Close
Where there are public consultations which have closed, they will be shown below along with the individual submissions that were received and considered.
The Board publishes submissions received on their websites to encourage discussion and inform the community and stakeholders, unless requested otherwise. There may be circumstances under which submissions may not be published including if the individual or organisation has requested that the submission not be published; if the submission contains offensive or defamatory comments or does not address the scope of the consultation; or if the submission has not been provided in an accessible format for publication.
If you have a submission published on this page and you wish to request it be de-identified or removed please email the Chair of the Board at - [email protected].
Where there are consultations which are open for input, they will be shown under Current Consultations.
Released: 27 November 2023 Closed: 1 March 2024 (Consultation was extended for four weeks)
Ahpra and National Boards are reforming the regulation of registered health practitioners who work in the cosmetics sector in Australia, to improve practice and standards, public safety and informed consumer choice.
We consulted on three draft documents below related to the regulation of registered health practitioners who perform and advertise non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Submissions will be published on the Ahpra website.
Released: 3 August 2023 Closed: 29 September 2023
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the National Boards invited stakeholders to have their say as part of a review of the Criminal history registration standard (the criminal history standard).
The review, which was part of the work of our blueprint for reform to strengthen public safety in health regulation, which has a focus on sexual misconduct in healthcare, sought feedback on the current version of the criminal history standard, as well as comments on the future direction of other focus areas of work to improve public safety in health regulation including:
The consultation formed phase one of our work to review the Criminal history standard and ensured we received a range of views before a revised criminal history standard is developed and another opportunity is provided for stakeholders to comment (phase two).
Submissions will be published to the Ahpra website.
Released: 16 August 2023 Closed: 13 September 2023
The National Boards and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) consulted on two further possible changes to the National Boards’ English language skills (ELS) requirements. The National Boards invited responses to questions about the two further possible changes including specific issues the Medical Board of Australia asked its stakeholders to consider. This consultation did not invite further feedback on proposed changes to the National Board ELS standards that have been previously consulted on. This was a shorter streamlined consultation process designed to meet timeframes likely expected by Health Ministers. Feedback will be used to inform the final ELS standards National Boards submit to Health Ministers.
From 13 July to 7 September 2022, Ahpra and the National Boards (except the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia) publicly consulted on revised English language skills registration standards (the ELS standards). There was broad support from stakeholders for the proposed revised registration standards. On 30 September 2022, the National Cabinet announced the Independent review of overseas health practitioner regulatory settings (the Kruk review), and in April 2023, the National Cabinet endorsed the interim review report. In line with recommendations within the interim report endorsed by the National Cabinet, the National Boards consulted on two further possible changes to their English language skills requirements: expanding the range of recognised countries and a possible change to one element of the English test results accepted by the National Boards. Submissions will be published soon.
The Psychology Board of Australia is updating the code of conduct that applies to all registered psychologists in Australia.
The Board published a consultation paper that included information on the review, development of the draft code and proposed changes.
Released: 19 June 2023 Closed: 14 August 2023
To support the consultation, we developed a Guide to the review (143 KB,PDF) that outlined the key aspects of the consultation.
The Board hosted a series of webinars in July and August 2023. Board Chair, Rachel Phillips, provided background and context to the proposed changes. A copy of the presentation slides from the webinar is provided (1,408 KB,PDF).
You can view the recording of a webinar below.
Submissions to this consultation will be published here once analysis of the feedback is completed. There may be circumstances under which submissions may not be published. Published submissions will include the names of individuals and/or organisations that made the submission unless confidentiality is requested.
Released: 10 February 2023 Closed: 11 April 2023
The Psychology Board of Australia is updating the competencies for general registration as a psychologist in Australia.
The Board published a consultation document, including an overview of the review, and proposed updates to the competencies and other Board documents.
Alongside the public consultation we developed a Guide to the review (339 KB, PDF) that outlined the key aspects of the consultation and we held two webinars in March 2023 where Rachel Phillips, Psychology Board Chair, provided background and context to the proposed changes. A copy of the slides from the webinar is provided here (PDF, 612KB).
You can view a recording of the webinar below.
Read our consultation report to learn more about what we heard through the consultation on updating the psychology competencies for general registration and our next steps.
The consultation received 111 submissions from 38 organisations and 73 individuals. Twenty-three submissions were received during preliminary (confidential) consultation, and 88 submissions received during public consultation.
Of the submissions received to the public consultation, 66 stakeholders completed the online consultation survey (providing brief feedback), and 22 provided detailed feedback using the submission template. Submissions that were received at preliminary consultation, via the online consultation survey form, or were out of scope of the consultation are not published. For this consultation, a high number of stakeholders requested that their submissions remain confidential and not be published.
If you have a question or concern about how we’ve approached publishing your submission, please contact us at [email protected].
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the submissions are those of the individuals or organisations who submitted them. Their publication does not imply any acceptance of, or agreement with, these views by Ahpra or the Psychology Board.
Released: 14 December 2022 Closed: 14 February 2023
National Boards and Ahpra are reviewing the current accreditation arrangements for the national health practitioner regulatory scheme to prepare for the next period to mid-2029.
The current accreditation arrangements end on 30 June 2024 for all professions except paramedicine, which end on 30 November 2023. The National Boards and Ahpra intend to complete this scheduled review by May 2023 to inform National Boards’ decisions on arrangements for the next period and provide certainty for the future. The last scheduled review and public consultation on accreditation arrangements was in 2018.
This consultation is a key stage of the review and aims to confirm performance and progress on current accreditation priorities and will inform the priorities for the next period, including how progress in priority areas could be measured.
Released: 13 July 2022 Closed: 7 September 2022
Ahpra and the National Boards (except the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia) carried out a public consultation on revised English language skills registration standards in July 2022.
National Boards invited practitioners, community members, employers, education providers and other stakeholders to give feedback on the standards.
National Boards published a consultation paper that included an overview of the review, proposed changes to the standards, frequently asked questions (FAQs), a literature review and questions to help frame feedback.
Background
To practise safely in Australia, registered health practitioners must have effective English language skills. This includes being able to communicate effectively with patients/clients/consumers and their relatives and carers, collaborate with other health care professionals and keep clear and accurate health records. The National Boards set requirements for English language skills to make sure all registered health practitioners can provide safe care and communicate effectively in English.
The English Language Skills Registration Standard (the ELS standard) is one of the five core registration standards required by all National Boards. It helps to ensure that everyone who registers as a health practitioner in Australia has these skills, regardless of their language background.
Ahpra and the National Boards (except the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia) have reviewed their respective ELS standards to ensure that they stay current and keep pace with our changing and dynamic environment.
The review process has included considering available evidence of best practice, international benchmarking and consulting with various stakeholders whose feedback has been taken into account. For more details about the background and review process, please see the consultation paper
Submissions will be published soon.
Released: 11 September 2019 Closed: 26 November 2019
The National Boards and Ahpra carried out a public consultation on the Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service. The guidelines were developed to explain the advertising requirements in the National Law and to help advertisers (including registered health practitioners) to meet these requirements and advertise responsibly. The review is to make sure the guidelines are as contemporary, relevant and effective as possible.
Consultation documents and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.
The 15 National Boards in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme) released for public consultation draft guidelines on Mandatory notifications.
Released: 11 September 2019 Closed: 6 November 2019
Released: 9 April 2019 Closed: 31 May 2019
Released: 12 October 2018 Closed: 7 December 2018
Released: 29 March 2018 Closed: 1 June 2018
National Boards and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) have completed public consultation as part of a scheduled review of accreditation arrangements from mid-2019, when the current terms of assignment of accreditation functions end.
Released: 17 April 2018 Closed: 14 May 2018
Submissions and a brief consultation report are available on the Past Consultations page of the AHPRA website.
The Psychology Board of Australia has published a consultation paper on the draft guideline for informing a National Board about where you practise.
Released: 13 April 2018 Closes: 25 May 2018
Submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the AHPRA website.
Released: 13 March 2018 Closed: 4 May 2108
The Psychology Board of Australia (the Board) published Consultation Paper 29: Revised guidelines for supervisors and supervisor training providers.
Released: 5 March 2018 Closed: 27 April 2018
The Psychology Board of Australia (the Board) has published Consultation Paper 28: National Psychology Examination Curriculum Review.
Released: 7 July 2017 Closed: 1 September 2017
The Psychology Board of Australia (the Board) published consultation paper 27 seeking feedback on a proposed new guideline for overseas applicants about the Transitional Program.
Released: 13 July 2016 Closed: 7 September 2016
The Psychology Board of Australia (the Board) published consultation paper 26 on a review of the area of practice endorsements registration standard and the guidelines for area of practice endorsements.
Released: 11 January 2016 Closed: 4 March 2016
The Psychology Board of Australia published consultation paper 25: Consultation on ending the higher degree exemption from sitting the National Psychology Examination.
Released: 7 August 2015 Closed: Friday 2 October 2015
Released: 19 December 2014 Closed: 27 February 2015
The Psychology Board of Australia undertook public consultation on a review of the:
This paper also included exposure drafts of General registration standard and the Policy for recency of practice requirements which were initially released for public consultation on the review of the requirements for general registration, continuing professional development, and recency of practice in April 2014 (see below).
National Boards released for public consultation draft guidelines on the regulatory management of registered health practitioners and students infected with blood-borne viruses.
Released: 24 July 2014 Closed: 26 September 2014
Submissions received will be available on the Past Consultations page of the AHPRA website.
Released: 28 April 2014 Closed: 30 June 2014
Public consultation - Requirements for General registration continuing professional development and recency of practice - 28 April 2014 (964 KB,PDF), Word version (516 KB,DOCX)
Released: 25 October 2013 Closed: 23 December 2013
Submissions received can be found on the Past consultations page on the AHPRA website.
Following this public consultation the revised English language skills and Criminal history registration standards were approved by the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council on 17 March 2015 with approval taking effect from 1 July 2015.
A consultation report on the English language skills registration standard provides a summary of responses and rationale for changes and sets out the proposed way forward, including areas where further work is planned.
All National Boards have undertaken further public consultation on a proposal to refine international criminal history checks.
Released: 2 October 2013 Closed: 31 October 2013
Submissions and a consultation report are published on the AHPRA website.
More information about the outcome of this consultation is available on the international criminal history page of the AHPRA website.
Released: 13 May 2013 Closed: 8 July 2013
The Psychology Board of Australia is consulting on a draft Guidelines for the 5+1 internship program.
The consultation paper should be read in conjunction with the Psychology Board of Australia’s Provisional registration standard (352 KB,PDF), published on 1 June 2012.
Released: 18 April 2013 Closed: 27 May 2013
Released: 4 April 2013 Closed: 30 May 2013
The consultation paper includes:
Submissions can be found on the AHPRA website.
Released: 22 February 2013 Closed: 5 April 2013
Received submissions will be posted on the AHPRA website under Past Consultations.
Released: 20 September 2012 Closed: 2 November 2012
Released: 25 June 2012 Closed: 17 August 2012
Submissions received can be found here.
Released: 7 November 2011 Closed: 27 January 2012
Released: 3 November 2011 Closed: 27 January 2012
Released: 7 September 2011 Closed: 2 November 2011
Released: 6 June 2011 Closed: 29 July 2011
Consultation Paper 10 - Proposed amendment to the Provisional registration standard to account for the 5+1 program (387 KB,PDF)
Released: 6 April 2011 Closed: 13 May 2011
Consultation Paper 9 - National Examination Consultation Paper (258 KB,PDF)
Released: 21 December 2010 Closed: 28 February 2011
Consultation paper 8 - Proposed revisions to the Professional Indemnity Insurance Arrangements Registration Standard (470 KB,PDF)
Released: 11 November 2010 Closed: 22 December 2010
Consultation Paper 7 - Exposure Draft - Guidelines on area of practice endorsements (687 KB,PDF)
Consultation Paper 6 - Proposed registration standard: Limited Registration for Teaching or Research (402 KB,PDF)
Released: August 2010 Closed: 10 September 2010
Consultation Paper 5 - Revisions to the Guidelines on Area of Practice Endorsements (546 KB,PDF)
Released: 17 May 2010 Closed: 16 August 2010
Consultation Paper 4 - Options for the protection of the public posed by the inappropriate use of psychological testing (1.02 MB,PDF)
Released: 17 May 2010 Closed: 14 June 2010
Consultation Paper 3 - Guideline for Approved Training Programs in Psychology Supervision (1.29 MB,PDF)
Released: March 2010 Closed: 14 April 2010
Consultation Paper 2 - Codes and Guidelines (5.30 MB,PDF)
Released: 27 October 2009 Closed: 24 November 2009
Consultation Paper 1 - Registration Standards and Related Matters (789 KB,PDF)
Public submissions are available on this website for transparency on our consultations regarding important matters affecting psychologists.
We publish submissions in their original format as made by the submitter. If you have difficulty accessing a submission, please contact AHPRA at [email protected], and we will try to contact the submitter to provide an accessible version of their submission for your reference.
Please note that submitters are asked to provide their submissions to our public consultations in web accessible formats, and we guide them on how this can be achieved. We will update inaccessible submissions on this website when accessible format versions of files become available.