Give AHPRA powers to deal with unregistered practitioners

In the review of the Victorian Health Services Act (Review and Conciliation) 1987, ADAVB has advocated for powers for the Health Services Commissioner to recommend that AHPRA deal with unregistered providers who are a threat to public safety. This would require changes to the National Law to allow AHPRA to deal with unregistered persons.

ADAVB’s submission noted concerns over the treatment of notifiers as parties to a dispute and pointed to the need to refine processes for managing complaints against employees of dental corporations. ADAVB also emphasised the need to create a clearer distinction between the roles of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority and the Commissioner for the benefit of both practitioners and patients.

ADAVB advocated for these key features of Victoria’s future health complaints system:
• consistency across states and territories in the form of a national complaints organisation that reflects best practice;
• ease of access to the complaints process for the public;
• a timely complaints process;
• in the absence of a national organisation, enhanced information sharing and alignment of process between jurisdictions;
• extensive complaints data collection and analysis in order to inform future processes and improvements in health care
• a clear distinction between the complaints processes of AHPRA and HSC with adequate information to consumers.

Submissions to the Review will be considered by the Expert Review Panel and will inform recommendations on modernising and strengthening the role of the Health Services Commissioner. The submission also informs best practice models for resolving health complaints.