National Prescribing Competencies Framework

In 2024, the Department contracted Ahpra to conduct a review of the second edition of the framework. The main objectives of the framework’s review are to support Quality Use of Medicines and ensure that:

• it remains fit for purpose, contemporary, efficient, accurate and reflects current and emerging trends in education and multi-profession practices, and 
• it continues to describe competencies required to contribute to safe and person-centred prescribing.

Key stages of the review were:

• Scoping July - Sept 2024
• Preliminary consultation Oct - Nov 2024
• Analysis/review Dec - Jan 2025
• Public consultation Apr - June 2025
• Review/finalise July - Sept 2025
• Publish/promote Sept - Dec 2025

To inform this review, research activities were conducted, including a literature review, international and environmental scans. While the content of the second edition of the framework generally continued to describe competencies required to contribute to safe and person-centred prescribing, some minor updates were proposed to ensure that the framework is contemporary and reflects current and emerging trends in education and multi-profession practices.

A preliminary consultation on the draft revised framework (third edition) was completed in late 2024. We engaged with key targeted stakeholders in various sectors from health professional organisations, education providers, health consumer groups, jurisdictions and other groups.

A wide-ranging public consultation on the draft revised framework was undertaken between April and June 2025. A consultation report and submissions will be published on Past Consultations page.

Governance

The Ahpra project team conducting the review regularly reported back to the Department.

The National Prescribing Competencies Framework Reference Group provided guidance and advice throughout the review.The Reference Group included members from within the National Scheme and representatives from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Department, Health Professions Accreditation Collaborative Forum and National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

Ahpra’s Scheduled Medicines Expert Committee also provided general advice and guidance on the review.

Background

The first edition of the framework titled ‘Competencies required to prescribe medicines – Putting quality use of medicines into practice’ was published in 2012 by former NPS MedicineWise, previously known as NPS: Better choices, Better health. 

A comprehensive review of the framework was undertaken by former NPS MedicineWise with the support of Queensland University of Technology and completed in 2021. This review led to the second edition and current version of the framework, which was published in April 2021 by former NPS MedicineWise.