Optometry Board of Australia - Past Consultations
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Past Consultations

Where there are consultations which have closed, they will be shown below along with the individual submissions that were received and considered.

Where there are consultations which are open for input, they will be shown under Current Consultations.

Public Consultation – Review of the Criminal history registration standard

Released: 4 June 2024
Closed: 30 July 2024

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the National Boards invited stakeholders to have their say on the draft Criminal history registration standard (the criminal history standard) and supporting documents.

In late 2023, as part of our work to improve public safety in health regulation the National Boards and Ahpra consulted widely on a range of reforms, including a series of questions about the current version of the criminal history standard.

After consideration of all feedback, a draft registration standard and new supporting materials were developed. Stakeholders were invited to again have their say on how we have responded to feedback, the draft changes we have made to the criminal history standard, and the other material we have developed to explain how the standard is applied.

Consultation documents and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public Consultation - Regulation of health practitioners who perform and who advertise non-surgical cosmetic procedures

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.

  1. Guidelines for nurses who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures (nurses practice guidelines – applies to nurses only)
  2. Guidelines for registered health practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures (shared practice guidelines – applies to registered health practitioners excluding medical practitioners and nurses)
  3. Guidelines for registered health practitioners who advertise non-surgical cosmetic procedures (advertising guidelines – applies to all registered health practitioners).

Submissions will be published to on the Ahpra website.

Public consultation – Review of the Criminal history registration standard and other work to improve public safety

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: 

  • our plan to better explain and publish more information about how we make decisions about criminal history and about professional misconduct by registered health practitioners
  • whether we can publish information about practitioners who are registered again after being removed from practice because of serious professional misconduct, and
  • more support for people who are affected by professional misconduct by registered health practitioners.

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.

Public consultation – Two further possible changes to the National Boards’ English language skills requirements

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.

Background

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.

Public consultation – scheduled review of National scheme accreditation arrangements

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.

Public consultation on the English language skills registration standards

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.

Public consultation on the review of the shared Code of conduct

Released: 11 May 2021
Closed: 6 July 2021

Ahpra and the 12 National Boards that share a Code of conduct carried out a public consultation on a revised shared Code. The National Boards invited practitioners, stakeholders and the community to give feedback on the revised Code of conduct.

Consultation documents, the Patient and Consumer Health and Safety Impact Assessment and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public consultation on the proposed Supervised practice framework

Released: 11 September 2019
Closed:  17 December 2019

National Boards (excluding psychology and pharmacy) and Ahpra carried out a public consultation on the proposed Supervised practice framework as part of their project to enable a consistent, responsive and risk-based approach to supervised practice across the National Scheme.

Consultation documents and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public consultation on the review of the Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service

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.

Public consultation on the review of the Guidelines for mandatory notifications

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

Consultation documents and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public consultation on the draft guideline for informing a National Board about where you practice

Released: 13 April 2018
Closed: 25 May 2018

Submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the AHPRA website.

Public consultation on review of accreditation arrangements - assignment of accreditation functions

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.

Public consultation on the draft revised registration standard for continuing professional development including guidelines

Released: 13 March 2018
Closed: 4 May 2018

The six Boards involved in reviewing core registration standards undertook research and benchmarking to inform the development of the revised standards. The Optometry Board of Australia is reviewing its CPD registration standard and related guidelines as part of this multi-profession review. A high level summary of the research and benchmarking, conducted from a regulatory risk perspective for the six Boards, was used to inform the core registration standards (continuing professional development, professional indemnity insurance and recency of practice). The research summary is available to download.

Submissions received

Public consultation on revised registration standard and guidelines

  • Endorsement for scheduled medicines registration standard, and
  • Guidelines for use of scheduled medicines

Released: 1 February 2017
Closed: 31 March 2017

Submissions received

Public consultation on:

  • Revised guidelines for continuing professional development for endorsed and non-endorsed optometrists
  • Revised guidelines on the prescription of optical appliances

Released: 25 September 2015
Closed: 20 November 2015

Submissions received

Public consultation on draft Guidelines for 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.

Public consultation on a review of the following registration standards:

  • Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) arrangements registration standard
  • Recency of practice registration standard

Released: 19 May 2014
Closed: 14 July 2014

Submissions published

Public consultation on a review of the English language skills and Criminal history registration standards

Released: 25 October 2013 Closed: 23 December 2013 

Submissions received will be available on the Past Consultations page of the AHPRA website.

International criminal history checks - further public consultation

Released: 2 October 2013
Closed: 31 October 2013

Submissions received will be available on the Past Consultations page of the AHPRA website.

Cross-Board consultation on common guidelines and shared Code of conduct

Released: 4 April 2013 Closed: 30 May 2013

Submissions received will be available on the Past Consultations page of the AHPRA website.  

Public consultation on amendments to Guidelines for use of Scheduled Medicines

Released: 23 November 2012
Closed: 4 February 2013

Submissions received

Consultation paper on review of accreditation arrangements for the first ten professions to enter the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme

Released: 20 September 2012
Closed: 2 November 2012

Submissions received

Consultation paper on Draft Registration standard for limited registration for teaching or research

Released: 28 August 2012
Closed: 23 October 2012

Submissions received

Consultation paper on international criminal history checks

Released: 25 June 2012
Closed: 17 August 2012  

Submissions received can be found here.

Consultation on Draft amendment to Continuing professional development registration standard and Guidelines on continuing professional development for endorsed and non-endorsed optometrists

Released: 27 March 2012
Closed 18 May 2012

Submissions received

Consultation Paper on the Definition of Practice

Released: 4 October 2011
Closed: 2 December 2011

Consultation on guidelines for supervision of optometrists

Released: 21 September 2011
Closed: 18 November 2011

Submissions received

Registration standards for general registration and limited registration

Released: 5 August 2011
Closed: 3 October 2011

Submissions received

Consultation paper on proposal for therapeutic qualification to be included as a requirement for general registration

Released: 14 January 2011
Closed: 4 March 2011

Submissions received

Exemption from Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Public submissions are available on this website for transparency on our consultations regarding important matters affecting optometrists.

We publish submissions in their original format as made by the submitter. If you have difficulty accessing a submission, please contact us, 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.

 
 
Page reviewed 30/10/2024
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