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10 Dec 2018
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and Western Australia Police have announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) enabling greater coordination and communication between the two agencies for the protection of the public.
The development of this MoU follows the successful MoU recently established with Victoria Police and announced earlier this year. The MoU recognises the learning that came from the Independent review of the use of chaperones to protect patients in Australia (the Chaperone review) and formalises the existing processes for the release of information by AHPRA when it identifies information relating to criminal offences, including physical harm, sexual offending, production of exploitative material and/or drug offences.
The MoU also documents the mechanism for WA Police to share information with AHPRA about practitioners who they suspect may pose a risk of substantial harm to the public or individuals posing as registered health practitioners when they are not.
Security protocols around the transmission, storage, use and disclosure of information that is shared between WA Police and AHPRA is also detailed within the agreement.
AHPRA CEO Martin Fletcher welcomed the MoU’s formal recognition of the existing relationship between AHPRA and WA Police, working together to protect the public.
‘This important agreement reflects the strong working relationship already established with Western Australia Police and we look forward to developing this further. Two MoUs with two state police forces in just the last six months is also great testament to the work of AHPRA and our commitment to patient safety,’ said Mr Fletcher.
‘We are very pleased to enter into the MoU with AHPRA. The sharing of information will fundamentally contribute to making the community a safer place,’ said Western Australian Police Assistant Commissioner Gary Budge.