board decides to endorse the applicant’s registration, give the applicant a new certificate of registration.

(2)  If the Board decides not to endorse the applicant’s registration or decides to endorse the applicant’s registration subject to a condition, the notice under subsection (1)(a) must state—

(a)  the reasons for the decision; and

(b)  that the applicant may appeal against the decision; and

(c)  how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

105   Period of endorsement

If a National Board decides to endorse a registered health practitioner’s registration, the endorsement—

(a)  starts when the Board makes the decision; and

(b)  expires when the practitioner’s registration ends.

106   Failure to decide application for endorsement

If a National Board fails to decide an application for endorsement within 90 days after its receipt, or the longer period agreed between the Board and the applicant, the failure by the Board to make a decision is taken to be a decision to refuse to endorse the applicant’s registration.

Division 9 Renewal of registration

107   Application for renewal of registration or endorsement

(1)  A registered health practitioner may apply to the National Board that registered the practitioner for renewal of the health practitioner’s registration.

(2)  An application for renewal of a registered health practitioner’s registration must be made not later than one month after the practitioner’s period of registration ends.

(3)  If the registered health practitioner’s registration has been endorsed by the National Board, the application for renewal of the practitioner’s registration is taken to also be an application for a renewal of the endorsement.

(4)  The application for renewal of registration must—

(a)  be in the form approved by the National Board; and

(b)  be accompanied by the relevant fee; and

(c)  if the application for renewal is made after the registered health practitioner’s period of registration ends, be accompanied by the relevant fee for a late application; and

(d)  be accompanied by the annual statement required under section 109; and

(e)  be accompanied by any other information reasonably required by the Board.

108   Registration taken to continue in force

(1)  If a registered health practitioner applies under section 107 to renew the practitioner’s registration, the applicant’s registration, including any endorsement of the registration, is taken to continue in force from the day it would, apart from this section, have ended until—

(a)  if the National Board decides to renew the applicant’s registration, the day a new certificate of registration is issued to the applicant; or

(b)  if the National Board decides to refuse to renew the applicant’s registration, the day the applicant is given notice of the decision.

(2)  If a health practitioner does not apply to renew the practitioner’s registration before the practitioner’s period of registration ends, the registration, including any endorsement of the registration, is taken to continue in force until—

(a)  the end of the day that is one month after the day the period of registration would, apart from this subsection, have ended; or

(b)  if the health practitioner applies for renewal of the registration not later than one month after the practitioner’s period of registration ends, the day referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b).

(3)  Subsection (1) or (2) does not apply if the registration is earlier cancelled under this Law.

109   Annual statement

(1)  An application for renewal of registration must include or be accompanied by a statement that includes the following—

(a)  a declaration by the applicant that—

(i)  the applicant does not have an impairment; and

(ii)  the applicant has met any recency of practice requirements stated in an approved registration standard for the health profession; and

(iii)  the applicant has completed the continuing professional development the applicant was required by an approved registration standard to undertake during the applicant’s preceding period of registration; and

(iv)  the applicant has not practised the health profession during the preceding period of registration without appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements being in place in relation to the applicant; and

(v)  if the applicant’s registration is renewed the applicant will not practise the health profession unless appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements are in place in relation to the applicant;

(b)  details of any change in the applicant’s criminal history that occurred during the applicant’s preceding period of registration;

Note. See the definition of criminal history which applies to offences in participating jurisdictions and elsewhere, including outside Australia.

(c)  if the applicant’s right to practise at a hospital or another facility at which health services are provided was withdrawn or restricted during the applicant’s preceding period of registration because of the applicant’s conduct, professional performance or health, details of the withdrawal or restriction of the right to practise;

(d)  if the applicant’s billing privileges were withdrawn or restricted under the Medicare Australia Act 1973 of the Commonwealth during the applicant’s preceding period of registration because of the applicant’s conduct, professional performance or health, details of the withdrawal or restriction of the privileges;

(e)  details of any complaint made about the applicant to a registration authority or another entity having functions relating to professional services provided by health practitioners or the regulation of health practitioners;

(f)  any other information required by an approved registration standard.

(2)  Subsection (1)(a)(ii), (iii) and (iv), (c) and (d) does not apply to an applicant who is applying for the renewal of non-practising registration.

110   National Board’s powers before making decision

Before deciding an application for renewal of registration, a National Board may exercise a power under section 80 as if the application were an application for registration made under section 77.

111   Applicant may make submissions about proposed refusal of application for renewal or imposition of condition

(1)  If, after considering an application for renewal of registration, a National Board is proposing to refuse to renew the applicant’s registration or to renew the applicant’s registration subject to a new condition, the Board must give the applicant written notice of the proposal.

(2)  The notice must—

(a)  state the reasons for the proposal; and

(b)  invite the applicant to make a written or verbal submission to the Board by the date stated in the notice, being not less than 30 days after the day the notice is given to the applicant, about the proposal.

112   Decision about application for renewal

(1)  After considering an application for renewal of registration and any submissions made in accordance with a notice under section 111, a National Board may decide to renew, or refuse to renew, the applicant’s registration or the endorsement.

(2)  The National Board may refuse to renew the applicant’s registration or any endorsement on the applicant’s registration—

(a)  on any ground on which the Board could refuse to grant the registration or endorsement under section 82 or 102 if the application were for a grant of registration or endorsement; or

(b)  if the applicant contravened any condition to which the applicant’s previous registration or endorsement was subject; or

(c)  if, during the applicant’s previous period of registration, the applicant failed to have appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements or failed to complete the continuing professional development required by an approved registration standard for the profession; or

(d)  if a statement made by the applicant in the applicant’s annual statement was false or misleading in a material particular; or

(e)  if the application is for the renewal of provisional registration and the applicant’s provisional registration has previously been renewed twice; or

(f)  if the application is for the renewal of limited application and the applicant’s limited registration has previously been renewed 3 times.

(3)  If the National Board renews a registration, including any endorsement on the registration, the registration or endorsement is subject to—

(a)  any condition to which the registration was subject immediately before the renewal; and

(b)  any condition the Board considers necessary or desirable in the circumstances

Note. A failure by a registered health practitioner to comply with a condition of the practitioner’s registration does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(4)  If the National Board decides to renew a registered health practitioner’s registration or an endorsement of the registration subject to a condition under subsection (3)(b), the Board must decide a review period for the condition.

(5)  If a National Board decides to refuse to renew an applicant’s registration or the endorsement of the applicant’s registration, or to renew the registration or the endorsement subject to a condition under subsection (3)(b), the Board must give the applicant a notice that states—

(a)  the decision made by the Board; and

(b)  the reasons for the decision; and

(c)  that the applicant may appeal against the decision; and

(d)  how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

(6)  A registration, including any endorsement of the registration, renewed under this Division—

(a)  starts on the day immediately after the applicant’s previous period of registration ends or ended; and

(b)  expires at the end of the day that is 12 months after the day it starts.

Division 10 Title and practice protections

Subdivision 1 Title protections

113   Restriction on use of protected titles

(1)  A person must not knowingly or recklessly—

(a)  take or use a title in the Table to this section, in a way that could be reasonably expected to induce a belief the person is registered under this Law in the health profession listed beside the title in the Table, unless the person is registered in the profession, or

(b)  take or use a prescribed title for a health profession, in a way that could be reasonably expected to induce a belief the person is registered under this Law in the profession, unless the person is registered in the profession.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$30,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.

(2)  A person must not knowingly or recklessly—

(a)  take or use a title in the Table in relation to another person (the second person), in a way that could be reasonably expected to induce a belief the second person is registered under this Law in the health profession listed beside the title in the Table, unless the second person is registered in the profession; or

(b)  take or use a prescribed title for a health profession in relation to another person (the second person), in a way that could be reasonably expected to induce a belief the second person is registered under this Law in the profession, unless the second person is registered in the profession.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$30,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.

(3)  Subsections (1) and (2) apply whether or not the title is taken or used with or without any other words and whether in English or any other language.

Table—Protected Titles

Profession	Title
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner, Aboriginal health practitioner, Torres Strait Islander health practitioner
Chinese Medicine	Chinese medicine practitioner, Chinese herbal dispenser, Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, Oriental medicine practitioner, acupuncturist
Chiropractic	chiropractor
Dental	dentist, dental therapist, dental hygienist, dental prosthetist, oral health therapist
Medical	medical practitioner
Medical Radiation Practice	medical radiation practitioner, diagnostic radiographer, medical imaging technologist, radiographer, nuclear medicine scientist, nuclear medicine technologist, radiation therapist
Nursing and Midwifery	nurse, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, enrolled nurse, midwife, midwife practitioner
Occupational Therapy	occupational therapist
Optometry	optometrist, optician
Osteopathy	osteopath
Pharmacy	pharmacist, pharmaceutical chemist
Physiotherapy	physiotherapist, physical therapist
Podiatry	podiatrist, chiropodist
Psychology	psychologist

114   Use of title “acupuncturist”

(1)  A registered health practitioner whose registration is endorsed under section 97 by a National Board as being qualified to practise as an acupuncturist does not commit an offence against section 113(1)(a) merely because the individual takes or uses the title “acupuncturist”.

(2)  A person does not commit an offence against section 113(2)(a) merely because the person takes or uses the title “acupuncturist” in relation to another person who is a registered health practitioner whose registration is endorsed under section 97 by a National Board as being qualified to practise as an acupuncturist.

115   Restriction on use of specialist titles

(1)  A person must not knowingly or recklessly take or use—

(a)  the title “dental specialist” unless the person is registered under this Law in a recognised specialty in the dentists division of the dental profession; or

(b)  the title “medical specialist” unless the person is registered in a recognised specialty in the medical profession; or

(c)  a specialist title for a recognised specialty unless the person is registered under this Law in the specialty.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$30,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.

(2)  A person must not knowingly or recklessly take or use—

(a)  the title “dental specialist” in relation to another person unless the other person is registered under this Law in a recognised specialty in the dentists division of the dental profession; or

(b)  the title “medical specialist” in relation to another person unless the person is registered in a recognised specialty in the medical profession; or

(c)  a specialist title for a recognised specialty in relation to another person unless the person is registered under this Law in the specialty.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$30,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.

(3)  Subsection (1) applies whether or not the title is taken or used with or without any other words and whether in English or any other language.

116   Claims by persons as to registration as health practitioner

(1)  A person who is not a registered health practitioner must not knowingly or recklessly—

(a)  take or use the title of “registered health practitioner”, whether with or without any other words; or

(b)  take or use a title, name, initial, symbol, word or description that, having regard to the circumstances in which it is taken or used, indicates or could be reasonably understood to indicate—

(i)  the person is a health practitioner; or

(ii)  the person is authorised or qualified to practise in a health profession; or

(c)  claim to be registered under this Law or hold himself or herself out as being registered under this Law; or

(d)  claim to be qualified to practise as a health practitioner.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$30,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.

(2)  A person must not knowingly or recklessly—

(a)  take or use the title of “registered health practitioner”, whether with or without any other words, in relation to another person who is not a registered health practitioner; or

(b)  take or use a title, name, initial, symbol, word or description that, having regard to the circumstances in which it is taken or used, indicates or could be reasonably understood to indicate—

(i)  another person is a health practitioner if the other person is not a health practitioner; or

(ii)  another person is authorised or qualified to practise in a health profession if the other person is not a registered health practitioner in that health profession; or

(c)  claim another person is registered under this Law, or hold the other person out as being registered under this Law, if the other person is not registered under this Law; or

(d)  claim another person is qualified to practise as a health practitioner if the other person is not a registered health practitioner.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$30,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.

117   Claims by persons as to registration in particular profession or division

(1)  A registered health practitioner must not knowingly or recklessly—

(a)  claim to be registered under this Law in a health profession or a division of a health profession in which the practitioner is not registered, or hold himself or herself out as being registered in a health profession or a division of a health profession if the person is not registered in that health profession or division; or

(b)  claim to be qualified to practise as a practitioner in a health profession or a division of a health profession in which the practitioner is not registered; or

(c)  take or use any title that could be reasonably understood to induce a belief the practitioner is registered under this Law in a health profession or a division of a health profession in which the practitioner is not registered.

(2)  A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(3)  A person must not knowingly or recklessly—

(a)  claim another person is registered under this Law in a health profession or a division of a health profession in which the other person is not registered, or hold the other person out as being registered in a health profession or a division of a health profession if the other person is not registered in that health profession or division; or

(b)  claim another person is qualified to practise as a health practitioner in a health profession or division of a health profession in which the other person is not registered; or

(c)  take or use any title in relation to another person that could be reasonably understood to induce a belief the other person is registered under this Law in a health profession or a division of a health profession in which the person is not registered.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$30,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.

Note. A contravention of this subsection by a registered health practitioner may also constitute unprofessional conduct for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

118   Claims by persons as to specialist registration

(1)  A person who is not a specialist health practitioner must not knowingly or recklessly—

(a)  take or use the title of “specialist health practitioner”, whether with or without any other words; or

(b)  take or use a title, name, initial, symbol, word or description that, having regard to the circumstances in which it is taken or used, indicates or could be reasonably understood to indicate—

(i)  the person is a specialist health practitioner; or

(ii)  the person is authorised or qualified to practise in a recognised specialty; or

(c)  claim to be registered under this Law in a recognised specialty or hold himself or herself out as being registered under this Law in a recognised specialty; or

(d)  claim to be qualified to practise as a specialist health practitioner.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$30,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.

(2)  A person must not knowingly or recklessly—

(a)  take or use the title of “specialist health practitioner”, whether with or without any other words, in relation to another person who is not a specialist health practitioner; or

(b)  take or use a title, name, initial, symbol, word or description in relation to another person that, having regard to the circumstances in which it is taken or used, indicates or could be reasonably understood to indicate—

(i)  the other person is a specialist health practitioner; or

(ii)  the other person is authorised or qualified to practise in a recognised specialty; or

(c)  claim another person is registered under this Law in a recognised specialty or hold the other person out as being registered under this Law in a recognised specialty if the other person is not registered in that recognised specialty; or

(d)  claim another person is qualified to practise as a specialist health practitioner if the person is not a specialist health practitioner.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$30,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.

Note. A contravention of this section by a registered health practitioner may also constitute unprofessional conduct for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

119   Claims about type of registration or registration in recognised specialty

(1)  A registered health practitioner must not knowingly or recklessly—

(a)  claim to hold a type of registration or endorsement under this Law that the practitioner does not hold or hold himself or herself out as holding a type of registration or endorsement if the practitioner does not hold that type of registration; or

(b)  claim to be qualified to hold a type of registration or endorsement the practitioner does not hold; or

(c)  claim to hold specialist registration under this Law in a recognised specialty in which the practitioner does not hold specialist registration or hold himself or herself out as holding specialist registration in a recognised specialty if the person does not hold specialist registration in that specialty; or

(d)  claim to be qualified to practise as a specialist health practitioner in a recognised specialty in which the practitioner is not registered.

(2)  A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(3)  A person must not knowingly or recklessly—

(a)  claim another person holds a type of registration or endorsement under this Law that the other person does not hold or hold the other person out as holding a type of registration or endorsement if the practitioner does not hold that type of registration or endorsement; or

(b)  claim another person is qualified to hold a type of registration or endorsement that the other person does not hold; or

(c)  claim another person holds specialist registration under this Law in a recognised specialty which the other person does not hold or hold the other person out as holding specialist registration in a recognised specialty if the other person does not hold specialist registration in that specialty; or

(d)  claim another person is qualified to practise in a recognised specialty in which the other person is not registered.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$30,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.

Note. A contravention of this subsection by a registered health practitioner may also constitute unprofessional conduct for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

120   Registered health practitioner registered on conditions

(1)  A registered health practitioner who is registered on conditions must not knowingly or recklessly claim, or hold himself or herself out, to be registered without the conditions or any conditions.

(2)  A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

Subdivision 2 Practice protections

Note. See also Schedule 5F which contains New South Wales provisions providing for specific restrictions in relation to the control of pharmacies.

121   Restricted dental acts

(1)  A person must not carry out a restricted dental act unless the person—

(a)  is registered in the dental profession or medical profession and carries out the restricted dental act in accordance with any requirements specified in an approved registration standard; or

(b)  is a student who carries out the restricted dental act in the course of activities undertaken as part of—

(i)  an approved program of study for the dental profession or medical profession; or

(ii)  clinical training in the dental profession or medical profession; or

(c)  carries out the restricted dental act in the course of carrying out technical work on the written order of a person registered in the dentists or dental prosthetists division of the dental profession; or

(d)  is a person, or a member of a class of persons, prescribed under a regulation as being authorised to carry out the restricted dental act or restricted dental acts generally.

Maximum penalty— $30,000.

(2)  In this section—

restricted dental act means any of the following acts—

(a)  performing any irreversible procedure on the human teeth or jaw or associated structures;

(b)  correcting malpositions of the human teeth or jaw or associated structures;

(c)  fitting or intra-orally adjusting artificial teeth or corrective or restorative dental appliances for a person;

(d)  performing any irreversible procedure on, or the giving of any treatment or advice to, a person that is preparatory to or for the purpose of fitting, inserting, adjusting, fixing, constructing, repairing or renewing artificial dentures or a restorative dental appliance.

technical work means the mechanical construction or the renewal or repair of artificial dentures or restorative dental appliances.

121A   General anaesthesia and simple sedation in dentistry [NSW]

(1)  A dentist must not carry out any procedure forming part of the practice of dentistry on a patient to whom a general anaesthetic has been administered unless the general anaesthetic has been administered by a registered medical practitioner who—

(a)  holds specialist registration in anaesthesia; or

(b)  is accredited for the purposes of administering any general anaesthetic at a public or private hospital at which surgery may lawfully be carried out.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.

(2)  A dentist must not administer simple sedation by the intravenous route unless the dentist—

(a)  has been endorsed by the Dental Board of Australia to administer sedation; and

(b)  is assisted by another person who is either—

(i)  a registered nurse who has received training in intensive care or anaesthesia; or

(ii)  a dentist, appropriately trained in the observation and monitoring of sedated patients and in resuscitation, whose sole responsibility in assisting is to monitor the level of consciousness and cardio-respiratory function of the patient and to administer resuscitation if necessary.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.

(3)  In this section—

general anaesthetic means a drug or other substance that, when administered to a patient, will render the patient—

(a)  unaware of the patient’s surroundings; and

(b)  unable to retain reflex control of the airway; and

(c)  incapable of understanding and obeying a spoken command.

simple sedation means a technique in which the use of a drug produces a state of depression of the central nervous system enabling treatment to be carried out, and in which—

(a)  the patient does not lose consciousness; and

(b)  the drug and techniques used have a margin of safety wide enough to render unintended loss of consciousness unlikely.

Note. This section is an additional New South Wales provision.

122   Restriction on prescription of optical appliances

(1)  A person must not prescribe an optical appliance unless—

(a)  the person is an optometrist or medical practitioner; or

(b)  the appliance is spectacles and the person is an orthoptist who—

(i)  prescribes the spectacles in the course of carrying out duties at a public health facility; or

(ii)  prescribes the spectacles under the supervision of an optometrist or medical practitioner; or

(iii)  prescribes the spectacles, on the written referral of an optometrist or medical practitioner, to a person who has had, within the 12 months before the referral, an ocular health examination conducted by an optometrist or medical practitioner; or

(c)  the person is a person, or a member of a class of persons, prescribed under a regulation as being authorised to prescribe an optical appliance of that type or to prescribe optical appliances generally.

Maximum penalty— $30,000.

(2)  In this section—

optical appliance means—

(a)  any appliance designed to correct, remedy or relieve any refractive abnormality or defect of sight, including, for example, spectacle lenses; or

(b)  contact lenses, whether or not designed to correct, remedy or relieve any refractive abnormality or defect of sight.

optometrist means a person registered in the optometry profession.

orthoptist means a person whose name is recorded in the Register of Orthoptists kept by the Australian Orthoptists Registration Body Pty Ltd (ACN 095 11 7 678).

123   Restriction on spinal manipulation

(1)  A person must not perform manipulation of the cervical spine unless the person—

(a)  is registered in an appropriate health profession; or

(b)  is a student who performs manipulation of the cervical spine in the course of activities undertaken as part of—

(i)  an approved program of study in an appropriate health profession; or

(ii)  clinical training in an appropriate health profession; or

(c)  is a person, or a member of a class of persons, prescribed under a regulation as being authorised to perform manipulation of the cervical spine.

Maximum penalty— $30,000.

(2)  In this section—

appropriate health profession means any of the following health professions—

(a)  chiropractic;

(b)  osteopathy;

(c)  medical;

(d)  physiotherapy.

manipulation of the cervical spine means moving the joints of the cervical spine beyond a person’s usual physiological range of motion using a high velocity, low amplitude thrust.

Division 11 Miscellaneous

Subdivision 1 Certificates of registration

124   Issue of certificate of registration

(1)  This section applies if—

(a)  a National Board decides to register an individual in the health profession for which the Board is established; or

(b)  a National Board decides to renew an individual’s registration in the health profession for which the Board is established; or

(c)  a National Board or an adjudication body decides to impose, change or remove a condition on a registered health practitioner’s registration or otherwise change the practitioner’s registration in a material way; or

(d)  a National Board or an adjudication body decides to accept an undertaking from a registered health practitioner or to change or revoke an undertaking given by the practitioner; or

(e)  a National Board decides to endorse a health practitioner’s registration.

(2)  The National Board must, as soon as practicable after the decision is made, give the registered health practitioner a certificate of registration in the form decided by the Board.

(3)  A certificate of registration must include the following—

(a)  the name of the registered health practitioner;

(b)  the type of registration granted and, if the registration is endorsed, the type of endorsement granted;

(c)  the date the registration or endorsement was granted;

(d)  the division of the register, if any, in which the practitioner is registered;

(e)  any condition to which the registration or endorsement is subject;

(f)  any undertaking given by the practitioner to the National Board;

(g)  the date the registration expires;

(h)  any other information the Board considers appropriate.

Subdivision 2 Review of conditions and undertakings

125   Changing or removing conditions or undertaking on application by registered health practitioner or student

(1)  A registered health practitioner or student may apply to a National Board that registered the practitioner or student—

(a)  for a registered health practitioner—

(i)  to change or remove a condition imposed on the practitioner’s registration or endorsement; or

(ii)  to change or revoke an undertaking given by the practitioner; or

(b)  for a student—

(i)  to change or remove a condition imposed on the student’s registration; or

(ii)  to change or revoke an undertaking given by the student to the Board.

(2)  However, the registered health practitioner or student may not make an application—

(a)  during a review period applying to the condition or undertaking, unless the practitioner or student reasonably believes there has been a material change in the practitioner’s or student’s circumstances; or

(b)  for a condition imposed by an adjudication body for a co-regulatory jurisdiction, unless the adjudication body decided, when imposing the condition, that this Subdivision applied to the condition.

(3)  An application under subsection (1) must—

(a)  be in the form approved by the National Board; and

(b)  be accompanied by any other information reasonably required by the Board.

(4)  For the purposes of deciding the application, the National Board may exercise a power under section 80 as if the application were an application for registration as a registered health practitioner.

(5)  The National Board must decide to grant the application or refuse to grant the application.

(6)  As soon as practicable after making the decision under subsection (5), the National Board must give the registered health practitioner or student written notice of the Board’s decision.

(7)  If the National Board decides to refuse to grant the application, the notice must state—

(a)  the decision made by the Board; and

(b)  that the registered health practitioner or student may appeal against the decision; and

(c)  how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

126   Changing conditions on Board’s initiative

(1)  This section applies if a National Board reasonably believes it is necessary to change a condition imposed on the registration of a registered health practitioner or student registered by the Board.

(2)  The National Board must give the registered health practitioner or student a written notice stating—

(a)  that the Board proposes to change the condition; and

(b)  how the Board proposes to change the condition; and

(c)  the reason for the proposed change; and

(d)  that the practitioner or student may, within 30 days after receipt of the notice, make written or verbal submissions to the Board about why the condition should not be changed.

(3)  However, the condition may not be changed—

(a)  during a review period applying to the condition, unless the National Board reasonably believes there has been a material change in the registered health practitioner’s or student’s circumstances; or

(b)  if the condition was imposed by an adjudication body for a co-regulatory jurisdiction, unless the adjudication body decided, when imposing the condition, that this Subdivision applied to the condition.

(4)  The registered health practitioner or student may make written or verbal submissions about the proposed change to the condition as stated in the notice.

(5)  The National Board must consider any submissions made under subsection (4) and decide whether or not to change the condition.

(6)  As soon as practicable after making its decision the National Board must give written notice of the decision to the registered health practitioner or student.

(7)  If the National Board decides to change the condition, the notice must state—

(a)  the decision made by the Board; and

(b)  that the registered health practitioner or student may appeal against the decision; and

(c)  how an application for appeal may be made and the period within which the application must be made.

127   Removal of condition or revocation of undertaking

(1)  This section applies if a National Board reasonably believes—

(a)  that a condition imposed on the registration of a registered health practitioner or student registered by the Board is no longer necessary; or

(b)  that an undertaking given to the Board by a health practitioner or student registered by the Board is no longer necessary.

(2)  The National Board may decide to remove the condition or revoke the undertaking.

(3)  However, the condition or undertaking may not be removed or revoked—

(a)  during a review period applying to the condition or undertaking, unless the National Board reasonably believes there has been a material change in the registered health practitioner’s or student’s circumstances; or

(b)  for a condition imposed by an adjudication body for a co-regulatory jurisdiction, unless the adjudication body decided, when imposing the condition, that this Subdivision applied to the condition.

(4)  As soon as practicable after making the decision the National Board must give notice of the decision to the registered health practitioner or student.

(5)  The decision takes effect on the date stated in the notice.

Subdivision 3 Obligations of registered health practitioners and students

128   Continuing professional development

(1)  A registered health practitioner must undertake the continuing professional development required by an approved registration standard for the health profession in which the practitioner is registered.

(2)  A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(3)  In this section—

registered health practitioner does not include a registered health practitioner who holds non-practising registration in the profession.

129   Professional indemnity insurance arrangements

(1)  A registered health practitioner must not practise the health profession in which the practitioner is registered unless appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements are in force in relation to the practitioner’s practice of the profession.

Note. See also the Health Care Liability Act 2001 which provides that medical practitioners practising in New South Wales must be covered by approved professional indemnity insurance within the meaning of that Act.

(2)  A National Board may, at any time by written notice, require a registered health practitioner registered by the Board to give the Board evidence of the appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements that are in force in relation to the practitioner’s practice of the profession.

(3)  A registered health practitioner must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with a written notice given to the practitioner under subsection (2).

(4)  A contravention of subsection (1) or (3) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(5)  In this section—

registered health practitioner does not include a registered health practitioner who holds non-practising registration in the profession.

130   Registered health practitioner or student to give National Board notice of certain events

(1)  A registered health practitioner or student must, within 7 days after becoming aware that a relevant event has occurred in relation to the practitioner or student, give the National Board that registered the practitioner or student written notice of the event.

(2)  A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner or student does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(3)  In this section—

relevant event means—

(a)  in relation to a registered health practitioner—

(i)  the practitioner is charged, whether in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere, with an offence punishable by 12 months imprisonment or more; or

(ii)  the practitioner is convicted of or the subject of a finding of guilt for an offence, whether in a participating jurisdiction or elsewhere, punishable by imprisonment; or

(iii)  appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements are no longer in place in relation to the practitioner’s practice of the profession; or

(iv)  the practitioner’s right to practise at a hospital or another facility at which health services are provided is withdrawn or restricted because of the practitioner’s conduct, professional performance or health; or

(v)  the practitioner’s billing privileges are withdrawn or restricted under the Medicare Australia Act 1973 of the Commonwealth because of the practitioner’s conduct, professional performance or health; or

(vi)  the practitioner’s authority under a law of a State or Territory to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use a scheduled medicine or class of scheduled medicines is cancelled or restricted; or

(vii)  a complaint is made about the practitioner to an entity referred to in section 219(1)(a) to (e); or

(viii)  the practitioner’s registration under the law of another country that provides for the registration of health practitioners is suspended or cancelled or made subject to a condition or another restriction; or

(b)  in relation to a student—

(i)  the student is charged with an offence punishable by 12 months imprisonment or more; or

(ii)  the student is convicted of or the subject of a finding of guilt for an offence punishable by imprisonment; or

(iii)  the student’s registration under the law of another country that provides for the registration of students has been suspended or cancelled.

131   Change in principal place of practice, address or name

(1)  A registered health practitioner must, within 30 days of any of the following changes happening, give the National Board that registered the practitioner written notice of the change and any evidence providing proof of the change required by the Board—

(a)  a change in the practitioner’s principal place of practice;

(b)  a change in the address provided by the registered health practitioner as the address the Board should use in corresponding with the practitioner;

(c)  a change in the practitioner’s name.

(2)  A contravention of subsection (1) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

132   National Board may ask registered health practitioner for employer’s details

(1)  A National Board may, at any time by written notice given to a health practitioner registered by the Board, ask the practitioner to give the Board the following information—

(a)  information about whether the practitioner is employed by another entity;

(b)  if the practitioner is employed by another entity—

(i)  the name of the practitioner’s employer; and

(ii)  the address and other contact details of the practitioner’s employer.

(2)  The registered health practitioner must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with the notice.

(3)  A contravention of subsection (2) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

Subdivision 4 Advertising

133   Advertising

(1)  A person must not advertise a regulated health service, or a business that provides a regulated health service, in a way that—

(a)  is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to be misleading or deceptive; or

(b)  offers a gift, discount or other inducement to attract a person to use the service or the business, unless the advertisement also states the terms and conditions of the offer; or

(c)  uses testimonials or purported testimonials about the service or business; or

(d)  creates an unreasonable expectation of beneficial treatment; or

(e)  directly or indirectly encourages the indiscriminate or unnecessary use of regulated health services.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$5,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$10,000.

(2)  A person does not commit an offence against subsection (1) merely because the person, as part of the person’s business, prints or publishes an advertisement for another person.

(3)  In proceedings for an offence against this section, a court may have regard to a guideline approved by a National Board about the advertising of regulated health services.

(4)  In this section—

regulated health service means a service provided by, or usually provided by, a health practitioner.

Subdivision 5 Board’s powers to check identity and criminal history

134   Evidence of identity

(1)  A National Board may, at any time, require a registered health practitioner to provide evidence of the practitioner’s identity.

(2)  A requirement under subsection (1) must be made by written notice given to the registered health practitioner.

(3)  The registered health practitioner must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with the notice.

(4)  A contravention of subsection (3) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which health, conduct or performance action may be taken.

(5)  If a registered health practitioner gives a National Board a document as evidence of the practitioner’s identity under this section, the Board may, by written notice, ask the entity that issued the document—

(a)  to confirm the validity of the document; or

(b)  to give the Board other information relevant to the practitioner’s identity.

(6)  An entity given a notice under subsection (5) is authorised to provide the information requested.

135   Criminal history check

(1)  A National Board may, at any time, obtain a written report about a registered health practitioner’s criminal history from any of the following—

(a)  CrimTrac;

(b)  a police commissioner;

(c)  an entity in a jurisdiction outside Australia that has access to records about the criminal history of persons in that jurisdiction.

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), a report may be obtained under that subsection—

(a)  to check a statement made by a registered health practitioner in the practitioner’s application for renewal of registration; or

(b)  as part of an audit carried out by a National Board, to check statements made by registered health practitioners.

(3)  A criminal history law does not apply to a report under subsection (1).

Subdivision 6 General

136   Directing or inciting unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct

(1)  A person must not direct or incite a registered health practitioner to do anything, in the course of the practitioner’s practice of the health profession, that amounts to unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$30,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.

(2)  Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who is the owner or operator of a public health facility.

137   Surrender of registration

(1)  A registered health practitioner may, by written notice given to the National Board that registered the practitioner, surrender the practitioner’s registration.

(2)  The surrender of the registration takes effect on—

(a)  the day the National Board receives the notice under subsection (1); or

(b)  the later day stated in the notice.

Part 8 Health, performance and conduct

Note. This Part, other than Division 2, is a substituted New South Wales provision.

Division 1 Preliminary [NSW]

138   Definitions [NSW]

(1)  In this Part—

Assessment Committee means an Assessment Committee established under section 172A.

assessor means a person appointed as an assessor under section 174D.

authorised person means a person appointed as an authorised person under section 164.

Australian lawyer has the same meaning as it has in the Legal Profession Act 2004.

Commission means the Health Care Complaints Commission constituted under the Health Care Complaints Act 1993.

Committee means—

(a)  an Assessment Committee; or

(b)  a Professional Standards Committee.

competent has the meaning given by section 139.

complainant includes a person acting as a nominal complainant in accordance with this Law.

conduct means any act or omission.

confidential information has the meaning given by section 139A.

confidential information notice means a notice that—

(a)  indicates that—

(i)  confidential information is not included in a statement required to be given to a person under this Law; or

(ii)  a statement required to be given to a person under this Law will not be provided; and

(b)  gives the reason the confidential information is not included or the statement will not be provided.

Council means a Council established under section 41B.

court includes a tribunal, authority or person having power to require the production of documents or the answering of questions but does not include—

(a)  a Tribunal established under section 165; or

(b)  a Council; or

(c)  a Performance Review Panel; or

(d)  a Professional Standards Committee.

criminal finding means—

(a)  a finding that an offence has been proved without proceeding to a conviction; or

(b)  a finding that an offence has been proved and the discharging of, or the making of an order releasing, the offender conditionally on entering into a good behaviour bond for a specified period or on other conditions decided by the court.

critical compliance order or condition means an order or condition of a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration that is a critical compliance order or condition under section 146B, 149A or 163B.

Director-General means the Director-General of the Department of Health.

drug related offence means an offence under—

(a)  the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 or regulations under that Act; or

(b)  the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 or regulations under that Act.

Executive Officer means the Executive Officer of a Council.

former Board means a Board established under a repealed Act.

health product means a pharmaceutical product or other product used for health purposes.

health service has the meaning given by the Health Care Complaints Act 1993.

health service provider has the meaning given by the Health Care Complaints Act 1993.

Impaired Registrants Panel means an Impaired Registrants Panel established under section 173.

Minister means—

(a)  the Minister administering this Law; or

(b)  if different Ministers are administering the Law in different respects or different portions of the Law, the Minister administering the Law in the relevant respect or administering the relevant portion of the Law.

NSW provision means—

(a)  any of the following provisions—

(i)  section 26A;

(ii)  Part 5A;

(iii)  section 121A;

(iv)  section 129(1) and (4);

(v)  Divisions 1 and 3–14B of Part 8;

(vi)  section 216(2)(ba);

(vii)  section 236A;

(viii)  section 244A;

(ix)  section 247A;

(x)  Schedules 5A–5F; or

(b)  a NSW regulation.

NSW regulation means a regulation made under section 247A.

overservicing, by a registered health practitioner, means the practitioner, in the course of practising the practitioner’s profession—

(a)  provides a service in circumstances in which provision of the service is unnecessary, not reasonably required or excessive; or

(b)  engages in conduct prescribed by the NSW regulations as constituting overservicing.

performance assessment means an assessment of a registered health practitioner’s professional performance conducted by an assessor under Subdivision 3 of Division 5 of Part 8.

performance review means a review of a registered health practitioner’s professional performance conducted by a Performance Review Panel under Subdivision 4 of Division 5 of Part 8.

Performance Review Panel means a Performance Review Panel established under section 174.

pharmacist means a person registered under this Law in the pharmacy profession.

President means the President of a Council.

professional misconduct has the meaning given by section 139E.

Professional Standards Committee means a Professional Standards Committee established under section 169.

prohibition order has the meaning given by section 149C(5).

protected report means any of the following reports—

(a)  a report prepared by an Impaired Registrants Panel for a Council;

(b)  a report prepared by an assessor for a Council or Performance Review Panel;

(c)  a report prepared by a registered health practitioner about an examination conducted under section 145E, 152B or 152C;

(d)  a report prepared by a registered health practitioner for a Council in connection with an examination of a person by the health practitioner as required by a condition of registration or an order imposed by an adjudication body on the person;

(e)  a report prepared by a registered health practitioner for a Council under a request made by a person to the health practitioner in connection with a matter being dealt with by an Impaired Registrants Panel;

(f)  a report prepared, under clause 12 of Schedule 5B, by a person giving expert advice to a Performance Review Panel.

repealed Act means any of the following Acts—

(a)  Chiropractors Act 2001;

(b)  Dental Practice Act 2001;

(c)  Medical Practice Act 1992;

(d)  Nurses and Midwives Act 1991;

(e)  Optometrists Act 2002;

(f)  Osteopaths Act 2001;

(g)  Pharmacy Practice Act 2006;

(h)  Physiotherapists Act 2001;

(i)  Podiatrists Act 2003;

(j)  Psychologists Act 2001.

sex or violence offence means an offence involving any of the following, other than an offence prescribed by the NSW regulations—

(a)  sexual activity;

(b)  acts of indecency;

(c)  child pornography or child abuse material (within the meaning of the Crimes Act 1900);

(d)  physical violence or the threat of physical violence.

Tribunal means a Tribunal established under section 165.

unsatisfactory professional conduct has the meaning given by sections 139B–139D.

(2)  A term defined in subsection (1) for this Part and also used in another NSW provision has the same meaning in the other NSW provision as it has in this Part.

139   Competence to practise health profession [NSW]

A person is competent to practise a health profession only if the person—

(a)  has sufficient physical capacity, mental capacity, knowledge and skill to practise the profession; and

(b)  has sufficient communication skills for the practice of the profession, including an adequate command of the English language.

139A   Confidential information [NSW]

Information is confidential information for the purposes of a statement of a decision under this Law if it falls into any of the following categories—

(a)  it has not previously been published or made available to the public when the statement of the decision to which it is or may be relevant is being prepared;

(b)  it relates to the personal or business affairs of a person other than a person to whom the statement is required to be provided or would be required to be provided but for the fact that it contains confidential information;

(c)  it was supplied in confidence;

(d)  its publication would reveal a trade secret;

(e)  it was provided in compliance with a duty imposed by or under an Act;

(f)  its inclusion in the statement would be a contravention of an Act;

(g)  it is a protected report or would reveal the contents of a protected report.

139B   Meaning of “unsatisfactory professional conduct” of registered health practitioner generally [NSW]

(1)  Unsatisfactory professional conduct of a registered health practitioner includes each of the following—

(a)  Conduct significantly below reasonable standard
Conduct that demonstrates the knowledge, skill or judgment possessed, or care exercised, by the practitioner in the practice of the practitioner’s profession is significantly below the standard reasonably expected of a practitioner of an equivalent level of training or experience.

(b)  Contravention of this Law or regulations
A contravention by the practitioner (whether by act or omission) of a provision of this Law, or the regulations under this Law or under the NSW regulations, whether or not the practitioner has been prosecuted for or convicted of an offence in respect of the contravention.

(c)  Contravention of conditions of registration or undertaking
A contravention by the practitioner (whether by act or omission) of—

(i)  a condition to which the practitioner’s registration is subject; or

(ii)  an undertaking given to a National Board.

(d)  Failure to comply with decision or order of Committee or Tribunal
A contravention by the practitioner (whether by act or omission) of a decision or order made by a Committee or Tribunal in relation to the practitioner.

(e)  Contravention of requirement under Health Care Complaints Act 1993
A contravention by the practitioner of section 34A(4) of the Health Care Complaints Act 1993.

(f)  Accepting benefit for referral or recommendation to health service provider
Accepting from a health service provider (or from another person on behalf of the health service provider) a benefit as inducement, consideration or reward for—

(i)  referring another person to the health service provider; or

(ii)  recommending another person use any health service provided by the health service provider or consult with the health service provider in relation to a health matter.

(g)  Accepting benefit for recommendation of health product
Accepting from a person who supplies a health product (or from another person on behalf of the supplier) a benefit as inducement, consideration or reward for recommending that another person use the health product, but does not include accepting a benefit that consists of ordinary retail conduct.

(h)  Offering a benefit for a referral or recommendation
Offering or giving a person a benefit as inducement, consideration or reward for the person—

(i)  referring another person to the registered health practitioner; or

(ii)  recommending to another person that the person use a health service provided by the practitioner or consult the practitioner in relation to a health matter.

(i)  Failure to disclose pecuniary interest in giving referral or recommendation
Referring a person to, or recommending that a person use or consult—

(i)  another health service provider; or

(ii)  a health service; or

(iii)  a health product;

      if the practitioner has a pecuniary interest in giving that referral or recommendation, unless the practitioner discloses the nature of the interest to the person before or at the time of giving the referral or recommendation.

(j)  Engaging in overservicing
Engaging in overservicing.

(k)  Supervision of assistants
Permitting an assistant employed by the practitioner (in connection with the practitioner’s professional practice) who is not a registered health practitioner to attend, treat or perform operations on patients in respect of matters requiring professional discretion or skill.

(l)  Other improper or unethical conduct
Any other improper or unethical conduct relating to the practice or purported practice of the practitioner’s profession.

(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1)(i), a registered health practitioner has a pecuniary interest in giving a referral or recommendation—

(a)  if the health service provider, or the supplier of the health product, to which the referral or recommendation relates is a public company and the practitioner holds 5% or more of the issued share capital of the company; or

(b)  if the health service provider, or the supplier of the health product, to which the referral or recommendation relates is a private company and the practitioner has any interest in the company; or

(c)  if the health service provider, or the supplier of the health product, to whom the referral or recommendation relates is a natural person who is a partner of the practitioner; or

(d)  in any circumstances prescribed by the NSW regulations.

(3)  For avoidance of doubt, a reference in this section to a referral or recommendation that is given to a person includes a referral or recommendation that is given to more than one person or to persons of a particular class.

(4)  In this section—

benefit means money, property or anything else of value.

recommend a health product includes supply or prescribe the health product.

supply includes sell.

139C   Additional matters that constitute unsatisfactory professional conduct of medical practitioners [NSW]

In addition to the matters referred to in section 139B, unsatisfactory professional conduct of a medical practitioner also includes each of the following—

(a)  Criminal convictions and criminal findings
Conduct that results in the medical practitioner being convicted of or being made the subject of a criminal finding for any of the following offences—

(i)  an offence under section 102 of the Mental Health Act 2007;

(ii)  an offence under section 175 of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998;

(iii)  an offence under section 35 of the Guardianship Act 1987;

(iv)  an offence under section 128A, 128B, 129 or 129AA of the Health Insurance Act 1973 of the Commonwealth;

(v)  an offence under section 58 of the Private Health Facilities Act 2007.

(b)  Assisting unregistered practitioners
By the medical practitioner’s presence, countenance, advice, assistance or co-operation, knowingly enable a person who is not a medical practitioner (whether or not that person is described as an assistant) or is not otherwise authorised by a National Board to—

(i)  perform operative surgery (as distinct from manipulative surgery) on a patient in respect of any matter requiring professional discretion or skill; or

(ii)  issue or procure the issue of a certificate, notification, report or other like document, or to engage in professional practice, as if the person were a medical practitioner.

(c)  Failing to render urgent attention
Refusing or failing, without reasonable cause, to attend (within a reasonable time after being requested to do so) on a person for the purpose of rendering professional services in the capacity of a medical practitioner if the practitioner has reasonable cause to believe the person is in need of urgent attention by a medical practitioner, unless the practitioner has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that another medical practitioner attends instead within a reasonable time.

139D   Additional matters that constitute unsatisfactory professional conduct of pharmacists [NSW]

(1)  In addition to the matters referred to in section 139B, unsatisfactory professional conduct of a pharmacist also includes each of the following—

(a)  practising pharmacy for remuneration at a pharmacy in the course of employment by, or in association with, a non-pharmacist;

(b)  the supply of precursor drugs, or preparations, admixtures, extracts or other substances containing a proportion of precursor drugs, by the pharmacist in circumstances in which the supply of the drugs, preparations, admixtures, extracts or other substances is unnecessary, not reasonably required, or excessive;

(c)  if the pharmacist is the owner of, or otherwise has a pecuniary interest in, a pharmacy business, failing to display at or near the main entrance of each premises in which the business is carried on the owner’s name;

(d)  if the pharmacist is the pharmacist in charge of a pharmacy, failing to display adjacent to the area where dispensing is carried on in the pharmacy the name of the pharmacist in charge followed by the words “PHARMACIST IN CHARGE”;

(e)  if the pharmacist is the owner of, or otherwise has a pecuniary interest in, a pharmacy business, failing to ensure drug price information displayed in premises in which the business is carried on does not contravene the Price Information Code of Practice (within the meaning of Schedule 5F).

(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1)(c) and (e), the owner of a pharmacy business includes—

(a)  a pharmacist who has a pecuniary interest in the pharmacy business; and

(b)  a pharmacist who is nominated by the owner of the pharmacy business as being responsible for the matters referred to in clause 6(2)(c) or 7(2) of Schedule 5F.

(3)  In this section—

non-pharmacist means an entity that is not a pharmacist, but does not include any of the following—

(a)  the Crown;

(b)  a public health organisation or a charitable or philanthropic institution;

(c)  a pharmacists’ partnership or pharmacists’ body corporate;

(d)  a friendly or other society that owns a pharmacy business as permitted by clause 6 of Schedule 5F;

(e)  a body corporate that owns or carries on a pharmacy business under clause 7 of Schedule 5F;

(f)  a person who has a pecuniary interest in a pharmacy business as referred to in clause 5(4) or (5) of Schedule 5F and who carries on that business;

(g)  a person who, in assuming the administration of the property of another person under a security interest granted in respect of that other person’s pharmacy business, carries on that pharmacy business.

precursor drug has the same meaning as precursor has in section 24A of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985.

139E   Meaning of “professional misconduct” [NSW]

For the purposes of this Law, professional misconduct of a registered health practitioner means—

(a)  unsatisfactory professional conduct of a sufficiently serious nature to justify suspension or cancellation of the practitioner’s registration; or

(b)  more than one instance of unsatisfactory professional conduct that, when the instances are considered together, amount to conduct of a sufficiently serious nature to justify suspension or cancellation of the practitioner’s registration.

139F   References to “complaint” [NSW]

In Subdivisions 1–6 of Division 3 and in Subdivisions 1 and 2 of Division 6, a reference to a complaint includes a reference to a matter arising out of the investigation of a complaint in accordance with this Law or another Act.

139G   Part applicable to persons formerly registered under this Law

(1)  This section applies if a person was, but is no longer, registered in a health profession under this Law.

(2)  A notification may be made, and proceedings may be taken, under this Part in relation to the person’s behaviour while registered as if the person were still registered under this Law by the National Board established for the health profession.

(3)  For the purposes of subsection (2), this Part (other than Division 2) applies, with any necessary changes, to the person as if a reference to a registered health practitioner included that person.

Note. This section is a Health Practitioner Regulation National Law provision.

139H   Part applicable to persons formerly registered under corresponding prior Act in certain circumstances

(1)  This section applies if a person—

(a)  was registered in a health profession under a corresponding prior Act; and

(b)  is not, and has not been, registered in the health profession under this Law.

(2)  A notification may be made, and proceedings may be taken, under this Part in relation to the person’s behaviour while registered under the corresponding prior Act as if the person were registered under this Law by the National Board established for the health profession.

(3)  However, subsection (2) applies only to the extent—

(a)  a notification about the person’s behaviour could have been made under the corresponding prior Act; and

(b)  proceedings of that type could have been taken under the corresponding prior Act.

(4)  For the purposes of subsection (2), this Part (other than Division 2) applies, with any necessary changes, to the person as if a reference to a registered health practitioner included that person.

Note. This section is a Health Practitioner Regulation National Law provision.

Division 2 Mandatory notifications

Note. This Division is a Health Practitioner Regulation National Law provision.

140   Definition of notifiable conduct

In this Division—

notifiable conduct, in relation to a registered health practitioner, means the practitioner has—

(a)  practised the practitioner’s profession while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs; or

(b)  engaged in sexual misconduct in connection with the practice of the practitioner’s profession; or

(c)  placed the public at risk of substantial harm in the practitioner’s practice of the profession because the practitioner has an impairment; or

(d)  placed the public at risk of harm because the practitioner has practised the profession in a way that constitutes a significant departure from accepted professional standards.

141   Mandatory notifications by health practitioners

(1)  This section applies to a registered health practitioner (the first health practitioner) who, in the course of practising the first health practitioner’s profession, forms a reasonable belief that—

(a)  another registered health practitioner (the second health practitioner) has behaved in a way that constitutes notifiable conduct; or

(b)  a student has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

(2)  The first health practitioner must, as soon as practicable after forming the reasonable belief, notify the National Agency of the second health practitioner’s notifiable conduct or the student’s impairment.

Note. See section 237 which provides protection from civil, criminal and administrative liability for persons who, in good faith, make a notification under this Law. Section 237(3) provides that the making of a notification does not constitute a breach of professional etiquette or ethics or a departure from accepted standards of professional conduct and nor is any liability for defamation incurred.

(3)  A contravention of subsection (2) by a registered health practitioner does not constitute an offence but may constitute behaviour for which action may be taken under this Part.

(4)  For the purposes of subsection (1), the first health practitioner does not form the reasonable belief in the course of practising the profession if—

(a)  the first health practitioner—

(i)  is employed or otherwise engaged by an insurer that provides professional indemnity insurance that relates to the second health practitioner or student; and

(ii)  forms the reasonable belief the second health practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes notifiable conduct, or the student has an impairment, as a result of a disclosure made by a person to the first health practitioner in the course of a legal proceeding or the provision of legal advice arising from the insurance policy; or

(b)  the first health practitioner forms the reasonable belief in the course of providing advice in relation to the notifiable conduct or impairment for the purposes of a legal proceeding or the preparation of legal advice; or

(c)  the first health practitioner is a legal practitioner and forms the reasonable belief in the course of providing legal services to the second health practitioner or student in relation to a legal proceeding or the preparation of legal advice in which the notifiable conduct or impairment is an issue; or

(d)  the first health practitioner—

(i)  forms the reasonable belief in the course of exercising functions as a member of a quality assurance committee, council or other body approved or authorised under an Act of a participating jurisdiction; and

(ii)  is unable to disclose the information that forms the basis of the reasonable belief because a provision of that Act prohibits the disclosure of the information; or

(e)  the first health practitioner knows, or reasonably believes, the National Agency has been notified of the notifiable conduct or impairment that forms the basis of the reasonable belief.

142   Mandatory notifications by employers

(1)  If an employer of a registered health practitioner reasonably believes the health practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes notifiable conduct, the employer must notify the National Agency of the notifiable conduct.

Note. See section 237 which provides protection from civil, criminal and administrative liability for persons who, in good faith, make a notification under this Law. Section 237(3) provides that the making of a notification does not constitute a breach of professional etiquette or ethics or a departure from accepted standards of professional conduct and nor is any liability for defamation incurred.

(2)  If the National Agency becomes aware that an employer of a registered health practitioner has failed to notify the Agency of notifiable conduct as required by subsection (1), the Agency must give a written report about the failure to the responsible Minister for the participating jurisdiction in which the notifiable conduct occurred.

(3)  As soon as practicable after receiving a report under subsection (2), the responsible Minister must report the employer’s failure to notify the Agency of the notifiable conduct to a health complaints entity, the employer’s licensing authority or another appropriate entity in that participating jurisdiction.

(4)  In this section—

employer, of a registered health practitioner, means an entity that employs the health practitioner under a contract of employment or a contract for services.

licensing authority, of an employer, means an entity that under a law of a participating jurisdiction is responsible for licensing, registering or authorising the employer to conduct the employer’s business.

143   Mandatory notifications by education providers

(1)  An education provider must notify the National Agency if the provider reasonably believes—

(a)  a student enrolled in a program of study provided by the provider has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training as part of the program of study, may place the public at substantial risk of harm; or

(b)  a student for whom the education provider has arranged clinical training has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking the clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm;

Note. See section 237 which provides protection from civil, criminal and administrative liability for persons who make a notification under this Law. Section 237(3) provides that the making of a notification does not constitute a breach of professional etiquette or ethics or a departure from accepted standards of professional conduct and nor is any liability for defamation incurred.

(2)  A contravention of subsection (1) does not constitute an offence.

(3)  However, if an education provider does not comply with subsection (1)—

(a)  the National Board that registered the student must publish details of the failure on the Board’s website; and

(b)  the National Agency may, on the recommendation of the National Board, include a statement about the failure in the Agency’s annual report.

Division 3 Complaints [NSW]

Subdivision 1 Making complaints [NSW]

144   Grounds for complaint about registered health practitioner [NSW]

The following complaints may be made about a registered health practitioner—

(a)  Criminal conviction or criminal finding
A complaint the practitioner has, either in this jurisdiction or elsewhere, been convicted of or made the subject of a criminal finding for an offence.

(b)  Unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct
A complaint the practitioner has been guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct.

(c)  Lack of competence
A complaint the practitioner is not competent to practise the practitioner’s profession.

(d)  Impairment
A complaint the practitioner has an impairment.

(e)  Suitable person
A complaint the practitioner is otherwise not a suitable person to hold registration in the practitioner’s profession.

144A   Grounds for complaint about student [NSW]

The following complaints may be made about a student—

(a)  Offences
A complaint the student has, either in this jurisdiction or elsewhere, been charged with an offence, or has been convicted of or made the subject of a criminal finding for an offence, that is punishable by 12 months imprisonment or more.

(b)  Impairment
A complaint the student has an impairment.

(c)  Contravention of conditions
A complaint that the student has contravened a condition of the student’s registration or an undertaking given by the student to a National Board.

144B   Who can make complaint [NSW]

(1)  Any person can make a complaint.

(2)  A complaint may also be made by a Council or the Director-General.

144C   Complaints may be made to Council or Health Care Complaints Commission [NSW]

A complaint may be made to a Council or the Commission.

144D   Complaints to be in writing [NSW]

(1)  A complaint, other than a complaint made by a Council or the Director-General, must—

(a)  be in writing; and

(b)  contain particulars of the allegations on which it is founded.

(2)  A complaint need not be made in terms that are strictly consistent with the terminology of section 144 or 144A.

(3)  A Council or the Commission may consider and investigate a complaint that does not comply with the requirements of subsection (1) but must not refer the complaint under Subdivision 2 until the requirements are complied with.

144E   Where to lodge complaints [NSW]

(1)  A complaint made to a Council must be lodged with the Executive Officer of the Council.

(2)  A complaint made to the Commission is, in accordance with section 9 of the Health Care Complaints Act 1993, to be lodged with the Commission.

144F   Further particulars may be required from complainant [NSW]

A Council or the Commission may require the complainant to provide further particulars of a complaint.

144G   Council to notify Commission and National Boards of complaints [NSW]

A Council must, as soon as practicable after a complaint is made to or by the Council about a registered health practitioner or student, notify the following persons about the complaint or matter—

(a)  the Commission;

(b)  the National Board for the health profession in which the registered health practitioner or student is registered.

Subdivision 2 How complaints are to be dealt with [NSW]

145   Complaints to be dealt with expeditiously [NSW]

All complaints are to be dealt with expeditiously.

145A   Council and Commission to consult on complaint [NSW]

(1)  Before any action is taken on a complaint, a Council and the Commission must consult to see if agreement can be reached between them as to the course of action to be taken concerning the complaint.

(2)  Division 2 of Part 2 of the Health Care Complaints Act 1993 applies to the consultation, despite the other provisions of this Subdivision.

145B   Courses of action available to Council on complaint [NSW]

(1)  The following courses of action are available to a Council in respect of a complaint—

(a)  the Council may make any inquiries about the complaint the Council thinks appropriate;

(b)  the Council may refer the complaint to the Commission for investigation;

(c)  the Council may refer the complaint to a Tribunal;

(d)  the Council may refer the complaint to a Committee;

(e)  for a complaint about a health practitioner or student who is registered in a health profession other than the medical or nursing and midwifery profession, the Council may deal with the complaint by inquiry at a meeting of the Council;

(f)  the Council may—

(i)  refer the practitioner or student for a health assessment; or

(ii)  refer the matter to an Impaired Registrants Panel; or

(iii)  refer the professional performance of the practitioner concerned for a performance assessment;

(g)  the Council may direct the practitioner or student concerned to attend counselling;

(h)  the Council may refer the complaint to the Commission for conciliation or to be dealt with under Division 9 of Part 2 of the Health Care Complaints Act 1993;

(i)  the Council may refer the complaint to another entity, including, for example, a National Board;

(j)  the Council may determine that no further action should be taken in respect of the complaint.

(2)  The Commission must, on receipt of a complaint referred by a Council for investigation, investigate the complaint or cause it to be investigated.

(3)  If a Council makes a referral under subsection (1)(f), the matter ceases to be a complaint for the purposes of this Law and the Health Care Complaints Act 1993.

(4)  Subsection (3) ceases to apply in respect of any matter that a Council subsequently deals with as a complaint.

145C   Courses of action available to the Commission on complaint [NSW]

(1)  The following courses of action are available to the Commission in respect of a complaint made to the Commission, or that the Commission has decided to make, about a registered health practitioner or student—

(a)  the Commission may refer the complaint to the Council for the health profession in which the practitioner or student is registered or, after consultation with a Council, to a Committee or the Tribunal;

(b)  the Commission may refer the complaint for conciliation or deal with the complaint under Division 9 of Part 2 of the Health Care Complaints Act 1993;

(c)  the Commission may refer the complaint to another entity, including, for example, a National Board;

(d)  the Commission may determine that no further action should be taken in respect of the complaint;

(e)  the Commission may take any other action that it can take under the Health Care Complaints Act 1993.

(2)  If the Commission refers a complaint to a Committee or the Tribunal, the Commission must inform the Council accordingly.

145D   Serious complaints must be referred to Tribunal [NSW]

(1)  Both a Council for a health profession and the Commission are under a duty to refer a complaint to the Tribunal for the health profession if, at any time, either forms the opinion that it may, if substantiated, provide grounds for the suspension or cancellation of a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration.

(2)  However, either the Council or the Commission may decide not to refer the complaint to the Tribunal if of the opinion the allegations on which the complaint is founded (and on which any other pending complaint against the registered health practitioner or student is founded) relate solely or principally to—

(a)  for a practitioner, the physical or mental capacity of the practitioner to practise the practitioner’s profession; or

(b)  for a student, the physical or mental capacity of the student to undertake clinical training in the health profession in which the student is registered.

(3)  If the Council decides not to refer the complaint to the Tribunal, the Council must instead refer the complaint to a Committee or Impaired Registrants Panel.

(4)  If the Commission decides not to refer the complaint to the Tribunal, the Commission must instead refer the complaint to the Council.

(5)  This section does not require the Council or the Commission to refer a complaint the Council or Commission thinks is frivolous or vexatious.

145E   Council may require health practitioner or student to undergo examination [NSW]

(1)  A Council may, by written notice given to a registered health practitioner or student against whom a complaint has been made, direct the practitioner or student to undergo an examination by a specified registered health practitioner at a specified reasonable time and place.

(2)  A registered health practitioner or student must not be directed to undergo an examination under subsection (1) unless it is reasonable to require the examination, given the nature of the complaint against the practitioner or student.

(3)  The fee charged by the specified registered health practitioner for the examination is at the expense of the Council.

145F   Result of failure to attend counselling or examination [NSW]

A failure by a registered health practitioner or student, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a direction under section 145B to attend counselling or under section 145E to undergo an examination is, for the purposes of this Law and any inquiry or appeal under this Law, evidence that the practitioner or student—

(a)  for a registered health practitioner, does not have sufficient physical and mental capacity to practise the health profession in which the practitioner is registered; or

(b)  for a student, does not have sufficient physical and mental capacity to undertake clinical training in the health profession in which the student is registered.

145G   Inquiries etc not prevented by other proceedings [NSW]

A complaint can be referred to a Committee or the Tribunal, and dealt with by the Committee or Tribunal, even though the practitioner or student concerned is the subject of proposed or current criminal or civil proceedings relating to the subject-matter of the complaint.

145H   Complaint not to be referred if health practitioner or student dead [NSW]

A complaint is not to be referred under this Subdivision if the registered health practitioner or student concerned is dead.

145I   Complaint need not be referred if health practitioner or student no longer registered [NSW]

A Council or the Commission may decide not to refer a complaint under this Subdivision if the registered health practitioner or student concerned has ceased to be registered.

145J   Complaint need not be referred if complainant fails to provide further particulars [NSW]

A Council or the Commission may decide not to refer a complaint under this Subdivision if the complainant has failed to provide further particulars in response to a request by the Council or the Commission.

Subdivision 3 Disciplinary powers of Professional Standards Committees [NSW]

146   Definitions [NSW]

In this Subdivision—

Committee means a Professional Standards Committee.

relevant health practitioner means a health practitioner registered under this Law in the—

(a)  medical profession; or

(b)  nursing and midwifery profession.

146A   Powers may be exercised if complaint proved or admitted [NSW]

A Committee may exercise any power conferred on it by this Subdivision if it finds the subject-matter of a complaint against a relevant health practitioner to have been proved or the relevant health practitioner who is the subject of the complaint admits to it in writing to the Committee.

146B   General powers to caution, reprimand, counsel etc [NSW]

(1)  A Committee may do one or more of the following in relation to a relevant health practitioner the subject of a complaint referred to it—

(a)  caution or reprimand the practitioner;

(b)  direct that the conditions, relating to the practitioner’s practising of the practitioner’s profession, it considers appropriate be imposed on the practitioner’s registration;

(c)  order that the practitioner seek and undergo medical or psychiatric treatment or counselling;

(d)  order that the practitioner complete an educational course specified by the Committee;

(e)  order that the practitioner report on the practitioner’s practice at the times, in the way and to the persons specified by the Committee;

(f)  order that the practitioner seek and take advice, in relation to the management of the practitioner’s practice, from the persons specified by the Committee.

(2)  If the relevant health practitioner is not registered, a direction may still be given under this section but has effect only so as to require the conditions concerned to be imposed when the health practitioner is registered.

(3)  If a Committee acting under this section makes an order or directs that any condition be imposed on a health practitioner’s registration, the Committee may order that a contravention of the order or condition will result in the health practitioner’s registration in the health profession being cancelled.

(4)  The order or condition concerned is then a critical compliance order or condition.

146C   Power to fine in certain cases [NSW]

(1)  A Committee may by order impose a fine of an amount of not more than 50 penalty units on a relevant health practitioner the subject of a complaint referred to the committee.

(2)  A fine is not to be imposed unless—

(a)  the Committee finds the relevant health practitioner to have been guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct; and

(b)  the Committee is satisfied there is no other order, or combination of orders, that is appropriate in the public interest.

(3)  A fine is not to be imposed if a fine or other penalty has already been imposed by a court in respect of the conduct.

(4)  A fine must be paid within the time specified in the order imposing the fine and must be paid to the Council.

146D   Committee can recommend suspension or cancellation on grounds of lack of physical or mental capacity [NSW]

(1)  A Committee may recommend that a relevant health practitioner’s registration be suspended for a specified period or that the practitioner’s registration be cancelled if the Committee is satisfied the practitioner does not have sufficient physical and mental capacity to practise the practitioner’s profession.

(2)  If the relevant health practitioner is no longer registered, a recommendation may be made under this section that the person be disqualified from being registered.

(3)  The Committee makes its recommendation by referring the matter, with its recommendation and the material on which it relied in making its recommendation, to the Chairperson of the Tribunal or to a Deputy Chairperson nominated by the Chairperson.

(4)  The Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson may—

(a)  make an order in the terms recommended; or

(b)  may make another order about the suspension or cancellation of the registration of the relevant health practitioner as the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson thinks proper based on the findings of the Committee.

(5)  An order under this section may also provide that an application for review of the order under Division 8 may not be made until after a specified time.

(6)  Instead of making an order under this section, the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson may exercise any power of a Committee under this Subdivision.

146E   Council may refer contravention of conditions to Tribunal [NSW]

(1)  If a Council for a health profession reasonably believes a relevant health practitioner has contravened any conditions imposed under a direction made by a Committee under this Subdivision, it may refer the matter to the Tribunal for the profession.

(2)  If the Tribunal finds the failure proved, it may exercise any power conferred on it or a Committee by this Subdivision.

Subdivision 4 Dealing with complaints by Assessment Committee [NSW]

147   Definitions [NSW]

In this Subdivision—

Committee means an Assessment Committee.

relevant health practitioner means a health practitioner registered under this Law other than a health practitioner registered in the—

(a)  medical profession; or

(b)  nursing and midwifery profession.

147A   Complaints that may be referred to Committee [NSW]

(1)  A Council may refer a complaint to a Committee only if—

(a)  the complaint is about a relevant health practitioner; and

(b)  the Commission has decided not to investigate the complaint or following an investigation has decided not to refer the complaint to a Tribunal.

(2)  A complaint may not be referred to a Committee if it is a complaint that—

(a)  the relevant health practitioner is not of good character; or

(b)  the relevant health practitioner has been convicted of or made the subject of a criminal finding for an offence.

(3)  This section does not limit the Committee in the exercise of its functions under this Subdivision in relation to any matter that arises in the course of the Committee’s investigation of a complaint.

147B   How complaints are dealt with [NSW]

(1)  If a complaint is referred to a Committee, the Committee must—

(a)  investigate the complaint; and

(b)  encourage the complainant and the relevant health practitioner the subject of the complaint to settle the complaint by consent.

(2)  A Committee may obtain the medical, legal, financial or other advice it thinks necessary or desirable to enable it to exercise its functions.

(3)  Advice obtained by a Committee under subsection (2) may not, unless otherwise ordered by the Council, be admitted or used in civil proceedings before a court and a person may not be compelled to produce the advice or to give evidence in relation to the advice in civil proceedings.

(4)  A Committee may not decide a complaint referred to it other than by settlement by consent.

(5)  A Committee must give to the Council a written report about whether or not it is able to effect settlement of the complaint by consent.

147C   Skills testing of relevant health practitioner [NSW]

(1)  A Council may direct a Committee to require the relevant health practitioner the subject of the complaint referred to the Committee to undergo skills testing.

(2)  The Committee must, by written notice given to the relevant health practitioner, require the health practitioner to undergo skills testing by an appropriately qualified person specified in the notice, at the reasonable time and place specified in the notice.

(3)  A failure by the relevant health practitioner, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the notice is, for the purposes of this Part or any inquiry or appeal under this Law, evidence the health practitioner does not have sufficient skill to practise the health profession in which the health practitioner is registered.

(4)  A person who conducts skills testing for the purposes of this section must report to the Committee on the results of the testing.

(5)  The Committee must give a copy of the report to the relevant health practitioner.

(6)  A person must not, directly or indirectly, make a record of or divulge to any person any information contained in a report to a Committee under this section that has come to the person’s notice in the exercise of the person’s functions under this Law, other than for the purpose of exercising the person’s functions under this Law.

Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.

(7)  A person cannot be required in civil proceedings in any court to produce or permit access to a report made to a Committee under this section or to divulge the contents of the report.

(8)  In this section—

report includes a copy, reproduction and duplicate of the report or any part of the report, copy, reproduction or duplicate.

147D   Recommendations of Committee [NSW]

(1)  A Committee’s report to a Council may include the recommendations about the complaint the Committee considers appropriate, including any of the following—

(a)  a recommendation that the Council deal with the complaint by inquiry at a meeting of the Council as a complaint of unsatisfactory professional conduct;

(b)  a recommendation that the Council direct the relevant health practitioner to attend counselling;

(c)  a recommendation that the Council dismiss the complaint.

(2)  The Council must give the relevant health practitioner and the Commission a copy of the Committee’s report as soon as practicable after the report is made.

(3)  The Council must—

(a)  if the Committee recommends that the Council deal with the complaint by inquiry at a meeting of the Council as a complaint of unsatisfactory professional conduct, comply with the recommendation; or

(b)  otherwise, allow the Commission and the relevant health practitioner, not less than 21 days after they have been given a copy of the Committee’s report and recommendations, to make submissions about the report and recommendations.

(4)  After considering the Committee’s report and recommendations and any submissions made by the Commission or relevant health practitioner, the Council must proceed to deal with the complaint as provided by section 145B.

Note. See section 145D which provides that both Council and the Commission have a duty to refer a complaint to the Tribunal if, at any time, either of them is of the opinion that the complaint, if substantiated, would provide grounds for the suspension or cancellation of the relevant health practitioner’s registration.

147E   No representation for parties appearing before Committee [NSW]

A complainant and the relevant health practitioner the subject of the complaint are not entitled to be legally represented at an appearance before a Committee.

Subdivision 5 Dealing with complaint by inquiry at meeting of Council [NSW]

148   Application of Subdivision [NSW]

This Subdivision does not apply to a complaint about a health practitioner or student registered in—

(a)  the medical profession; or

(b)  the nursing and midwifery profession.

148A   Procedures for dealing with complaint at meeting [NSW]

(1)  If a Council decides to deal with a complaint about a registered health practitioner or student by inquiry at a meeting of the Council, the meeting must be held in accordance with Part 3 of Schedule 5C and this Subdivision.

(2)  The Council may be assisted by a legal practitioner when dealing with the complaint at a meeting of the Council.

(3)  The Council must give the Commission a copy of any submission made to the Council by the registered health practitioner or student in respect of the complaint or in respect of any recommendation of the Committee concerning the complaint.

148B   General procedure [NSW]

The procedure for the calling of a meeting to deal with a complaint and for the conduct of the meeting is, subject to this Law and the NSW regulations, to be decided by the Council.

148C   Conduct of meeting [NSW]

At the meeting to deal with the complaint, the Council—

(a)  may inform itself on any matter in the way it thinks fit; and

(b)  may receive written or oral submissions; and

(c)  must proceed with as little formality and technicality, and as much expedition, as the requirements of this Law and the proper consideration of the complaint permit; and

(d)  is not bound by rules of evidence; and

(e)  may proceed to deal with the complaint in the absence of the registered health practitioner or student.

148D   Making submissions to inquiry [NSW]

(1)  The registered health practitioner or student is entitled to attend the meeting at which the complaint is dealt with and to make submissions to the Council.

(2)  The Committee may, if the Council so requires, make a submission to the Council with respect to the complaint and may for that purpose attend the meeting at which the complaint is dealt with.

(3)  The Council must give the Commission the opportunity to make a submission to the Council with respect to the complaint and the Commission may for that purpose attend the meeting at which the complaint is dealt with.

(4)  The Committee or the Commission may not be present at the meeting except while actually making a submission, unless the Council otherwise decides.

(5)  Despite subsection (4), the Commission may be present throughout the Council’s inquiry if the complaint is the subject of a recommendation of the Commission that it be dealt with by inquiry at a meeting of the Council under this Subdivision.

(6)  The registered health practitioner or student is not entitled to be legally represented at the inquiry but may be accompanied by a support person. The support person can be an Australian lawyer.

(7)  The Commission is not entitled to be legally represented at the inquiry.

148E   General powers of Council [NSW]

(1)  The Council may do any one or more of the following in relation to the health practitioner the subject of the inquiry—

(a)  caution or reprimand the practitioner;

(b)  make an order for the withholding or refunding of part or all of the payment with respect to the fees to be charged or paid for the services that are the subject of the complaint;

(c)  direct that specified conditions relating to the practitioner’s practice of the health profession be imposed on the practitioner’s registration;

(d)  order that the practitioner seek and undergo medical or psychiatric treatment or counselling;

(e)  order that the practitioner complete an educational course specified by the Council;

(f)  order that the practitioner report on his or her practice at the times, in the way and to the persons specified by the Council;

(g)  order that the practitioner seek and take advice, in relation to the management of his or her practice, from persons specified by the Council.

(2)  The Council may do any one or more of the following in relation to the student the subject of the inquiry—

(a)  caution or reprimand the student;

(b)  direct that specified conditions be imposed on the student’s registration;

(c)  order that the student seek and undergo medical or psychiatric treatment or counselling;

(d)  order that the student complete an educational course specified by the Council.

(3)  If the person is not registered, an order or direction can still be given under this section but has effect only so as to prevent the person being registered unless the order is complied with or to require the conditions concerned to be imposed when the person is registered, as appropriate.

148F   Power to fine in certain cases [NSW]

(1)  The Council may by order impose a fine, of an amount of not more than 50 penalty units, on the health practitioner the subject of the inquiry.

(2)  A fine is not to be imposed unless—

(a)  the Council finds the health practitioner to have been guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct; and

(b)  the Council is satisfied there is no other order, or combination of orders, that is appropriate in the public interest.

(3)  A fine is not to be imposed if a fine or other penalty has already been imposed by a court in respect of the conduct.

(4)  A fine must be paid within the time specified in the order imposing the fine and must be paid to the Council.

148G   Power of Council to recommend suspension or cancellation of registration [NSW]

(1)  The Council may recommend that the registration of the registered health practitioner or student be suspended for a specified period or cancelled if the Council is satisfied the health practitioner or student—

(a)  for a health practitioner, does not have sufficient physical and mental capacity to practise the practitioner’s profession; or

(b)  for a student, has an impairment.

(2)  If the health practitioner is not registered, a recommendation can be made under this section that the health practitioner not be registered.

(3)  The Council makes its recommendation by referring the matter with its recommendation to the Chairperson or to a Deputy Chairperson nominated by the Chairperson.

(4)  The Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson may—

(a)  make an order in the terms recommended; or

(b)  make another order about the suspension or cancellation of the health practitioner’s or student’s registration as the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson thinks proper based on the Council’s findings.

(5)  An order may also provide that an application for review of the order under Division 8 may not be made until after a specified time.

(6)  Instead of making an order under this section, the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson may exercise any power or combination of powers of the Council under this Subdivision.

148H   Decision of the Council [NSW]

(1)  The Council must, within 30 days of making its decision on the complaint, make available to the complainant, the registered health practitioner or student concerned, the National Board and any other persons it thinks fit, a written statement of the decision.

(2)  If the Commission made a submission to the Council with respect to the complaint, the Council must provide the Commission with a copy of the written statement of the decision.

(3)  The written statement of a decision must give the reasons for the decision.

(4)  The Council is not required to include confidential information in the statement.

(5)  If the statement would be false or misleading if it did not include the confidential information, the Council is not required to provide the statement.

(6)  If confidential information is not included in the statement given to a person or the statement is not given to a person because of subsection (5), the Council must give a confidential information notice to the person.

(7)  A confidential information notice must be given within one month after the decision is made.

(8)  This section does not affect the power of a court to make an order for the discovery of documents or to require the giving of evidence or the production of documents to a court.

148I   Admissibility of Council’s findings [NSW]

A finding of a Council under this Subdivision is admissible as evidence in any legal proceedings.

Subdivision 6 Disciplinary powers of Tribunals [NSW]

149   Powers may be exercised if complaint proved or admitted [NSW]

A Tribunal may exercise any power conferred on it by this Subdivision in relation to a registered health practitioner or student if—

(a)  it finds the subject-matter of a complaint against the practitioner or student to have been proved; or

(b)  the practitioner or student admits to it in writing to the Tribunal.

149A   General powers to caution, reprimand, counsel etc [NSW]

(1)  The Tribunal may do any one or more of the following in relation to the registered health practitioner—

(a)  caution or reprimand the practitioner;

(b)  impose the conditions it considers appropriate on the practitioner’s registration;

(c)  order the practitioner to seek and undergo medical or psychiatric treatment or counselling;

(d)  order the practitioner to complete an educational course specified by the Tribunal;

(e)  order the practitioner to report on the practitioner’s practice at the times, in the way and to the persons specified by the Tribunal;

(f)  order the practitioner to seek and take advice, in relation to the management of the practitioner’s practice, from persons specified by the Tribunal.

(2)  The Tribunal may do any one or more of the following in relation to the student—

(a)  caution or reprimand the student;

(b)  impose the conditions it considers appropriate on the student’s registration;

(c)  order the student to seek and undergo medical or psychiatric treatment or counselling;

(d)  order the student to complete an educational course specified by the Tribunal.

(3)  If the health practitioner is no longer registered, an order or direction may still be given under this section but has effect only—

(a)  to prevent the practitioner being registered unless the order is complied with; or

(b)  to require the conditions concerned to be imposed when the practitioner is registered.

(4)  If the Tribunal makes an order or imposes a condition on the registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration, the Tribunal may order that a contravention of the order or condition will result in the practitioner’s or student’s registration being cancelled.

(5)  The order or condition concerned is then a critical compliance order or condition.

149B   Power to fine registered health practitioner in certain cases [NSW]

(1)  The Tribunal may by order impose a fine on the registered health practitioner of an amount of not more than 250 penalty units.

(2)  A fine is not to be imposed unless—

(a)  the Tribunal finds the registered health practitioner to have been guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct; and

(b)  the Tribunal is satisfied there is no other order, or combination of orders, that is appropriate in the public interest.

(3)  A fine is not to be imposed if a fine or other penalty has already been imposed by a court in respect of the conduct.

(4)  A fine must be paid within the time specified in the order imposing the fine and must be paid to the Council for the health profession.

149C   Tribunals may suspend or cancel registration in certain cases [NSW]

(1)  A Tribunal may suspend a registered health practitioner’s registration for a specified period or cancel the registered health practitioner’s registration if the Tribunal is satisfied—

(a)  the practitioner is not competent to practise the practitioner’s profession; or

(b)  the practitioner is guilty of professional misconduct; or

(c)  the practitioner has been convicted of or made the subject of a criminal finding for an offence, either in or outside this jurisdiction, and the circumstances of the offence render the practitioner unfit in the public interest to practise the practitioner’s profession; or

(d)  the practitioner is not a suitable person for registration in the practitioner’s profession.

(2)  A Tribunal may suspend a student’s registration for a specified period or cancel the student’s registration if the Tribunal is satisfied—

(a)  the student has been convicted of or made the subject of a criminal finding for an offence, either in or outside this jurisdiction, and the circumstances of the offence render the student unfit in the public interest to undertake clinical training in the health profession; or

(b)  the student is otherwise not a suitable person to undertake clinical training in the health profession.

(3)  The Tribunal must cancel a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration if the Tribunal is satisfied the practitioner or student has contravened a critical compliance order or condition.

(4)  If the person is no longer registered, the Tribunal may—

(a)  decide that if the person were still registered the Tribunal would have suspended or cancelled the person’s registration; and

(b)  if the Tribunal would have cancelled the person’s registration, decide that the person is disqualified from being registered in the health profession for a specified period or until specified conditions have been complied with; and

(c)  require the National Board with which the person was registered to record the fact that the Tribunal would have suspended or cancelled the person’s registration in the National Register kept by the Board.

(5)  If the Tribunal suspends or cancels a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration and it is satisfied the person poses a substantial risk to the health of members of the public, it may by order (a prohibition order) do any one or more of the following—

(a)  prohibit the person from providing health services or specified health services for the period specified in the order or permanently;

(b)  place specified conditions on the provision of health services or specified health services by the person for the period specified in the order or permanently.

Note. Section 10AK(1) of the Public Health Act 1991 provides that it is an offence for a person to provide a health service in contravention of a prohibition order.

(6)  If the Tribunal is aware a registered health practitioner or student in respect of whom it is proposing to make a prohibition order is registered in a health profession other than the health profession in respect of which the Tribunal is making the order, the Tribunal must, before making the prohibition order—

(a)  notify the Council and the National Board for that health profession, and the Commission, of the proposed order; and

(b)  give the Council, National Board and Commission an opportunity to make a submission.

(7)  An order may also provide that an application for review of the order under Division 8 may not be made until after a specified time.

149D   Council may refer contravention of disciplinary order to Tribunal [NSW]

(1)  If a Council for a health profession reasonably believes a person has failed to comply with an order (or conditions imposed under an order) made by the Tribunal for the profession under this Subdivision, it may refer the matter to the Tribunal.

(2)  If the Tribunal finds the failure proved, it may exercise any power conferred on it by this Subdivision.

Subdivision 7 Powers of a Council for protection of public [NSW]

150   Suspension or conditions of registration to protect public [NSW]

(1)  A Council must, if at any time it is satisfied it is appropriate to do so for the protection of the health or safety of any person or persons (whether or not a particular person or persons) or if satisfied the action is otherwise in the public interest—

(a)  by order suspend a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration; or

(b)  by order impose on a registered health practitioner’s registration the conditions relating to the practitioner’s practising the health profession the Council considers appropriate; or

(c)  by order impose on a student’s registration the conditions the Council considers appropriate.

(2)  A suspension of a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration under subsection (1) has effect until the first of the following happens—

(a)  the complaint about the practitioner or student is disposed of;

(b)  the suspension is ended by the Council.

(3)  If a Council for a health profession is satisfied a health practitioner or student registered in the profession has contravened a critical compliance order or condition, the Council must—

(a)  suspend the practitioner’s or student’s registration until a complaint concerning the matter is dealt with by the Tribunal for the health profession for which the Council is established; and

(b)  refer the matter to the Tribunal as a complaint.

(4)  A Council for a health profession may take action under this section—

(a)  whether or not a complaint has been made or referred to the Council about the practitioner or student; and

(b)  whether or not proceedings in respect of a complaint about the practitioner or student are before a Committee or the Tribunal for the profession.

(5)  Without limiting the conditions that may be imposed under subsection (1)(b), a Council may impose a condition requiring the registered health practitioner to undergo a performance assessment, but the condition has no effect unless the Commission agrees with the imposition of the condition.

(6)  A Council must give written notice of action taken under this section to the registered health practitioner or student concerned.

(7)  If a Council delegates any function of the Council under this section to a group of 2 or more persons, at least one of those persons must be a person who is not a registered health practitioner or student.

150A   Review of certain decisions [NSW]

(1)  A registered health practitioner or student may apply to a Council for the review of a decision of the Council under section 150 to—

(a)  suspend the practitioner’s or student’s registration; or

(b)  impose conditions on the practitioner’s or student’s registration or alter conditions imposed on the practitioner’s or student’s registration.

(2)  On receiving an application for review, a Council—

(a)  may refuse to reconsider its decision if, in the Council’s opinion, the application is frivolous or vexatious; or

(b)  must otherwise reconsider its decision, and in so doing must consider any new evidence or material submitted by the practitioner or student that the Council reasonably considers is relevant.

(3)  Following its reconsideration of a decision, a Council may—

(a)  affirm or vary the decision; or

(b)  set it aside and take any action the Council has the power to take under section 150.

(4)  A Council may vary or set aside a decision only if the Council is satisfied there has been a change in the registered health practitioner’s or student’s circumstances that justifies the variation or setting aside of the decision.

150B   Audio recording of meeting [NSW]

(1)  A Council must cause an audio recording to be made of any proceedings of the Council in connection with the consideration by the Council of the exercise or proposed exercise of a function under this Subdivision in respect of a registered health practitioner or student—

(a)  during which the practitioner or student, or the practitioner’s or student’s adviser, is present; or

(b)  during which a person other than a member of the Council or a staff member of the Council is present and gives the Council oral information relevant to the Council’s consideration.

(2)  A recording under this section is not admissible in evidence in—

(a)  civil or criminal proceedings in a court of law (other than proceedings under this Law); or

(b)  an inquest or inquiry under the Coroners Act 2009.

150C   Power to remove or alter conditions or end suspension [NSW]

(1)  A Council may, at any time—

(a)  end a period of suspension imposed by the Council under this Subdivision; or

(b)  alter or remove conditions imposed under this Subdivision.

(2)  A Council may, at any time after taking action under section 150 with respect to a registered health practitioner or student (the original action), take any other action it could have taken under that section at the time of taking the original action.

(3)  The Council must give written notice of the action it takes under this section to the registered health practitioner or student concerned.

150D   Referral of matter to Commission [NSW]

(1)  A Council must, as soon as practicable but no later than 7 days after taking action under section 150, refer the matter to the Commission for investigation.

(2)  The Council may (despite any other Act or law) give to the Commission information obtained by the Council in connection with the exercise of functions under section 150 (including information, copies of documents or evidence obtained under section 150J and a copy of a recording made under section 150B) in respect of the matter.

(3)  The matter must be dealt with by the Commission as a complaint made to the Commission against the registered health practitioner or student concerned.

(4)  The Commission must investigate the complaint or cause it to be investigated and, as soon as practicable after it has completed its investigation and if it considers it appropriate to do so, refer the complaint to the Tribunal or a Committee for the health profession in which the health practitioner or student is registered.

Note. See section 145D which provides that both Council and the Commission have a duty to refer a complaint to the Tribunal if, at any time, either of them is of the opinion that the complaint, if substantiated, would provide grounds for the suspension or cancellation of the registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration.

(5)  This section does not apply if a Council takes action against a registered health practitioner or student under section 150—

(a)  because, in the Council’s opinion, the practitioner or student has an impairment; or

(b)  that is action of a kind referred to in section 150(5).

150E   Special provision—performance assessment [NSW]

(1)  If the Commission agrees with the proposed imposition by a Council under section 150 of a condition on a registered health practitioner’s registration requiring the practitioner to take part in a performance assessment, the matter giving rise to the proposal—

(a)  must be dealt with by way of a performance assessment; and

(b)  may, if the Council and the Commission agree, also be dealt with by the Commission as a complaint against the practitioner.

(2)  If the Commission does not agree with the imposition of the condition, the matter must be dealt with by the Commission as a complaint against the registered health practitioner.

(3)  The Council may (despite any other Act or law) provide to the Commission any information obtained by the Council in connection with the exercise of functions under section 150 (including any information, copies of documents or evidence obtained under section 150J and a copy of any recording made under section 150B) in respect of the matter.

(4)  If a matter is to be dealt with under this section by way of a performance assessment, it may be so dealt with despite anything to the contrary in section 154A.

(5)  If the matter is to be dealt with as a complaint, the Council must refer the matter to the Commission and the matter must be dealt with by the Commission as a complaint made to the Commission against the practitioner concerned.

(6)  The Commission must investigate the complaint or cause it to be investigated and, as soon as practicable after the investigation is completed, refer the complaint to a Committee or the Tribunal for the health profession.

Note. See section 145D which provides that both Council and the Commission have a duty to refer a complaint to the Tribunal if, at any time, either of them is of the opinion the complaint, if substantiated, would provide grounds for the suspension or cancellation of the health practitioner’s registration.

150F   Special provisions—impairment [NSW]

(1)  This section applies if a Council takes action against a registered health practitioner or student under section 150 because, in the Council’s opinion, the practitioner or student has an impairment.

(2)  The Council must, as soon as practicable after taking that action and, in any event, within 7 days after taking that action, notify the Commission that it has taken that action.

(3)  The Council must consult with the Commission to see if agreement can be reached as to whether the matter should be—

(a)  dealt with as a complaint against the registered health practitioner or student; or

(b)  referred to an Impaired Registrants Panel.

(4)  The matter is to be dealt with as a complaint against the registered health practitioner or student only if, following the consultation—

(a)  the Council and the Commission agree it should be dealt with as a complaint; or

(b)  either the Council or the Commission is of the opinion the matter should be dealt with as a complaint.

(5)  If the matter is to be dealt with as a complaint, the Council must refer the matter to the Commission and the matter must be dealt with by the Commission as a complaint made to the Commission against the registered health practitioner or student.

(6)  The Commission must investigate the complaint or cause it to be investigated and, as soon as practicable after the investigation is completed, consult with the Council about how the matter is to be dealt with, including, for example, by referring the complaint to the Tribunal or a Committee for the health profession in which the health practitioner or student is registered.

Note. See section 145D which provides that both Council and the Commission have a duty to refer a complaint to the Tribunal if, at any time, either of them is of the opinion the complaint, if substantiated, would provide grounds for the suspension or cancellation of the health practitioner’s or student’s registration.

(7)  If the matter is not to be dealt with as a complaint, the Council must refer the matter to an Impaired Registrants Panel.

150G   Ending suspension [NSW]

When a suspension imposed under this Subdivision ends, the person’s rights and privileges as a registered health practitioner or student in the health profession are revived, subject to—

(a)  any other action taken by the Council for the profession under this Subdivision; or

(b)  any order of the Tribunal for the health profession on a complaint referred to the Tribunal.

150H   Duration of conditions—complaint matters [NSW]

(1)  This section applies if—

(a)  a Council for a health profession imposes conditions on the registration of a registered health practitioner or student under section 150; and

(b)  the matter is dealt with as a complaint against the practitioner or student.

(2)  The conditions imposed by the Council have effect until the first of the following happens—

(a)  the complaint about the registered health practitioner or student is disposed of;

(b)  the conditions are removed by the Council.

(3)  This section—

(a)  does not prevent conditions being imposed under another provision of this Law; and

(b)  is subject to anything done by the Tribunal for the health profession on an appeal.

150I   Duration of conditions—impairment matters [NSW]

(1)  This section applies if—

(a)  a Council for a health profession imposes conditions on the registration of a registered health practitioner or student under section 150; and

(b)  the matter is referred to an Impaired Registrants Panel.

(2)  The conditions imposed by the Council have effect until the first of the following happens—

(a)  if the matter is subsequently dealt with by the Council as a complaint, the complaint about the registered health practitioner or student is disposed of;

(b)  the conditions are removed by the Council.

(3)  The Council is not required to alter or remove the conditions merely because the registered health practitioner or student agrees to conditions being imposed on the practitioner’s or student’s registration in accordance with the recommendations of an Impaired Registrants Panel.

(4)  If the registered health practitioner or student agrees to conditions being imposed on the practitioner’s or student’s registration in accordance with the recommendations of an Impaired Registrants Panel, the practitioner or student may, by written notice to the Council, ask for the conditions imposed under this Subdivision to be altered or removed.

(5)  On receipt of the request, the Council must review the matter, and may—

(a)  refuse to alter or remove the conditions; or

(b)  alter or remove the conditions.

(6)  The Council must give the registered health practitioner or student written notice of its decision.

(7)  The Council may specify in the notice a period during which a further request by the registered health practitioner or student for the conditions to be altered or removed is not permitted.

(8)  The Council may reject a request that the conditions be altered or removed if it is made during that period.

(9)  This section—

(a)  does not prevent conditions being imposed under another provision of this Law; and

(b)  is subject to anything done by the Tribunal for the health profession on an appeal.

150J   Powers of Council to obtain information, records and evidence [NSW]

(1)  If, in a Council’s opinion, a person is capable of giving information, documents (including medical records) or evidence that would assist the Council in making a decision about action taken or proposed to be taken by the Council under this Subdivision, the Council may, by written notice given to the person, require the person to do one or more of the following—

(a)  to give the Council, in writing signed by the person (or, in the case of a corporation, by a competent officer of the corporation), within the time and in the way specified in the notice, information of which the person has knowledge;

(b)  to produce to the Council, in accordance with the notice, documents;

(c)  to appear before the Council or a member of staff of the Council authorised by the President or Deputy President of the Council at a specified reasonable time and place and give evidence, either orally or in writing, and produce documents.

(2)  Information and documents may be given to a Council in compliance with this section despite any other Act or law.

(3)  A person who is subject to a requirement made under subsection (1) must not—

(a)  without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with the requirement; or

(b)  in purported compliance with the requirement, provide information, documents or evidence knowing the information, documents or evidence to be false or misleading in a material particular.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

Subdivision 8 Duty of courts etc to refer matters to Executive Officer [NSW]

151   Referral of mental health matters to Executive Officer [NSW]

(1)  If a registered health practitioner or student becomes a mentally incapacitated person or is involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility, the person prescribed by the NSW regulations must cause notice of that fact to be given to—

(a)  the Executive Officer of the Council for the health profession in which the registered health practitioner or student is registered; and

(b)  the National Board for the health profession in which the registered health practitioner or student is registered.

(2)  The notice, and the way in which the notice is given, must comply with any requirements prescribed by the NSW regulations.

151A   Referral of matters by courts [NSW]

(1)  A court in this jurisdiction before which a person is convicted of an offence, or is made the subject of a criminal finding for a sex or violence offence or a drug related offence, must cause notice of the conviction or criminal finding, and of any penalty imposed on the person, to be given to the Executive Officer of a Council for a health profession if the court has reasonable grounds to believe that the person is or was, at the time the offence was committed, registered in the health profession.

(2)  If a coroner has reasonable grounds to believe the evidence given or to be given in proceedings conducted or to be conducted before the coroner may indicate a complaint could be made about a person who is or was registered in a health profession, the coroner may give a transcript of that evidence to the Executive Officer of the Council for the health profession.

(3)  If a notice or a transcript of evidence is given to the Executive Officer under this section—

(a)  a complaint is taken to have been made to a Council about the person to whom the notice or transcript relates; and

(b)  the Executive Officer must give written notice of the notice or transcript of evidence to the National Board for the health profession in which the person is or was registered.

(4)  The coroner is not the complainant in relation to a complaint taken to have been made under subsection (3) and sections 144D(1), 144E and 144F do not apply to the complaint.

Division 4 Impairment [NSW]

152   Persons may notify Council of impairment matters concerning practitioners or students [NSW]

A person may notify a Council of a matter the person thinks indicates a registered health practitioner or student has or may have an impairment.

152A   Commission may refer impairment matters to Council [NSW]

(1)  If the Commission becomes aware of a matter the Commission considers indicates a registered health practitioner or student has or may have an impairment, the Commission may refer the matter to the Council for the health profession in which the practitioner or student is registered.

(2)  This section does not affect the functions of a Council in relation to a complaint made to the Commission or a matter referred to the Commission for investigation.

152B   Council may require registered health practitioner to undergo examination [NSW]

(1)  If a Council reasonably believes a registered health practitioner has or may have an impairment, the Council may, by written notice given to the practitioner, require the practitioner to undergo an examination by another registered health practitioner.

(2)  The notice must state—

(a)  that the registered health practitioner is required to undergo an examination by a registered health practitioner; and

(b)  the name of the registered health practitioner who is to conduct the examination; and

(c)  if the examination is to be conducted at a particular time and place, the time and the place at which the examination is to be conducted; and

(d)  that if the registered health practitioner fails to undergo the examination as required by the notice, the failure may constitute evidence that the practitioner does not have sufficient physical and mental capacity to practise the practitioner’s health profession.

(3)  The fee charged by the registered health practitioner for conducting the examination must be at the expense of the Council.

(4)  If the registered health practitioner fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the notice, the failure is evidence the practitioner does not have sufficient physical and mental capacity to practise the practitioner’s health profession.

152C   Council may require student to undergo examination [NSW]

(1)  If a Council reasonably believes a student has or may have an impairment, the Council may, by written notice given to the student, require the student to undergo an examination by a registered health practitioner.

(2)  The notice must state—

(a)  that the student is required to undergo an examination by a registered health practitioner; and

(b)  the name of the registered health practitioner who is to conduct the examination; and

(c)  if the examination is to be conducted at a particular time and place, the time and the place at which the examination is to be conducted; and

(d)  that if the student fails to undergo the examination as required by the notice the Council may suspend the student’s registration until the student undergoes the examination.

(3)  The fee charged by the registered health practitioner for conducting the examination is at the expense of the Council.

(4)  If the student fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the notice, the Council may suspend the student’s registration until the student undergoes the examination.

(5)  The suspension takes effect when written notice of it is served on the educational provider with which the student is undertaking the approved program of study or that arranged the clinical training for the student.

152D   Referral of impairment matters concerning practitioners or students [NSW]

(1)  A Council may decide to refer a matter to an Impaired Registrants Panel if the Council considers the matter indicates a registered health practitioner or student has or may have an impairment.

(2)  Subsection (1) applies whether or not the matter is the subject of a complaint to the Council.

(3)  If the Council is aware a complaint has been made to the Commission about a registered health practitioner or student who is the subject of a referral to an Impaired Registrants Panel, the Council must notify the Commission of the referral.

152E   Panel must inquire into matters referred to it [NSW]

(1)  An Impaired Registrants Panel must inquire into any matter referred to it and may obtain reports and other information concerning the matter from any source it considers appropriate.

(2)  The Panel may ask the registered health practitioner or student who is the subject of the referral, to attend before the Panel for the purpose of enabling the Panel to obtain information on the matter and make an assessment.

152F   Panel not to take action while Commission investigating [NSW]

An Impaired Registrants Panel is not to investigate or take any other action in relation to a matter if the Panel is aware the matter is the subject of an investigation by the Commission, while the investigation is being conducted.

152G   Council to give notice of proposed inquiry [NSW]

(1)  A Council must give notice to a registered health practitioner or student of any proposed inquiry by an Impaired Registrants Panel concerning the practitioner or student.

(2)  The notice must include sufficient details of the matters to which the inquiry is to relate.

152H   Practitioner or student entitled to make representations [NSW]

(1)  A registered health practitioner or student who is the subject of an inquiry by an Impaired Registrants Panel is entitled to make oral or written representations to the Panel about the matters being or to be the subject of the inquiry.

(2)  This section does not prevent the Panel from conducting an inquiry in the absence of the registered health practitioner or student to whom it relates, if the practitioner or student has been given notice of the inquiry.

152I   Assessment, report and recommendations by Panel [NSW]

(1)  An Impaired Registrants Panel must make an assessment about a matter referred to it, based on the results of its inquiry into the matter.

(2)  On the basis of its assessment, the Panel may do any one or more of the following—

(a)  counsel the practitioner or student concerned or recommend the practitioner or student undertake specified counselling;

(b)  recommend the practitioner or student concerned to agree to conditions being placed on the practitioner’s or student’s registration or to having the practitioner’s or student’s registration suspended for a specified period;

(c)  make recommendations to the Council that referred the matter to it as to action that the Panel considers should be taken in relation to the matter.

(3)  The Panel must give a written report about the matter to the Council that referred the matter to it.

(4)  The report must detail—

(a)  the results of the Panel’s inquiries and assessment in respect of the referral; and

(b)  any action taken by the Panel in relation to it.

152J   Voluntary suspension or conditions on registration [NSW]

A Council may impose conditions on a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration, or suspend the practitioner’s or student’s registration, if—

(a)  an Impaired Registrants Panel has recommended the Council do so; and

(b)  the Council is satisfied the practitioner or student has voluntarily agreed to the conditions.

152K   Review of conditions [NSW]

(1)  A registered health practitioner or student who agrees to conditions being imposed on the practitioner’s or student’s registration, or to have the registration suspended, may by written notice to the Council ask—

(a)  that the conditions be altered or removed; or

(b)  that the suspension be terminated or shortened.

(2)  On receipt of the request, the Council must require an Impaired Registrants Panel to review the matter and give a written report to the Council on the results of its review.

(3)  If the Panel recommends that the Council refuse to alter or remove any of the conditions, or refuse to terminate or shorten the suspension, the Council may do so.

(4)  The Council must give the health practitioner or student written notice of its decision.

(5)  The Council may specify in the notice a period in which a further request by the practitioner or student under this section is not permitted.

(6)  The Council may refuse a request that the conditions be altered or removed, or that the suspension be terminated or shortened, if it is made during that period.

152L   Some matters to be dealt with as complaints [NSW]

(1)  If an Impaired Registrants Panel recommends that a registered health practitioner or student agree to conditions being imposed on the practitioner’s or student’s registration or to having the practitioner’s or student’s registration suspended and the practitioner or student fails to agree with the recommendation, the Council must deal with the matter that was the subject of the referral to the Panel as a complaint against the practitioner or student.

(2)  If the Panel recommends that a matter referred to it be dealt with as a complaint, the Council must deal with the matter as a complaint against the health practitioner or student concerned.

(3)  In any other case that the Council thinks it appropriate to do so, the Council may treat a matter that has been referred to an Impaired Registrants Panel as grounds for a complaint under this Law and may deal with the matter accordingly.

152M   Prohibition or conditions on student [NSW]

(1)  An Impaired Registrants Panel that investigates a matter about a student may recommend to the Council that referred the matter to the Panel that it is in the public interest for the Council—

(a)  to suspend the student’s registration; or

(b)  to impose specified conditions on the student’s registration.

(2)  If the Council is satisfied it is in the public interest to do so, the Council may by written order take the action recommended by the Panel.

(3)  The order takes effect when notice of it is served on the education provider with which the student is undertaking the approved program of study or who arranged clinical training for the student.

(4)  An order remains in force for the period, not more than 2 years, specified in the order unless it is sooner revoked by the Council.

(5)  The Council may issue further orders in respect of a student but only on the recommendation of an Impaired Registrants Panel.

Division 5 Performance assessment [NSW]

Subdivision 1 Preliminary [NSW]

153   Meaning of “professional performance” [NSW]

For the purposes of this Division, a reference to the professional performance of a registered health practitioner is a reference to the knowledge, skill or judgment possessed and applied by the practitioner in the practice of the practitioner’s health profession.

153A   Meaning of “unsatisfactory” in relation to professional performance [NSW]

For the purposes of this Division, the professional performance of a registered health practitioner is unsatisfactory if it is below the standard reasonably expected of a practitioner of an equivalent level of training or experience.

Subdivision 2 Council may obtain performance assessment [NSW]

154   Power to obtain assessment [NSW]

(1)  A Council may decide to have the professional performance of a registered health practitioner assessed under this Division if a matter comes to its attention that indicates the professional performance of the registered health practitioner, or any aspect of the practitioner’s professional performance, is or may be unsatisfactory.

(2)  Subsection (1) is not limited to matters that are the subject of a complaint or notification to the Council and may include a pattern of complaints about a registered health practitioner’s practice.

154A   Serious matters not to be referred for assessment [NSW]

(1)  A Council must not have the professional performance of a registered health practitioner assessed if a matter giving rise to the proposed assessment—

(a)  raises a significant issue of public health or safety that, in the Council’s opinion, requires investigation by the Commission; or

(b)  raises a prima facie case of professional misconduct by the registered health practitioner, or unsatisfactory professional conduct by the registered health practitioner.

(2)  The matter must be dealt with as a complaint.

154B   Persons may notify Council of professional performance matters [NSW]

(1)  A person may notify the Council for a health profession of a matter the person thinks indicates the professional performance of a health practitioner registered in the profession is unsatisfactory.

(2)  The Council must not have the professional performance of the practitioner assessed on the basis of a notification if it is made anonymously.

154C   Commission may refer professional performance matters to Council [NSW]

(1)  If the Commission becomes aware of a matter the Commission considers indicates the professional performance of a health practitioner registered in a health profession is unsatisfactory, the Commission may refer the matter to a Council for the profession.

(2)  This section does not affect the functions of a Council in relation to a complaint made to the Commission or a matter referred to the Commission for investigation.

Subdivision 3 Assessment of professional performance by assessor [NSW]

155   How Council obtains an assessment [NSW]

A Council has the professional performance of a registered health practitioner assessed by having one or more assessors conduct an assessment of the practitioner’s professional performance, or of any particular aspect or aspects of the practitioner’s professional performance.

155A   Information to be given to health practitioner [NSW]

(1)  As soon as practicable after deciding to have the professional performance of a registered health practitioner assessed, a Council must give the practitioner written notice of the decision.

(2)  The notice must include the following—

(a)  details of the matter that gave rise to the assessment;

(b)  information about how the performance assessment process works.

155B   Report and recommendations by assessor [NSW]

(1)  An assessor who is required by a Council to conduct a performance assessment in relation to a registered health practitioner must—

(a)  conduct an assessment of the practitioner’s professional performance; and

(b)  give a written report about the assessment to the Council.

(2)  The report must include the recommendations the assessor considers appropriate.

(3)  If more than one assessor is appointed to conduct a performance assessment in relation to a registered health practitioner, the report may be made jointly or separately, but in any case must be made in the way directed by the Council.

155C   Action that may be taken by Council [NSW]

(1)  After receiving the report of an assessor about a performance assessment, a Council may—

(a)  decide that no further action should be taken in respect of the registered health practitioner the subject of the report; or

(b)  require a Performance Review Panel to conduct a performance review in relation to the practitioner; or

(c)  make a complaint against the practitioner; or

(d)  refer the matter to an Impaired Registrants Panel; or

(e)  counsel the practitioner or direct the practitioner to attend counselling.

(2)  A Council must make a complaint against the practitioner concerned if the assessment—

(a)  raises a significant issue of public health or safety that, in the opinion of the Council, requires investigation by the Commission; or

(b)  raises a prima facie case of professional misconduct by a registered health practitioner, or unsatisfactory professional conduct by a registered health practitioner.

(3)  This section does not limit a Council’s powers under section 150.

Subdivision 4 Performance review by Performance Review Panel [NSW]

156   Panel to conduct performance review [NSW]

(1)  If required by a Council, a Performance Review Panel must conduct a review of the professional performance of a registered health practitioner.

(2)  The chairperson of the Panel must inform the registered health practitioner in writing that a performance review will be conducted not less than 14 days before the time and place appointed for the performance review.

156A   Panel not to take action while Commission investigating [NSW]

(1)  The Performance Review Panel is not to take any action in relation to the registered health practitioner if the Panel becomes aware the practitioner is the subject of a complaint that is being investigated by the Commission.

(2)  Subsection (1) does not apply if the Commission agrees to the continuation of the performance review.

156B   Panel must refer certain matters to Council [NSW]

(1)  The Performance Review Panel must terminate the performance review if, before or during the performance review, the Panel forms the opinion that—

(a)  the performance review raises a significant issue of public health or safety that, in the Panel’s opinion, requires investigation by the Commission; or

(b)  the performance review raises a prima facie case of professional misconduct by the registered health practitioner, or unsatisfactory professional conduct by the registered health practitioner.

(2)  If the Panel terminates the performance review, it must refer the issue or case back to the Council with a recommendation that a complaint be made against the registered health practitioner.

(3)  The Council must deal with the matter in accordance with the recommendation.

156C   Actions by Panel [NSW]

(1)  At the completion of the performance review, the Performance Review Panel may make the recommendations to the Council about the registered health practitioner the Panel considers appropriate.

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), if the Panel finds the professional performance of the registered health practitioner, or a particular aspect of the professional performance of the practitioner, is unsatisfactory, the Panel may do any one or more of the following things—

(a)  impose the conditions, relating to the practitioner’s practise of the health profession, it considers appropriate on the practitioner’s registration;

(b)  order the practitioner to complete an educational course specified by the Panel;

(c)  order the practitioner to report on the practitioner’s practise of the health profession at the times, in the way and to the persons specified by the Panel;

(d)  order the practitioner to seek and take advice, in relation to the management of the practitioner’s practice, from the persons specified by the Panel.

(3)  The Panel must recommend to the Council that a complaint be made against the registered health practitioner if the Panel finds the matter—

(a)  raises a significant issue of public health or safety that requires investigation by the Commission; or

(b)  raises a prima facie case of professional misconduct by the practitioner, or unsatisfactory professional conduct by the health practitioner.

(4)  If the Panel makes a recommendation that a complaint be made against the registered health practitioner, the Council must act in accordance with the recommendation.

(5)  In any other case that the Council thinks it appropriate to do so, the Council may make a complaint in respect of a matter that has been considered by a Performance Review Panel, after consulting with the Commission.

156D   Re-assessment [NSW]

(1)  Without limiting section 156C, a Performance Review Panel may direct that a registered health practitioner’s professional performance be re-assessed at a future date.

(2)  A Council must have one or more assessors conduct that assessment, when it is required, and report to the Council on the assessment.

(3)  The Council may take any action in respect of that assessment that is available to the Council under section 155C, including requiring a Performance Review Panel to conduct a further performance review in relation to the practitioner.

156E   Decision [NSW]

(1)  A Performance Review Panel must give a written statement of a decision on a performance review of a registered health practitioner to—

(a)  the registered health practitioner; and

(b)  the Council.

(2)  The statement of the decision must—

(a)  include reasons for the decision; and

(b)  be given to the registered health practitioner and the Council within one month after the decision is made.

(3)  The Council may provide a copy of the statement of decision to the persons the Council or Panel thinks fit.

156F   Statement need not contain confidential information [NSW]

(1)  A Performance Review Panel is not required to include confidential information in the statement of a decision.

(2)  If the statement would be false or misleading if it did not include the confidential information, the Panel is not required to provide the statement.

(3)  If confidential information is not included in the statement given to a person or the statement is not given to a person because of subsection (2), the Panel must give a confidential information notice to the person.

(4)  A confidential information notice must be given within one month after the decision is made.

(5)  This section does not affect the power of a court to make an order for the discovery of documents or to require the giving of evidence or the production of documents to a court, subject to the provisions of this Law relating to protected reports.

Subdivision 5 Miscellaneous [NSW]

157   Monitoring by Council [NSW]

(1)  Following a performance review, the Council must—

(a)  monitor compliance with any decisions or orders made by the Performance Review Panel; and

(b)  from time to time, evaluate the effectiveness of those orders in improving the professional performance of the registered health practitioner concerned to a standard that is commensurate with other practitioners of an equivalent level of training or experience.

(2)  The Council may take any action under this Law in respect of a registered health practitioner that it considers appropriate as a result of the exercise of its functions under subsection (1).

Division 6 Appeals to Tribunal [NSW]

Subdivision 1 Appeals against actions of Committee [NSW]

158   Appeals against decisions of Committee [NSW]

(1)  If a complaint about a registered health practitioner or student is referred to a Committee, the practitioner or student or the complainant, may appeal against any of the following to the Tribunal for the health profession—

(a)  a finding of the Committee;

(b)  the exercise of a power by the Committee under Subdivision 3 of Division 3;

(c)  the exercise by the Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson of the Tribunal of a power under that Subdivision.

(2)  The appeal is to be dealt with by way of rehearing and fresh evidence, or evidence in addition to or in substitution for the evidence received at the inquiry, may be given.

(3)  The Tribunal may—

(a)  dismiss the appeal; or

(b)  make any finding or exercise any power the Tribunal could have made or exercised if the complaint had been originally referred to the Tribunal.

(4)  An appeal under this section does not affect any finding or exercise of power with respect to which it has been made until the Tribunal makes an order on the appeal.

158A   Appeals on points of law [NSW]

(1)  A registered health practitioner or student about whom a complaint is referred to a Committee or the complainant may appeal with respect to a point of law to the Chairperson of the Tribunal or a Deputy Chairperson nominated by the Chairperson.

(2)  An appeal may be made—

(a)  during an inquiry—within 28 days after the date of the Committee’s decision on the point of law which is the subject of the appeal; or

(b)  before the commencement of an inquiry but after the date of giving notice of the inquiry.

(3)  If an inquiry conducted by a Committee has not been completed when an appeal is made, the inquiry must not continue until the appeal has been disposed of.

(4)  The Committee must not make any decision that is inconsistent with the Chairperson’s or Deputy Chairperson’s determination with respect to the point of law.

Subdivision 2 Appeal against actions by Council [NSW]

159   Right of appeal [NSW]

(1)  A person may appeal to the Tribunal for a health profession—

(a)  against a suspension by the Council for the health profession under Division 3 or a refusal to end a suspension; or

(b)  against conditions imposed by the Council for the health profession on the person’s registration under Division 3 or 4 or the alteration of the conditions by the Council; or

(c)  against a refusal by the Council for the health profession to alter or remove conditions imposed by the Council under Division 3 in accordance with a request made by the person under section 150I; or

(d)  against a decision by the Council for the health profession to give a direction or make an order in relation to the person under section 148E; or

(e)  against a refusal by the Council for the health profession to alter or remove conditions imposed on the person’s registration, or to end a suspension, imposed under Division 4 in accordance with a request made by the person under section 152K.

(2)  An appeal may not be made in respect of a request by a person that is rejected by a Council because it was made during a period in which the request was not permitted under section 150I or 152K.

159A   Appeal by student against order [NSW]

(1)  A student may appeal to the Tribunal for a health profession against a decision of the Council for the health profession to issue an order—

(a)  suspending the student’s registration; or

(b)  imposing conditions on the student’s registration.

(2)  The appeal must be lodged with the Executive Officer who must refer it to the Tribunal.

(3)  The appeal must be made within 28 days, or the longer period as the Executive Officer may allow in a particular case, after notice of the Council’s decision is given to the student.

(4)  On an appeal, the Tribunal may by order terminate, vary or confirm the order, as it thinks proper.

159B   Appeal on point of law [NSW]

(1)  A registered health practitioner or student who is the subject of action taken by the Council for the health profession under section 150, 150A or 150C may appeal, with respect to a point of law, to the Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson of the Tribunal for the health profession.

(2)  Subsection (1) does not limit a right of appeal under section 159.

(3)  The Council must not make a decision that is inconsistent with the Tribunal’s decision with respect to a point of law under this section.

(4)  A registered health practitioner or student may not make an application to the Supreme Court for judicial review of action taken by a Council under section 150, 150A or 150C, being an application alleging any error of law, until an appeal under this section in respect of the point of law concerned has been made and disposed of.

159C   Tribunal’s powers on appeal [NSW]

(1)  On an appeal, a Tribunal may by order terminate, vary or confirm a period of suspension or revoke, vary or confirm the conditions, as it thinks proper.

(2)  A Tribunal’s order must not cause a suspension or conditions imposed by a Council to have effect beyond the day on which a related complaint about the person is disposed of.

Subdivision 3 Appeal against actions of Performance Review Panel [NSW]

160   Appeals against decisions of Panel [NSW]

(1)  A registered health practitioner who is the subject of a performance review may appeal to the Tribunal against a decision of the Performance Review Panel or any order or direction made by the Panel under Division 5.

(2)  The appeal is to be dealt with by way of rehearing and fresh evidence, or evidence in addition to or in substitution for the evidence received at the performance review, may be given.

(3)  The Tribunal may, as it thinks appropriate—

(a)  dismiss the appeal; or

(b)  make any finding or exercise any power or combination of powers that the Performance Review Panel could have made or exercised.

160A   Appeals on points of law [NSW]

(1)  A registered health practitioner who is the subject of a performance review may appeal with respect to a point of law to the Tribunal for the health profession in which the practitioner is registered.

(2)  An appeal may be made—

(a)  during a performance review—within 28 days after the date of the Performance Review Panel’s decision on the point of law that is the subject of the appeal; or

(b)  before the commencement of a performance review but after the date the practitioner is informed of the performance review.

(3)  If a performance review has not been completed when an appeal is made, the Performance Review Panel must not continue with the performance review until the appeal has been disposed of.

(4)  The Performance Review Panel must not make any decision that is inconsistent with the Tribunal’s determination with respect to the point of law.

Subdivision 4 Miscellaneous [NSW]

161   When appeal must be made [NSW]

An appeal under this Division or Division 13, other than an appeal on a point of law, must be made—

(a)  within 28 days after the day the person making the appeal was given notice of the decision being appealed against; or

(b)  within the longer period allowed by the Executive Officer.

161A   Lodgment of appeal [NSW]

The appeal must be lodged with the Executive Officer who must refer it to the Tribunal.

161B   Appeal does not stay decision [NSW]

An appeal under this Division does not operate to stay the effect of the decision being appealed against unless the Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson of the Tribunal otherwise orders.

Division 7 Appeals to Supreme Court [NSW]

162   Appeal against Tribunal’s decisions and actions [NSW]

(1)  A person about whom a complaint is referred to the Tribunal, or the complainant, may appeal to the Supreme Court against—

(a)  a decision of the Tribunal with respect to a point of law; or

(b)  the exercise of a power by the Tribunal under Subdivision 6 of Division 3.

(2)  A person who is a party to an appeal to the Tribunal against the exercise by the Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson of the Tribunal of any power under Subdivision 6 of Division 3 (including the complainant in respect of the matter), may appeal to the Supreme Court against—

(a)  a decision of the Tribunal with respect to a point of law; or

(b)  the exercise of any power by the Tribunal under section 158.

(3)  An appeal under this section must be made within 28 days (or the longer period allowed by the Supreme Court in a particular case) after the handing down of the decision or the exercise of power against which the appeal is made.

(4)  The Supreme Court may stay any order made by the Tribunal, on the terms the Court sees fit, until the time the Court decides the appeal.

162A   Powers of Supreme Court on appeal [NSW]

(1)  In deciding the appeal, the Supreme Court may—

(a)  dismiss the appeal; or

(b)  make the order it thinks proper having regard to the merits of the case and the public welfare, and in doing so may exercise any one or more of the powers of the Tribunal under this Law.

(2)  If the Supreme Court dismisses an appeal against an order of the Tribunal, the Court may by order direct that the Tribunal’s order is to be taken to include provision that an application for its review under Subdivision 3 of Division 6 may not be made until after a specified time.

Division 8 Reviews [NSW]

163   Appropriate review body [NSW]

(1)  For the purposes of this Division, the appropriate review body is—

(a)  if the order being reviewed provides that it may be reviewed by a Council, the Council; or

(b)  if the Chairperson of the Tribunal decides, on application by the person the subject of the review, that a National Board is the appropriate review body, the National Board; or

(c)  otherwise, the Tribunal.

(2)  An application for review by a person must be lodged with the Executive Officer of the Council for the health profession in which the person is or was registered.

(3)  The Executive Officer must refer the application to the appropriate review body.

163A   Right of review [NSW]

(1)  A person may apply to the appropriate review body for a review of—

(a)  a prohibition order made in relation to the person; or

(b)  a relevant order made in relation to the person.

(2)  A person may also apply to the appropriate review body for a review of an order made under this Division.

(3)  An application for review of an order may not be made—

(a)  while the terms of the order provide that an application for review may not be made; or

(b)  while an appeal to a Tribunal or the Supreme Court in respect of the same matter is pending.

(4)  In this section—

decision-making entity means the following—

(a)  a Committee;

(b)  a Performance Review Panel;

(c)  the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson of a Tribunal;

(d)  a Tribunal;

(e)  the Supreme Court.

relevant order, in relation to a person, means any of the following orders made by a decision-making entity—

(a)  an order that the person’s registration as a registered health practitioner or student is suspended; or

(b)  an order that the person’s registration be cancelled or that the person is disqualified from being registered in a particular health profession; or

(c)  an order that conditions be imposed on the person’s registration in a health profession.

163B   Powers on review [NSW]

(1)  The appropriate review body must conduct an inquiry into an application for review and may then do any of the following—

(a)  dismiss the application;

(b)  make an order ending or shortening the period of the suspension concerned;

(c)  make a reinstatement order;

(d)  make an order altering or removing the conditions to which the person’s registration is subject, including by imposing new conditions;

(e)  make an order—

(i)  ending or shortening the period of a prohibition order; or

(ii)  altering or removing the conditions to which the person is subject under a prohibition order, including by imposing new conditions.

(2)  If the appropriate review body makes an order altering a critical compliance condition, or removing a critical compliance condition and imposing a new condition, the altered condition or new condition is a critical compliance condition unless the body orders otherwise.

(3)  A reinstatement order is an order that the person be registered subject to the same conditions and limitations (if any) to which the person’s registration was subject immediately before the person ceased to be registered.

(4)  The appropriate review body may also impose conditions on the person’s registration or alter the conditions to which the person’s registration is to be subject under the reinstatement order.

(5)  The order on a review under this section may also provide that the order is not to be reviewed under this Division until after a specified time.

163C   Inquiry into review application [NSW]

(1)  A review under this Division is a review to determine the appropriateness, at the time of the review, of the order concerned.

(2)  The review is not to review the decision to make the order, or any findings made in connection with the making of that decision.

(3)  In addition to any other matter the review may take into account, the review must take into account any complaint made or notified to a Council or a National Board, or a former Board under a repealed Act, about the person, whether the complaint was made or notified before or after the making of the order that is the subject of the review and whether or not the complaint was referred under Subdivision 2 of Division 3 or any other action was taken on the complaint.

Division 9 Enforcement powers [NSW]

164   Appointment of authorised persons [NSW]

(1)  The Director-General may appoint a person as an authorised person for the purposes of this Division.

(2)  The Director-General must provide an authorised person with a certificate of authority.

164A   Powers of authorised persons [NSW]

(1)  An authorised person may exercise the powers conferred by this section for the purpose of—

(a)  ascertaining whether the NSW provisions or the NSW regulations are being complied with or have been contravened; or

(b)  investigating a complaint made or intended to be made under Division 3.

(2)  An authorised person may, with the approval of the Council for a health profession, given on the particular occasion, enter and inspect at any reasonable time premises that the authorised person believes on reasonable grounds are being used for the carrying on of the practice of the health profession.

(3)  While on premises entered under this section or under the authority of a search warrant under section 164B, an authorised person may do any one or more of the following—

(a)  require any person on the premises to produce any records in the possession or under the control of that person relating to the carrying on of the practice of the health profession;

(b)  inspect, take copies of, or extracts or notes from, the records and, if the authorised person considers it necessary to do so for the purpose of obtaining evidence, seize the records;

(c)  examine and inspect any apparatus or equipment used or apparently used in the course of the practice of the health profession;

(d)  take photographs, films and audio, video and other recordings as the authorised person considers necessary;

(e)  require any person on the premises to answer questions or otherwise furnish information in relation to the carrying on of the practice of a health profession or a contravention of a NSW provision or the NSW regulations;

(f)  require the owner or occupier of the premises to give the authorised person the assistance and facilities as is or are reasonably necessary to enable the authorised person to exercise the functions of an authorised person under this section.

(4)  An authorised person is not entitled to enter a part of premises used for residential purposes, except—

(a)  with the consent of the occupier of the part; or

(b)  under the authority of a search warrant.

(5)  An authorised person must, when exercising on any premises any function of the authorised person under this section, produce the authorised person’s certificate of authority to any person apparently in charge of the premises who requests its production.

(6)  If an authorised person seizes any records under this section, they may be kept by the authorised person until the completion of any proceedings (including proceedings on appeal) in which they may be evidence but only if the person from whom the records were seized is given, within a reasonable time after the seizure, a copy of the records certified by an authorised person as a true copy.

(7)  A copy of a record given under subsection (6) is, as evidence, of equal validity to the record of which it is certified to be a copy.

164B   Search warrants [NSW]

(1)  A person appointed under this Division as an authorised person may apply to an authorised officer for the issue of a search warrant for premises if the authorised person believes on reasonable grounds—

(a)  a NSW provision or the NSW regulations is being contravened on the premises; or

(b)  there is on the premises evidence of a contravention of a provision of this Law or the NSW regulations.

(2)  The authorised officer may, if satisfied there are reasonable grounds for doing so, issue a search warrant authorising an authorised person named in the warrant—

(a)  to enter and inspect the premises; and

(b)  to exercise on the premises any function of an authorised person under section 164A.

(3)  Division 4 of Part 5 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 applies to a search warrant issued under this section.

(4)  In this section—

authorised officer has the same meaning as it has in the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002.

164C   Offences [NSW]

(1)  A person must not—

(a)  prevent an authorised person from exercising any function conferred or imposed on the authorised person under this Division; or

(b)  hinder or obstruct an authorised person in the exercise of a function conferred or imposed on the authorised person under this Division; or

(c)  without reasonable excuse, refuse or fail to comply with any requirement made or to answer any question asked by an authorised person under this Division; or

(d)  give an authorised person information knowing it to be false or misleading in a material particular.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  for an offence under paragraph (a) or (b)—50 penalty units; or

(b)  for an offence under paragraph (c) or (d)—20 penalty units.

(2)  It is a sufficient defence to a prosecution for the offence under paragraph (c) of failing to answer a question asked by an authorised person if the defendant satisfies the court that the defendant did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained, the answer to the question.

164D   Self-incrimination [NSW]

(1)  A person is not excused from answering a question asked by an authorised person under this Division on the ground the answer might tend to incriminate the person.

(2)  However, information furnished by an individual in answering a question asked by an authorised person under this Division is not admissible against the individual in criminal proceedings (except proceedings for an offence against section 164C) if—

(a)  the individual objected at the time of doing so on the ground it might incriminate the individual; or

(b)  the individual was not warned on that occasion that the individual may object to furnishing the information on the ground it might incriminate the individual.

(3)  A person is not excused from producing a record to an authorised person under this Division on the ground the record might tend to incriminate the person, and the record is not inadmissible in evidence against the person in criminal proceedings on the ground the record might incriminate the person.

Note. Section 187 of the Evidence Act 1995 provides that the privilege against self-incrimination does not apply to bodies corporate.

164E   Offence of impersonating authorised person [NSW]

A person must not—

(a)  impersonate an authorised person; or

(b)  falsely represent the person is an authorised person.

Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.

164F   Authorised persons to produce certificate of authority [NSW]

An authorised person must, on exercising in a place a function of the authorised person under this Division, produce the person’s certificate of authority to any person apparently in charge of the place who requests its production.

164G   Council may require further information from practitioner or student [NSW]

(1)  A Council for a health profession may, by written notice given to a registered health practitioner or student registered in the profession, require the practitioner or student to give to the Council, within a reasonable period specified in the notice, further information about any complaint or other matter concerning the practitioner or student.

(2)  A registered health practitioner or student must not—

(a)  without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with a requirement under this section; or

(b)  in purported compliance with a requirement under this section, provide information knowing it to be false or misleading in a material particular.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

Division 10 Tribunals [NSW]

Subdivision 1 Establishment of Tribunals [NSW]

165   Establishment of Tribunals [NSW]

(1)  Each of the following Tribunals is established for the health profession listed beside that Tribunal in the following Table—

Table—Tribunals

Name of Tribunals	Health profession
Chiropractic Tribunal of New South Wales	chiropractic
Dental Tribunal of New South Wales	dental (including the profession of a dentist, dental hygienist, dental prosthetist, dental therapist or oral health therapist)
Medical Tribunal of New South Wales	medical
Nursing and Midwifery Tribunal of New South Wales	nursing and midwifery
Optometry Tribunal of New South Wales	optometry
Osteopathy Tribunal of New South Wales	osteopathy
Pharmacy Tribunal of New South Wales	pharmacy
Physiotherapy Tribunal of New South Wales	physiotherapy
Podiatry Tribunal of New South Wales	podiatry
Psychology Tribunal of New South Wales	psychology

(2)  The Governor may, by order published on the NSW legislation website, amend the Table to subsection (1) by inserting, altering or omitting the name of a Tribunal or health profession.

(3)  A Tribunal is to be constituted in accordance with this Law to deal with a matter referred to it or an appeal or application made to it under this Law.

(4)  A Tribunal has and may exercise the jurisdiction and functions conferred or imposed on it by or under this Law or any other Act.

165A   Tribunal to be constituted to deal with complaints, applications and appeals [NSW]

(1)  If a complaint is referred to a Tribunal for a health profession or an application or appeal is made to the Tribunal, the Council for the health profession must—

(a)  inform the Chairperson of the Tribunal of the referral, application or appeal; and

(b)  appoint 3 other persons to sit on the Tribunal.

(2)  For the purpose of conducting an inquiry or hearing an appeal, the Tribunal is to consist of—

(a)  the Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson, as nominated by the Chairperson; and

(b)  2 health practitioners registered in the same health profession as the health practitioner or student the subject of the inquiry or appeal and having the qualifications prescribed by the NSW regulations; and

(c)  one lay person (that is, a person who is not registered in the health profession) appointed by the Council from among a panel of lay persons for the time being nominated by the Minister.

(3)  If the health profession has divisions, at least one and, if practicable, both, of the members appointed under subsection (2)(b) must be registered in the same division of the health profession as the health practitioner or student the subject of the inquiry or hearing.

(4)  A person is not to be appointed to sit on the Tribunal if the person is a member of the Council.

(5)  A Tribunal, as constituted by different persons or the same persons, may conduct or hear more than one inquiry or appeal at the same time.

(6)  An inquiry or appeal conducted or heard by a Tribunal may relate to more than one health practitioner or student if the complaint or complaints the subject of the inquiry or appeal arise from the same conduct.

165B   Chairperson and Deputy Chairpersons of Tribunals [NSW]

(1)  The Governor may appoint—

(a)  a qualified person as Chairperson of a Tribunal; and

(b)  one or more qualified persons as Deputy Chairpersons of a Tribunal.

(2)  The Chairperson and each Deputy Chairperson hold office for the period, not more than 7 years, specified in the instrument of appointment as Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson, but is eligible (if otherwise qualified) for re-appointment.

(3)  A Deputy Chairperson may be appointed by the Governor for the purpose only of conducting or hearing a particular inquiry or appeal described in the instrument of appointment of the Deputy Chairperson.

(4)  A Deputy Chairperson, while sitting on a Tribunal, has and may exercise all the functions conferred or imposed on a Chairperson by this Law.

(5)  If the period of a person’s appointment as Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson expires while the person is sitting on a Tribunal for the purposes of an inquiry or an appeal, the person may, despite that expiry, continue to sit on the Tribunal for the purpose of that inquiry or appeal (the continuing inquiry or appeal).

(6)  For the purposes of the conduct or hearing of the continuing inquiry or appeal (and any provision of this Law or the regulations with respect to the inquiry or appeal), the person referred to in subsection (5)—

(a)  is taken to be a Deputy Chairperson; and

(b)  has and may exercise only the functions conferred or imposed on a Deputy Chairperson under this Law; and

(c)  may exercise the functions only in respect of the continuing inquiry or appeal.

(7)  A Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson sitting on a Tribunal is entitled to be paid the remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) decided by the Minister from time to time.

(8)  The Governor may appoint a Deputy Chairperson to act in the office of Chairperson during the illness or absence of a Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson, while so acting, has and may exercise all the functions of the Chairperson and is taken to be the Chairperson.

(9)  If a person who is a Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson ceases to be a qualified person, the person also ceases to hold office as Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson.

(10)  In this section, qualified person means—

(a)  for the Medical Tribunal of New South Wales, a Judge of the Supreme Court (or a Judge or other person having the same status as a Judge of the Supreme Court) or a Judge of the District Court; and

(b)  for another Tribunal, an Australian lawyer of at least 7 years’ standing.

165C   Effect of vacancy on Tribunal [NSW]

(1)  If one of the members (other than a Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson) constituting a Tribunal for the purpose of conducting a hearing vacates office for any reason before an inquiry or appeal is completed or a decision is made in respect of an inquiry or appeal, the inquiry or appeal may be continued and a determination made by the remaining members of the Tribunal.

(2)  If more than one of the members vacate office or the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson vacates office for any reason before a Tribunal has completed an inquiry or appeal or made a determination in respect of an inquiry or appeal, the inquiry or appeal is terminated.

(3)  When an inquiry or appeal is terminated, a Tribunal may be reconstituted in accordance with this Division for the purposes of conducting a new inquiry or appeal in respect of the matter concerned.

165D   Payment of non-judicial and non-legal Tribunal members [NSW]

A member of a Tribunal (other than a Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson) is, while sitting on the Tribunal, entitled to be paid by the Council at a rate decided by the Minister in consultation with the Council.

165E   Protections and immunities of judicial members [NSW]

A judicial member of a Tribunal has, in the exercise of his or her functions under this Division, the same protection and immunity as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

165F   Seal of Tribunal [NSW]

A Tribunal is to have a seal of which all courts and persons acting judicially are to take judicial notice.

165G   Medical Tribunal Registry [NSW]

There is to be established in the Registry of the District Court at Sydney a Registry for the Medical Tribunal of New South Wales to provide registry services for the Tribunal.

Subdivision 2 Proceedings of Tribunals [NSW]

166   Decisions of Tribunals [NSW]

(1)  The decision of a Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson of a Tribunal on a question of law or procedure arising during an inquiry or appeal at which the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson presides is the decision of the Tribunal for the purposes of the inquiry or appeal.

(2)  A decision supported by at least 3 members of a Tribunal with respect to a question (other than with respect to a point of law or procedure) arising during an inquiry or appeal before the Tribunal is the decision of the Tribunal.

(3)  If 2 members of a Tribunal support a decision and 2 members oppose the decision, the decision of the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson presiding is the decision of the Tribunal.

166A   Time when orders take effect [NSW]

An order of a Tribunal takes effect on—

(a)  the day on which the order is made; or

(b)  the later day specified in the order.

166B   Powers of Tribunal exercised by Supreme Court [NSW]

A power of a Tribunal exercised under this Law by the Supreme Court is, except for the purposes of an appeal, taken to have been exercised by the Tribunal.

166C   Executive Officer to be informed of disciplinary action [NSW]

A Tribunal for a health profession must inform the Executive Officer of the Council for the health profession of the exercise of any power under this Part by the Tribunal.

166D   Rules of practice and procedure for the Medical Tribunal [NSW]

A rule committee consisting of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Medical Tribunal of New South Wales may make rules, not inconsistent with this Law, governing the practice and procedure of the Tribunal.

Subdivision 3 Inquiries and appeals before Tribunal [NSW]

167   Jurisdiction [NSW]

(1)  A Tribunal must—

(a)  conduct an inquiry into a complaint, matter or application referred to it; and

(b)  hear any appeal referred to it.

(2)  No inquiry need be conducted into a complaint referred to a Tribunal if the registered health practitioner or student who is the subject of the complaint admits the subject-matter of the complaint in writing to the Tribunal.

167A   Notice of time and place of inquiry or appeal [NSW]

(1)  A Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson nominated to sit on a Tribunal for a health profession must fix a time and place for the conducting of the inquiry or the hearing of the appeal by the Tribunal.

(2)  The Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson must give not less than 14 days’ notice of the inquiry or appeal to each of the following—

(a)  the registered health practitioner or student the subject of the inquiry or appeal;

(b)  the complainant, if any;

(c)  the Director-General;

(d)  the Council for the health profession;

(e)  for an inquiry into a complaint, the Commission;

(f)  the Chairperson of the relevant Committee, if appropriate.

167B   Conduct of proceedings [NSW]

(1)  A Tribunal may conduct proceedings on an inquiry or appeal as it thinks fit.

(2)  Proceedings of a Tribunal are to be open to the public except when the Tribunal otherwise directs.

(3)  A Tribunal is not to direct that proceedings are to be closed to the public unless satisfied that it is desirable to do so in the public interest for reasons connected with the subject-matter of the inquiry or appeal or the nature of the evidence to be given.

167C   Representation before Tribunals [NSW]

(1)  At an inquiry conducted or appeal heard by a Tribunal, the registered health practitioner or student and any complainant concerned are entitled to attend and to be represented by—

(a)  an Australian legal practitioner; or

(b)  with the leave of the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson presiding, another adviser.

(2)  A Tribunal may grant leave for another person to appear (whether in person or by an Australian legal practitioner or another adviser) at an inquiry or appeal if the Tribunal is satisfied that it is appropriate for the person to appear.

(3)  This section does not prevent a Tribunal from proceeding in the absence of the registered health practitioner or student concerned, as long as the practitioner or student has been given notice of the inquiry or appeal.

167D   Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson not to review own decisions [NSW]

A Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson must not sit on a Tribunal for the purpose of conducting any inquiry or hearing any appeal relating to a particular matter before the Tribunal if a decision has been made by the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson in relation to the matter.

167E   Adjournments and interlocutory orders [NSW]

(1)  A Tribunal may adjourn proceedings for any reason it thinks fit.

(2)  A Tribunal may, during any proceedings, exercise any power or combination of powers conferred on the Tribunal by section 149A, except the power to caution or reprimand.

(3)  A Tribunal may, in respect of an appeal under section 159B, make an order staying the decision of the Council appealed against until the appeal has been disposed of.

167F   Tribunals to provide details of decisions [NSW]

(1)  As soon as practicable after making a decision on an inquiry or an appeal (bearing in mind the public welfare and seriousness of the matter), a Tribunal must give a written statement of the decision to—

(a)  the complainant; and

(b)  the registered health practitioner or student the subject of the inquiry or appeal; and

(c)  the Council for the health profession in which the practitioner or student is registered.

(2)  The statement of a decision must—

(a)  set out any findings on material questions of fact; and

(b)  refer to any evidence or other material on which the findings were based; and

(c)  give the reasons for the decision.

(3)  The Tribunal may also provide the statement of a decision to the persons the Tribunal thinks fit.

(4)  Unless the Tribunal has ordered otherwise, a Council—

(a)  must make publicly available a statement of a decision given to it under this section if the decision is in respect of a complaint that has been proved or admitted in whole or in part; and

(b)  may disseminate any other statement of a decision as the Council thinks fit.

167G   Statement need not contain confidential information [NSW]

(1)  A Tribunal is not required to include confidential information in the statement of a decision.

(2)  If the statement would be false or misleading if it did not include the confidential information, the Tribunal is not required to provide the statement.

(3)  If confidential information is not included in the statement given to a person or the statement is not given to a person because of subsection (2), the Tribunal must give a confidential information notice to the person.

(4)  A confidential information notice must be given within one month after the decision is made.

(5)  This section does not affect the power of a court to make an order for the discovery of documents or to require the giving of evidence or the production of documents to a court, subject to the provisions of this Law relating to protected reports.

Division 11 Professional Standards Committees [NSW]

Subdivision 1 Preliminary [NSW]

168   Definitions [NSW]

In this Division—

Committee means a Professional Standards Committee.

relevant health practitioner means a health practitioner registered under this Law in the—

(a)  medical profession; or

(b)  nursing and midwifery profession.

Subdivision 2 Establishment and membership of Committees [NSW]

169   Establishment of Committees [NSW]

(1)  There are to be Professional Standards Committees established for the purposes of this Law.

(2)  A Committee has and may exercise the jurisdiction and functions conferred or imposed on it by or under this Law.

169A   Council to establish Committee when required [NSW]

(1)  A Council must establish a Committee when a complaint about a relevant health practitioner is referred to a Committee.

(2)  A Council establishes a Committee by appointing 4 persons to sit as the Committee for the purpose of conducting an inquiry into the complaint.

169B   Membership of Committee [NSW]

(1)  A Committee consists of—

(a)  2 registered health practitioners who—

(i)  are registered in the same health profession as the relevant health practitioner the subject of the proceedings before the Committee; and

(ii)  have the qualifications, if any, prescribed by the NSW regulations for that profession; and

(b)  one person who is an Australian lawyer and not a registered health practitioner and who is to be appointed by the Council as Chairperson of the Committee; and

(c)  one person who is not a registered health practitioner appointed from among a panel of persons for the time being nominated by the Minister.

(2)  A person who is a member of the Council may not be appointed to sit on a Committee.

(3)  A member of a Committee, while sitting on the Committee, is entitled to be paid by the Council at a rate decided by the Minister.

(4)  The rate must be decided by the Minister in consultation with the Council.

Subdivision 3 Proceedings of Committees [NSW]

170   Multiple inquiries [NSW]

One or more Committees may conduct more than one inquiry at the same time.

170A   How a Committee decides [NSW]

A decision supported by at least 3 members of a Committee on any question arising during an inquiry is the decision of the Committee.

170B   Time when orders take effect [NSW]

An order of a Committee takes effect on—

(a)  the day the order is made; or

(b)  if a later day is specified in the order, that day.

170C   Committee to inform Executive Officer of its actions under disciplinary provisions [NSW]

A Committee must inform the Executive Officer of the exercise of any power by the Committee under Subdivision 3 of Division 3.

170D   Chairperson may exercise certain powers of Committee [NSW]

(1)  The Chairperson of a Committee may exercise the following powers of the Committee—

(a)  the power to terminate an inquiry;

(b)  the power to hand down a decision of the Committee on an inquiry.

(2)  A power of the Committee exercised by the Chairperson of the Committee is taken to have been exercised by the Committee.

Subdivision 4 Inquiries before Committees [NSW]

171   Committee to hold inquiry into complaint [NSW]

(1)  A Committee must hold an inquiry into a complaint about a relevant health practitioner that is referred to it.

(2)  No inquiry need be held into the complaint if the relevant health practitioner admits the subject-matter of the complaint in writing to the Committee.

(3)  On appointment, the Chairperson of the Committee must fix a time and place for the holding of an inquiry by the Committee into the complaint.

(4)  The Chairperson must give not less than 14 days’ notice of the inquiry to—

(a)  the relevant health practitioner; and

(b)  the complainant, if any; and

(c)  the Director-General; and

(d)  the Council for the health profession in which the practitioner is registered; and

(e)  the Commission.

171A   Procedure for inquiry [NSW]

(1)  Subject to this section, the Committee may conduct proceedings on the inquiry as it thinks fit.

(2)  Proceedings of the Committee are to be open to the public unless the Committee directs otherwise.

(3)  The Committee is not to direct that proceedings are to be closed to the public unless satisfied it is desirable to do so in the public interest because of—

(a)  the subject-matter of the inquiry; or

(b)  the nature of the evidence to be given.

(4)  The Committee may be assisted by an Australian lawyer appointed, at the request of the Committee, by the Executive Officer of the Council.

171B   Representation at inquiry [NSW]

(1)  At the inquiry held by the Committee, the relevant health practitioner and any complainant are entitled to attend and to be represented by—

(a)  an Australian legal practitioner; or

(b)  with the leave of the Chairperson of the Committee, another adviser.

(2)  Subsection (1) does not prevent the Committee from addressing questions directly to the relevant health practitioner.

(3)  The Committee may grant leave for any other person to appear at the inquiry if the Committee is satisfied it is appropriate for the person to appear.

(4)  This section does not prevent the Committee from proceeding in the absence of the relevant health practitioner or the complainant, if the practitioner or complainant has been given notice of the inquiry.

171C   Adjournments and interlocutory orders [NSW]

(1)  The Committee may adjourn proceedings for any reason it thinks fit.

(2)  The Committee may, during any proceedings, exercise any power or combination of powers conferred on a Committee by section 146B, except the power to caution or reprimand.

171D   Committee must refer certain matters to Tribunal [NSW]

(1)  The Committee must immediately terminate the inquiry if, before or during the inquiry, the Committee—

(a)  forms the opinion the complaint, if substantiated, may provide grounds for the suspension or cancellation of the registration of the relevant health practitioner; or

(b)  becomes aware the Council or the Commission has referred the complaint or another complaint about the practitioner to the Tribunal.

(2)  Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to a complaint that the Council decided not to refer to the Tribunal because the allegations on which it, and any other pending complaint against the practitioner, was founded related solely or principally to the practitioner’s physical or mental capacity to practise the practitioner’s profession.

(3)  If the Committee terminates an inquiry, it must refer the complaint to the Tribunal unless it has already been referred to the Tribunal.

(4)  The Tribunal to which the complaint is referred may be the Tribunal as already constituted to deal with another complaint or the Tribunal as constituted to deal with the referred complaint.

(5)  The Committee must inform the Council when it takes any action under this section.

171E   Committee to provide details of decision [NSW]

(1)  The Committee must give a written statement of its decision on the inquiry to the following within one month after the decision is made—

(a)  the complainant;

(b)  the relevant health practitioner;

(c)  the Council.

(2)  The statement of decision must—

(a)  set out any findings on material questions of fact; and

(b)  refer to any evidence or other material on which the findings were based; and

(c)  give reasons for the decision.

(3)  The Committee may also give the statement of decision to any other person the Committee thinks fit.

(4)  The Council—

(a)  must make publicly available the statement of decision if the decision is in respect of a complaint that has been proved or admitted in whole or in part; and

(b)  may disseminate any other statement of decision as the Council thinks fit.

(5)  Subsection (4) does not apply if the Committee has ordered that the statement is not to be made publicly available.

171F   Statement need not contain confidential information [NSW]

(1)  A Committee is not required to include confidential information in a statement of a decision given to a person.

(2)  If the statement would be false or misleading if it did not include the confidential information, the Committee is not required to provide the statement.

(3)  If confidential information is not included in the statement of a decision given to a person, or a statement is not given to a person because of subsection (2), the Committee must give the person a confidential information notice.

(4)  A confidential information notice must be given within one month of the decision.

(5)  This section does not affect the power of a court to make an order for the discovery of documents or to require the giving of evidence or the production of documents to a court, subject to the provisions of this Law relating to protected reports.

Division 12 Assessment Committees [NSW]

172   Definitions [NSW]

In this Division—

Committee means an Assessment Committee.

relevant health practitioner means a health practitioner registered under this Law other than a health practitioner registered in the—

(a)  medical profession; or

(b)  nursing and midwifery profession.

172A   Establishment of Committees [NSW]

(1)  There are to be Assessment Committees established for the purposes of this Law.

(2)  A Committee has and may exercise the jurisdiction and functions conferred or imposed on it by or under this Law.

172B   Membership of Committee [NSW]

(1)  A Committee consists of the following members appointed by the Minister—

(a)  3 registered health practitioners who—

(i)  are registered in the same health profession as the relevant health practitioner the subject of the proceedings before the Committee; and

(ii)  have the qualifications, if any, prescribed by the NSW regulations for that profession; and

(b)  one person who is not a registered health practitioner appointed from among a panel of persons for the time being nominated by the Minister.

(2)  If the health profession has divisions, at least one and, if practicable, all, of the members appointed under subsection (1)(a) must be registered in the same division of the health profession as the health practitioner the subject of the complaint.

(3)  A person who is a member of the Council may not be appointed to sit on a Committee.

(4)  A member of a Committee, while sitting on the Committee, is entitled to be paid by the Council at a rate decided by the Minister.

(5)  The rate must be decided by the Minister in consultation with the Council.

172C   Multiple inquiries [NSW]

One or more Committees may conduct more than one assessment at the same time.

Division 13 Impaired Registrants Panels [NSW]

173   Establishment of Impaired Registrants Panels [NSW]

(1)  There are to be Impaired Registrants Panels established for the purposes of this Law.

(2)  A Panel has and may exercise the jurisdiction and functions conferred or imposed on it by or under this Law or any other Act.

173A   Council to establish Panel when required [NSW]

(1)  If a Council decides to refer a matter to an Impaired Registrants Panel, it must appoint 2 or 3 persons to sit as the Panel for the purpose of dealing with the matter.

(2)  A panel must include—

(a)  at least one person who is registered in the same health profession as the registered health practitioner or student who is the subject of the Panel’s proceedings; and

(b)  at least one medical practitioner.

(3)  If the health profession has divisions, the member appointed under subsection (2)(a) must be registered in the same division of the health profession as the registered health practitioner or student the subject of the complaint.

(4)  A person may be appointed to sit on a Panel whether or not the person is a member of the Council, but not if the person has previously dealt with the particular matter before the Panel in the person’s capacity as a member of the Council.

(5)  A member of a Panel, while sitting on the Panel, is entitled to be paid at the rate decided by the Minister in consultation with the Council.

173B   Decisions of Panel [NSW]

(1)  If an Impaired Registrants Panel consists of 2 members—

(a)  a decision supported by both members of the Panel is the decision of the Panel; and

(b)  if the members of the Panel disagree as to any matter dealt with by the Panel, the Panel’s report to the Council must include details of the disagreement and the reasons for it.

(2)  If a Panel consists of 3 members—

(a)  a decision supported by a majority of the members of the Panel is the decision of the Panel; and

(b)  the Panel’s report to the Council must include any minority decision.

Division 14 Performance Review Panels and assessors [NSW]

174   Establishment of Performance Review Panels [NSW]

(1)  There are to be Performance Review Panels established for the purposes of this Law.

(2)  A Panel has and may exercise the jurisdiction and functions conferred or imposed on it by or under this Law or any other Act.

174A   Membership of Performance Review Panels [NSW]

(1)  If a Council decides to require a Performance Review Panel to conduct a performance review of the professional performance of a registered health practitioner, the Council must appoint 3 persons to sit as the Panel for the purpose of that performance review.

(2)  Of those 3 persons—

(a)  2 are to be registered health practitioners registered in the same health profession as the health practitioner to whom the proceedings relate; and

(b)  one is to be a person who is not a registered health practitioner.

(3)  If the health profession has divisions, at least one and, if practicable, both, of the members appointed under subsection (2)(a) must be registered in the same division of the health profession as the health practitioner the subject of the complaint.

(4)  One of the members of the Panel must be appointed by the Council as Chairperson of the Panel.

(5)  A person may be appointed to sit on a Panel whether or not the person is a member of the Council, but not if the person has previously dealt with the particular matter before the Panel in the person’s capacity as a member of the Council.

(6)  A member of a Panel, while sitting on the Panel, is entitled to be paid by the Council at a rate decided by the Minister in consultation with the Council.

174B   Decisions of Panel [NSW]

A decision supported by a majority of members of a Performance Review Panel is the decision of the Panel.

174C   Certain powers may be exercised by Chairperson [NSW]

(1)  The Chairperson of a Performance Review Panel may exercise the following functions of a Panel—

(a)  the power to terminate a performance review;

(b)  the power to hand down a decision of the Panel on a performance review.

(2)  A power of a Performance Review Panel that is exercised by the Chairperson of the Panel under this Law is taken to have been exercised by the Panel.

174D   Assessors [NSW]

(1)  A Council may appoint suitably qualified persons to be assessors for the purposes of this Law.

(2)  Assessors are to be appointed on the terms and conditions decided by the Council.

(3)  An assessor has the functions conferred on an assessor by this Law and any other functions, in connection with Division 5, conferred on the assessor by the Council.

Division 14A Appeals [NSW]

175   Appellable decisions [NSW]

(1)  A person who is the subject of any of the following decisions (an appellable decision) may appeal against the decision to the appropriate responsible tribunal for the appellable decision—

(a)  a decision by a National Board to refuse to register the person;

(b)  a decision by a National Board to refuse to endorse the person’s registration;

(c)  a decision by a National Board to refuse to renew the person’s registration;

(d)  a decision by a National Board to refuse to renew the endorsement of the person’s registration;

(e)  a decision by a National Board to impose or change a condition on a person’s registration or the endorsement of the person’s registration, other than—

(i)  a condition relating to the person’s qualification for general registration in the health profession; and

(ii)  a condition imposed by section 112(3)(a);

(f)  a decision by a National Board to refuse to change or remove a condition imposed on the person’s registration or the endorsement of the person’s registration;

(g)  a decision by a National Board to refuse to change or revoke an undertaking given by the person to the Board.

(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), the appropriate responsible tribunal for an appellable decision is—

(a)  for a decision in relation to a registered health practitioner, the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction in which the practitioner’s principal place of practice is located; or

(b)  for a decision in relation to a student, the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction in which the student is undertaking the approved program of study or clinical training; or

(c)  for a decision in relation to another person—

(i)  the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction in which the person lives; or

(ii)  if the person does not live in a participating jurisdiction, the responsible tribunal for the participating jurisdiction nominated by the National Board that made the appellable decision and specified in the notice given to the person of the appellable decision.

Note. This section is a substituted New South Wales provision.

175A   Parties to the proceedings [NSW]

The parties to proceedings relating to an appellable decision being heard by a responsible tribunal are—

(a)  the person who is the subject of the appellable decision; and

(b)  the National Board that made the appellable decision.

Note. This section is a substituted New South Wales provision.

175B   Costs

The responsible tribunal may make any order about costs it considers appropriate for the proceedings.

Note. This section is a Health Practitioner Regulation National Law provision (see section 201 of the National Law).

175C   Decision

(1)  After hearing the matter, the responsible tribunal may—

(a)  confirm the appellable decision; or

(b)  amend the appellable decision; or

(c)  substitute another decision for the appellable decision.

(2)  In substituting another decision for the appellable decision, the responsible tribunal has the same powers as the entity that made the appellable decision.

Note. This section is a Health Practitioner Regulation National Law provision (see section 202 of the National Law).

Note. Section 203 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law is not applicable to New South Wales.

Division 14B Miscellaneous [NSW]

176   Notice from adjudication body [NSW]

(1)  If an adjudication body, other than a court, makes a decision in relation to a health practitioner or student registered in a health profession, it must give written notice of the decision to the National Board for the profession.

(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), in this jurisdiction a decision by an adjudication body is any of the following—

(a)  a decision by the adjudication body to impose or agree to conditions on a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration;

(b)  a decision by the adjudication body to suspend a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration;

(c)  a decision by the adjudication body to cancel a registered health practitioner’s or student’s registration.

Note. This subsection is an additional New South Wales provision.

(3)  The notice must state—

(a)  the decision made by the adjudication body; and

(b)  the reasons for the decision; and

(c)  the date the decision takes effect; and

(d)  any action the National Board must take to give effect to the decision.

176A   Implementation of decisions

(1)  A National Board must give effect to a decision of an adjudication body unless the decision is stayed on appeal.

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), the National Board must, if the notice given to the Board states that a health practitioner’s or student’s registration is cancelled, remove the practitioner’s or student’s name from the appropriate register kept by the Board.

Note. This section is a Health Practitioner Regulation National Law provision (see section 205 of the National Law).

176B   National Board to give notice to registered health practitioner’s employer

(1)  This section applies if—

(a)  a National Board—

(i)  decides to take health, conduct or performance action against a registered health practitioner; or

(ii)  receives notice from an adjudication body that the adjudication body has decided to take health, conduct or performance action against a registered health practitioner; or

(iii)  receives notice from a co-regulatory authority that an adjudication body in the co-regulatory jurisdiction has decided to take health, conduct or performance action against a registered health practitioner; and

(b)  the National Board has been advised by the registered health practitioner that the practitioner is employed by another entity.

Note. Under section 132, a National Board may ask a registered health practitioner to give the Board information about whether or not the practitioner is employed by another entity and, if so, for the employer’s details.

(2)  The National Board must, as soon as practicable after making the decision or receiving the notice, give written notice of the decision to take health, conduct or performance action against the registered health practitioner to the practitioner’s employer.

Note. This section is a Health Practitioner Regulation National Law provision (see section 206 of the National Law).

176C   Adjudication body to consider impact of decision on third parties [NSW]

(1)  If an adjudication body proposes to make a decision that, in the body’s opinion, will impose an appreciable burden on an identifiable third party in connection with a registered health practitioner’s practice or clinical training undertaken by a student, the body—

(a)  must give the third party an opportunity to make submission to the body with respect to the decision; and

(b)  must take the submission into account before giving the direction or making the order.

(2)  If an adjudication body makes a decision that will, in the body’s opinion, impose an appreciable burden on an identifiable third party in connection with a registered health practitioner’s practice or clinical training undertaken by a student, the body must give the third party notice of the decision as soon as practicable after it is made.

(3)  An example of a decision that may impose an appreciable burden on an identifiable third party in connection with a registered health practitioner’s practice is a decision that has the effect of requiring the practice of a registered health practitioner to be supervised by an identified third party.

(4)  In this section—

adjudication body means—

(a)  a Committee;

(b)  a Council;

(c)  a Panel;

(d)  a Tribunal.

third party means a health service provider other than the registered health practitioner to whom an inquiry relates, but does not include a person or body exercising functions conferred by this Law or the Health Care Complaints Act 1993.

Note. This section is a New South Wales provision.

176D   Effect of suspension

If a person’s registration as a health practitioner or student is suspended under this Law the person is taken during the period of suspension not to be registered under this Law, other than for the purposes of this Part.

Note. This section is a Health Practitioner Regulation National Law provision (see section 207 of the National Law).

176E   Protection from liability for certain publications [NSW]

(1)  A publication in good faith of a written statement of a decision made by a Council, a Committee, a Panel or a Tribunal does not subject a protected person to any liability (including liability in defamation).

(2)  In this section—

protected person means—

(a)  a Council, a Committee, a Panel or a Tribunal or a member of a Council, a Committee, a Panel or a Tribunal; or

(b)  the proprietor, editor or publisher of a newspaper; or

(c)  the proprietor or broadcaster of a radio or television station or the producer of a radio or television show; or

(d)  an Internet service provider or Internet content host; or

(e)  a member of staff of, or a person acting at the direction of, a person or entity referred to in this definition; or

(f)  a person, or a person belonging to a class of persons, prescribed by the NSW regulations for the purposes of this section.

Note. This section is a New South Wales provision.

176F   Confidentiality of protected reports

(1)  A person must not, directly or indirectly—

(a)  disclose a protected report to another person that the person has obtained in the exercise of the person’s functions under this Law; or

(b)  make a record of, or disclose to another person, information contained in a protected report that the person has obtained in the exercise of the person’s functions under this Law

Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.

(2)  Subsection (1) does not apply to the disclosure by a person of a protected report or information contained in a protected report—

(a)  for the purpose of exercising functions under this Law; or

(b)  to the Commission.

(3)  A protected report may not be admitted or used in civil proceedings before a court other than with the consent of—

(a)  the person giving the report; and

(b)  the person the subject of the report.

(4)  A person may not be compelled to produce a protected report, or to give evidence in relation to the report or its contents, in civil proceedings before a court.

177–207   (Repealed)

Part 9 Finance

208   Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Fund

(1)  The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Fund is established.

(2)  The Agency Fund is to have a separate account for each National Board.

(3)  The Agency Fund is a fund to be administered by the National Agency.

(4)  The National Agency may establish accounts with any financial institution for money in the Agency Fund.

(5)  The Agency Fund does not form part of the consolidated fund or consolidated account of a participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth.

209   Payments into Agency Fund

(1)  There is payable into the Agency Fund—

(a)  all money appropriated by the Parliament of any participating jurisdiction or the Commonwealth for the purposes of the Fund; and

(b)  all fees, costs and expenses paid or recovered under this Law; and

(c)  all fines paid to, or recovered by, a National Board in accordance with an order of an adjudication body; and

(d)  the proceeds of the investment of money in the Fund; and

(e)  all grants, gifts and donations made to the National Agency or a National Board, but subject to any trusts declared in relation to the grants, gifts or donations; and

(f)  all money directed or authorised to be paid into the Fund by or under this Law, any law of a participating jurisdiction or any law of the Commonwealth; and

(g)  any other money or property received by the National Agency or a National Board in connection with the exercise of its functions.

(2)  Any money paid into the Agency Fund under subsection (1) for or on behalf of a National Board must be paid into the Board’s account kept within the Agency Fund.

210   Payments out of Agency Fund

(1)  Payments may be made from the Agency Fund for the purpose of—

(a)  paying any costs or expenses, or discharging any liabilities, incurred in the administration or enforcement of this Law; and

(b)  making payments to co-regulatory authorities; and

(c)  any other payments recommended by the National Board or National Agency and approved by the Ministerial Council.

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1)(a), a payment may be made from the Agency Fund to a responsible tribunal to meet the expenses of the responsible tribunal in performing functions under this Law.

(3)  A payment under subsection (1) may be made from a National Board’s account kept within the Agency Fund only if the payment is in accordance with the Board’s budget or otherwise approved by the Board.

211   Investment of money in Agency Fund

(1)  Subject to this section, the National Agency may invest money in the Agency Fund in the way it considers appropriate.

(2)  The National Agency may invest money in a National Board’s account kept within the Agency Fund only if the Agency has consulted the Board about the investment.

(3)  An investment under this section must be—

(a)  in Australian money; and

(b)  undertaken in Australia.

(4)  The National Agency must use its best efforts to invest money in the Agency Fund in a way it considers is most appropriate in all the circumstances.

(5)  The National Agency must keep records that show it has invested in the way most appropriate in the circumstances.

(6)  A security, safe custody acknowledgment or other document evidencing title accepted, guaranteed or issued for an investment arrangement must be held by the National Agency.

212   Financial management duties of National Agency and National Boards

(1)  The National Agency must—

(a)  ensure that its operations are carried out efficiently, effectively and economically; and

(b)  keep proper books and records in relation to the Agency Fund; and

(c)  ensure that expenditure is made from the Agency Fund for lawful purposes only and, as far as possible, reasonable value is obtained for moneys expended from the Fund; and

(d)  ensure that its procedures, including internal control procedures, afford adequate safeguards with respect to—

(i)  the correctness, regularity and propriety of payments made from the Agency Fund; and

(ii)  receiving and accounting for payments made to the Agency Fund; and

(iii)  prevention of fraud or mistake; and

(e)  take any action necessary to ensure the preparation of accurate financial statements in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards for inclusion in its annual report; and

(f)  take any action necessary to facilitate the audit of those financial statements in accordance with this Law; and

(g)  arrange for any further audit by a qualified person of the books and records kept by the National Agency in relation to the Agency Fund, if directed to do so by the Ministerial Council.

(2)  A National Board must—

(a)  ensure that its operations are carried out efficiently, effectively and economically; and

(b)  take any action necessary to ensure that the National Agency is able to comply with this section in relation to the funding of the National Board in exercising its functions.

Part 10 Information and privacy

Division 1 Privacy

213   Application of Commonwealth Privacy Act

(1)  The Privacy Act applies as a law of a participating jurisdiction for the purposes of the national registration and accreditation scheme.

(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), the Privacy Act applies—

(a)  as if a reference to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner were a reference to the Office of the National Health Practitioners Privacy Commissioner; and

(b)  as if a reference to the Privacy Commissioner were a reference to the National Health Practitioners Privacy Commissioner; and

(c)  with any other modifications made by the regulations.

(3)  Without limiting subsection (2)(c), the regulations may—

(a)  provide that the Privacy Act applies under subsection (1) as if a provision of the Privacy Act specified in the regulations were omitted; or

(b)  provide that the Privacy Act applies under subsection (1) as if an amendment to the Privacy Act made by a law of the Commonwealth, and specified in the regulations, had not taken effect; or

(c)  confer jurisdiction on a tribunal or court of a participating jurisdiction.

(4)  In this section—

Privacy Act means the Privacy Act 1988 of the Commonwealth, as in force from time to time.

Division 2 Disclosure of information and confidentiality

214   Definition

In this Division—

protected information means information that comes to a person’s knowledge in the course of, or because of, the person exercising functions under this Law.

215   Application of Commonwealth FOI Act

(1)  The FOI Act applies as a law of a participating jurisdiction for the purposes of the national registration and accreditation scheme.

(2)  The regulations under this Law may modify the FOI Act for the purposes of this Law.

(3)  Without limiting subsection (2), the regulations may—

(a)  provide that the FOI Act applies under subsection (1) as if a provision of the FOI Act specified in the regulations were omitted; or

(b)  provide that the FOI Act applies under subsection (1) as if an amendment to the FOI Act made by a law of the Commonwealth, and specified in the regulations, had not taken effect; or

(c)  confer jurisdiction on a tribunal or court of a participating jurisdiction.

(4)  In this section—

FOI Act means the Freedom of Information Act 1982 of the Commonwealth, as in force from time to time.

216   Duty of confidentiality

(1)  A person who is, or has been, a person exercising functions under this Law must not disclose to another person protected information.

Maximum penalty—

(a)  in the case of an individual—$5,000; or

(b)  in the case of a body corporate—$10,000.

(2)  However, subsection (1) does not apply if—

(a)  the information is disclosed in the exercise of a function under, or for the purposes of, this Law; or

(b)  the disclosure—

(i)  is to a co-regulatory authority; or

(ii)  is authorised or required by any law of a participating jurisdiction; or

(ba)  for a person exercising functions under a NSW provision, the disclosure is to the National Agency or a National Board; or

Note. See also section 176F which provides for the confidentiality of protected reports.

Note. This paragraph is an additional New South Wales provision.

(c)  the disclosure is otherwise required or permitted by law; or

(d)  the disclosure is with the agreement of the person to whom the information relates; or

(e)  the disclosure is in a form that does not identify the identity of a person; or

(f)  the information relates to proceedings before a responsible tribunal and the proceedings are or were open to the public; or

(g)  the information is, or has been, accessible to the public, including because it is or was recorded in a National Register; or

(h)  the disclosure is otherwise authorised by the Ministerial Council.

217   Disclosure of information for workforce planning

(1)  The Ministerial Council may, by written notice given to a National Board, ask the Board for information required by the Council for planning the workforce of health practitioners, or a class of practitioners, in Australia or a part of Australia.

(2)  If a National Board receives a request under subsection (1), the Board may, by written notice given to health practitioners registered by the Board, ask the practitioners for information relevant to the request.

(3)  A registered health practitioner who is asked to provide information under subsection (2) may, but is not required to, provide the information.

(4)  The National Board—

(a)  must give information received from a registered health practitioner to the Ministerial Council in a way that does not identify any registered health practitioner; and

(b)  must not use information received under this section that identifies a registered health practitioner for any other purpose.

(5)  The Ministerial Council must publish information it receives under this section in a way that is timely and ensures it is accessible to the public.

218   Disclosure of information for information management and communication purposes

(1)  A person may disclose protected information to an information management agency if the disclosure is in accordance with an authorisation given by the Ministerial Council under subsection (2).

(2)  The Ministerial Council may authorise the disclosure of protected information to an information management agency if the Council is satisfied—

(a)  the protected information will be collected, stored and used by the information management agency in a way that ensures the privacy of the persons to whom it relates is protected; and

(b)  the provision of the protected information to the information management agency is necessary to enable the agency to exercise its functions.

(3)  An authorisation under subsection (2)—

(a)  may apply to protected information generally or a class of protected information; and

(b)  may be subject to conditions.

(4)  In this section—

information management agency means a Commonwealth, State or Territory agency that has functions relating to the identification of health practitioners for information management and communication purposes, including, for example, the National E-health Transition Authority.

219   Disclosure of information to other Commonwealth, State and Territory entities

(1)  A person exercising functions under this Law may disclose protected information to the following entities—

(a)  the chief executive officer under the Medicare Australia Act 1973 of the Commonwealth;

(b)  an entity performing functions under the Health Insurance Act 1973 of the Commonwealth;

(c)  the Secretary within the meaning of the National Health Act 1953 of the Commonwealth;

(d)  the Secretary to the Department in which the Migration Act 1958 of the Commonwealth is administered;

(e)  another Commonwealth, State or Territory entity having functions relating to professional services provided by health practitioners or the regulation of health practitioners.

(2)  However, a person may disclose protected information under subsection (1) only if the person is satisfied—

(a)  the protected information will be collected, stored and used by the entity to which it is disclosed in a way that ensures the privacy of the persons to whom it relates is protected; and

(b)  the provision of the protected information to the entity is necessary to enable the entity to exercise its functions.

220   Disclosure to protect health or safety of patients or other persons

(1)  This section applies if a National Board reasonably believes that—

(a)  a registered health practitioner poses, or may pose, a risk to public health; or

(b)  the health or safety of a patient or a class of patients is or may be at risk because of a registered health practitioner’s practice as a health practitioner.

(2)  The National Board may give written notice of the risk and any relevant information about the registered health practitioner to an entity of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory that the Board considers may be required to take action in relation to the risk.

221   Disclosure to registration authorities

A person exercising functions under this Law may disclose protected information to a registration authority if the disclosure is necessary for the authority to exercise its functions.

Division 3 Registers in relation to registered health practitioner

222   National Registers

(1)  Each of the following National Boards must, in conjunction with the National Agency—

(a)  keep the public national register listed beside that Board in the following Table that is to include the names of all health practitioners, other than specialist health practitioners, currently registered by the Board; and

(b)  if Divisions are listed beside the public national register in the Table, keep the register in a way that ensures it includes those Divisions.

(2)  In addition, each National Board must keep a public national register that is to include the names of all health practitioners, other than specialist health practitioners, who were registered by the Board and whose registration has been cancelled by an adjudication body.

Table—Public national registers

Name of Board	Name of public national register	Divisions of public national register
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia	Register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners
Chinese Medicine Board of Australia	Register of Chinese Medicine Practitioners	Acupuncturists, Chinese herbal medicine practitioners, Chinese herbal dispensers
Chiropractic Board of Australia	Register of Chiropractors
Dental Board of Australia	Register of Dental Practitioners	Dentists, Dental therapists, Dental hygienists, Dental prosthetists, Oral health therapists
Medical Board of Australia	Register of Medical Practitioners
Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia	Register of Medical Radiation Practitioners	Diagnostic radiographers, Nuclear medicine technologists, Radiation therapists
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia	Register of Nurses	Registered nurses (Division 1), Enrolled nurses (Division 2)
	Register of Midwives
Occupational Therapy Board of Australia	Register of Occupational Therapists
Optometry Board of Australia	Register of Optometrists
Osteopathy Board of Australia	Register of Osteopaths
Pharmacy Board of Australia	Register of Pharmacists
Physiotherapy Board of Australia	Register of Physiotherapists
Podiatry Board of Australia	Register of Podiatrists
Psychology Board of Australia	Register of Psychologists

223   Specialists Registers

The National Board established for a health profession for which specialist recognition operates under this Law must, in conjunction with the National Agency, keep—

(a)  a public national specialists register that includes the names of all specialist health practitioners currently registered by the Board; and

(b)  a public national register that includes the names of all specialist health practitioners whose registration has been cancelled by an adjudication body.

224   Way registers are to be kept

Subject to this Division, a register a National Board is required to keep under this Division must be kept—

(a)  in a way that ensures it is up-to-date and accurate; and

(b)  otherwise in the way the National Agency considers appropriate.

225   Information to be recorded in National Register

A National Register or Specialists Register must include the following information for each registered health practitioner whose name is included in the register—

(a)  the practitioner’s sex;

(b)  the suburb and postcode of the practitioner’s principal place of practice;

(c)  the registration number or code given to the practitioner by the National Board;

(d)  the date on which the practitioner was first registered in the health profession in Australia, whether under this Law or a corresponding prior Act;

(e)  the date on which the practitioner’s registration expires;

(f)  the type of registration held by the practitioner;

(g)  if the register includes divisions, the division in which the practitioner is registered;

(h)  if the practitioner holds specialist registration, the recognised specialty in which the practitioner is registered;

(i)  if the practitioner holds limited registration, the purpose for which the practitioner is registered;

(j)  if the practitioner has been reprimanded, the fact that the practitioner has been reprimanded;

(k)  if a condition has been imposed on the practitioner’s registration or the National Board has entered into an undertaking with the practitioner—

(i)  if section 226(1) applies, the fact that a condition has been imposed or an undertaking accepted; or

(ii)  otherwise, details of the condition or undertaking;

(l)  if the practitioner’s registration is suspended, the fact that the practitioner’s registration has been suspended and, if the suspension is for a specified period, the period during which the suspension applies;

(m)  if the practitioner’s registration has been endorsed, details of the endorsement;

(n)  details of any qualifications relied on by the practitioner to obtain registration or to have the practitioner’s registration endorsed;

(o)  if the practitioner has advised the National Board the practitioner fluently speaks a language other than English, details of the other language spoken;

(p)  any other information the National Board considers appropriate.

226   National Board may decide not to include or to remove certain information in register