Senate Committee reports on Health Workforce Australia Bill

Looks like the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs thinks the Health Workforce Australia Bill is a good thing.

This will support the efforts of the National Health Workforce Taskforce / Health Workforce Australia (HWA) to drive further reforms - such as workforce substitution.

The Coalition Minority Report is noteworthy for the following observations:

• The potential for HWA to attempt to usurp the role of professional colleges and other organisations in accrediting clinical education and training for health professionals.
  
• The deliberate lack of involvement of medical and health professionals in the governance of HWA.

Some submissions to the committee also noted that there is no requirement for the HWA to even consult with the new national health professional registration boards, or accrediting bodies such as the Australian Dental Council.

The ADAVB will be looking at further representations on this before the Bill returns to the Parliament.