The ANPA has always advocated for the strongest form of regulation for naturopaths. Currently, naturopaths continue to be an unregistered profession. Professional regulation under the National Regulation and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) via the Australian Health Practitioner Authority (AHPRA) is the aspiration. This will mean an enforced national minimum standard of education for the profession, an independent complaints mechanism as well as protection of the title ‘naturopath’. Without legislation to this standard anyone can call themselves a naturopath and mislead the public. Registration for the profession of naturopaths will offer the public a mechanism to be re-assured no rogue practitioners are operating in the marketplace. In spite of evidence provided by the La Trobe Report that met the criteria for a ‘registered’ profession, the government has failed to act. The ANPA continues to lobby for registration for the profession at all levels of government. The National Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Workers does not offer any protection of title, nor does it enforce a national standard for naturopathic education.
National Code of Conduct for unregistered health care workers – 17th April, 2015
On Friday 17 April, 2015 State Health Ministers agreed to the first National Code of Conduct for health care workers. The National Code, once implemented, will set standards of conduct and practice for all unregistered health care workers. Ministers agreed that jurisdictions would now examine the implementation of the National Code and code-regulation regime.
- Final Report – A National Code of Conduct for health care workers – April 17 2015.pdf
- COAG Health Council Communique National Code of Conduct for health care workers – April 17 2015.pdf
VIC: Health Complaints Act 2016
As at April 2016 (implemented 1 Feb 2017) per Victorian Legislation.
The fact-sheet and summary include information on the new powers of the Health Complaints Commissioner, which affects public and private alcohol and other drug service providers, including registered, unregistered and individual practitioners.
In April 2016, the Victorian Parliament passed the Health Complaints Act 2016 (the Act). Under the new legislation, the existing Health Services Commissioner will be replaced by a new watchdog, the Health Complaints Commissioner. The new Commissioner will have greater power to take action against dangerous and unethical health providers who are not registered under national health practitioner regulation law. In a major change, the Act will allow anyone to make a complaint, rather than just the person who received the health service. The Commissioner will also have the power to investigate a matter that could have been the subject of a complaint even when no complaint is lodged, for example, if the media have uncovered a provider making false or harmful claims.
ANPA AHMAC Submission
DownloadSA Code of Conduct April 2013
DownloadComplaints
It will be up to each state and territory to examine how the National Code of Conduct for health care workers is implemented and progressed. For further information, please email your jurisdiction:
- Victoria: health.workforceregulation@dhhs.vic.gov.au
- South Australia: HealthPolicyLegislation@sa.gov.au
- Western Australia: mail@hadsco.wa.gov.au
- Northern Territory: ocmo.doh@nt.gov.au
- Queensland: national_workforce@health.qld.gov.au
- New South Wales: hccc@hccc.nsw.gov.au
- Australian Capital Territory: healthworkforceregulation@act.gov.au
- Tasmania: grasp@dhhs.tas.gov.au
Lin Report
Coming soon.