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24 Feb 2021
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the National Boards have welcomed a new policy direction from the Health Council, to support Health Ministers’ February 2020 response to the recommendations of the Independent Review of Accreditation Systems Final Report (ASR Final Report).
Under the policy direction, Ahpra’s Agency Management Committee must establish a new, independently chaired committee to consider key accreditation issues. The new committee will have broad stakeholder membership to give independent and expert advice on accreditation reform issues as outlined in the Ministers’ response.
The policy direction clearly states that Ahpra and the National Boards are to consider the new committee’s advice when exercising their functions under the National Law and must require Accreditation Authorities to take into account the committee’s advice when exercising their functions for the purpose of the National Law.
The policy direction also states that Ahpra, National Boards and Accreditation Authorities document the outcome of their consideration of the new committee’s advice in meeting minutes, communiqués or other relevant formats. Ahpra’s Jurisdictional Advisory Committee members may request copies of these records or other evidence of compliance with the policy direction.
Welcoming the recent policy direction, Ahpra CEO Martin Fletcher said that, while Agency Management Committee’s Accreditation Advisory Committee has overseen progress on a range of areas relevant to Health Ministers’ February 2020 response, the new committee will bring together a wide range of stakeholders to give expert advice on strategic accreditation issues and the future of accreditation.
‘This policy direction is an important development for accreditation in the National Scheme. We have existing strong relationships with many of the stakeholders who will nominate members to the new committee and we look forward to the new committee’s expert advice on accreditation reform issues identified by Ministers.’
‘In implementing this policy direction, Ahpra and National Boards will continue to work collaboratively with Accreditation Authorities through the Accreditation Liaison Group and the Health Professions Accreditation Collaborative Forum. We look forward to establishing the new committee and are excited about the opportunities it will bring for accreditation in the National Scheme.’ Mr Fletcher said.
The policy direction can be viewed on the Ahpra website.