There’s a new scheme coming for paramedicine in 2018. Have your say on the standards paramedics must meet

20 Dec 2017

Public consultation opened today on the registration standards that paramedics must meet once paramedicine joins the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (National Scheme) in late 2018.

National regulation of paramedicine will mean that for the first time paramedics will be able to register once and practice anywhere in Australia. It will also increase public safety as all paramedics will be required to meet the same registration standards, no matter where they live.

The Paramedicine Board of Australia (Board) Chair Associate Professor Stephen Gough ASM said ‘setting registration standards is an important part of how the Board and paramedics can help protect the public.’

‘Feedback from this public consultation will help us make sure the registration standards are clear and easy to understand for practitioners, and most importantly that they accurately capture the obligations of being a registered paramedic. So it’s important that everyone has their say before the standards are finalised and recommended for approval by Health Ministers through the COAG Health Council.’

Have your say on:

• English language skills
• criminal history
• professional indemnity insurance arrangements
• continuing professional development, and
• recency of practice.

The Board is also consulting on a registration standard regarding grandparenting provisions for paramedics who don’t have an approved or accepted qualification. This standard will provide a pathway for these practitioners to demonstrate that they are qualified for registration as a paramedic.

Visit our current consultations page to review the consultation documents and submit feedback.

Paramedics and other interested stakeholders are also invited to share a consultation poster available for download to help spread the word on the proposed registration standards:

• Poster - Have your say on registration standards for paramedics (93.7 KB,PDF) 

What is the National Scheme?

AHPRA works in partnership with the National Boards to implement the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (National Scheme). The National Scheme aims to protect the public by ensuring only suitably trained and qualified practitioners are registered. It also facilitates workforce mobility across Australia; the provision of high-quality education and training of health practitioners; and rigorous assessment of overseas trained practitioners.

Guided by a nationally consistent law (The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory), AHPRA and the National Boards work to regulate the health professions in the public interest. This includes registering practitioners who are suitably trained and qualified to provide safe healthcare, and investigating concerns about registered health practitioners.

For more information

• Visit our page outlining the background and implementation steps on the regulation of paramedics under the National Scheme. 
• Lodge an online enquiry form.
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 8708 9001 (overseas callers).
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200