Help shape the national standards that all paramedics will need to meet

31 Jan 2018

Your opportunity to have a say on the national standards that all paramedics need to meet later this year closes on 8 February 2018.

The Paramedicine Board of Australia (the National Board) is currently consulting on the national standards for paramedics to become and remain registered in Australia. These standards will be mandatory and come into effect for all paramedics across Australia later this year.

When paramedicine becomes a regulated profession under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (National Scheme) later this year, the title ‘paramedic’ will become a protected title under the National Law¹. This means that only people who are registered with the National Board will be able to lawfully call themselves a paramedic.

For the public, this means that when a person calls themselves a paramedic, you can be assured that they have met and continue to meet the national standards for registration.

For paramedics, it means that you’ll be able to practice across all states and territories without having to meet different standards or needing to register in every jurisdiction that you work in.

Board Chair Associate Professor Stephen Gough ASM said, ‘We want to make sure the standards accurately capture the obligations of being a paramedic. So it’s important that we hear from both practitioners and the public during this consultation.’

You have until 5pm AEDT on 8 February 2018 to have your say on the standards for:

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

As part of transitioning the profession into the National Scheme, the National Board is also consulting on a standard that provides a temporary pathway for registration for experienced paramedics who don’t have an approved or accepted qualification (this is referred to as ‘grandparenting provisions’).

After considering the feedback received during the consultation, including any potential unforeseen consequences, the National Board will submit the next version of the standards for approval by health ministers through the COAG Health Council. The Council also decides when the standards will come in to effect, which is expected to be later in 2018.

‘Setting registration standards is an important part of how the National Board and paramedics can help protect the public. So make sure you have your say,’ Board Chair Stephen Gough said.

Want to find out more? Sign up for our webinar!

On 6 February 2018 the National Board will be hosting a webinar on the national registration standards for paramedicine.

Run by Board Chair Stephen Gough and practitioner Board Members Angela Wright and Clare Beech, the webinar will provide a brief introduction to national regulation and provide a more detailed overview of the registration standards and what it will mean to be a registered paramedic under the National Law.

When: Tuesday 6 February 2018 from 6.00pm – 7.30pm AEDT.

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 National Law, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (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

Sign up to receive the latest updates on our progress towards implementing the national regulation of paramedics.

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.

¹ The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory.