Media release

07 Oct 2013

Students who will soon graduate after completing the Board's approved program of study can go online now to apply for registration.

Online applications now open for students seeking registration

Students of the approved program of study, the Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice, who will graduate at the end of 2013 can go online now to apply for registration as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner.

The online graduate application service at the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) website enables students to apply for registration four to six weeks before completing their course.

It aims to smooth the path from study to work in five simple steps and online applications are being called for now. All applicants are required to return some supporting documents to AHPRA by mail to complete the application.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia Chair Peter Pangquee said graduates of the approved program of study must apply for general registration if:

• they intended practising under the protected title ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner’ or 
• they are required by their employer to use one of the following protected titles:
  • ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner’ 
  • ‘Aboriginal Health Practitioner’ or 
  • ‘Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner’, or
• they are required to be registered as part of their employment requirements, even if the protected title is not used.

Graduates who complete the approved program of study, but who are not currently required to use the protected titles, may also apply for registration.

Mr Pangquee said a graduate of an approved program of study must also meet the National Board’s registration requirements to become a registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner.

Registration standards that relate to the new graduate are:

• criminal history 
• English language skills, and 
• professional indemnity insurance.

‘Graduates need to be a registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner before they can start practising using one of the protected titles and are urged to go online and apply for registration four to six weeks before completing their course,’ Mr Pangquee said.

‘It is important that graduates read all the information about what documents must be sent to AHPRA in support of their application.’

There are five simple steps to graduate registration:

1. Students apply for registration four to six weeks before completing their program at Graduate applications on the AHPRA website. 
2. Applicants fill out an online application (if eligible) or download an application form. All applications require some documents to be sent to AHPRA by mail to complete the application. 
3. Education providers advise AHPRA when applicants are eligible to graduate. 
4. AHPRA finalises assessment, confirms registration, publishes new graduates’ names on the national register of practitioners and sends out registration certificates. 
5. New graduates registered with the National Board are eligible to start work as soon as their name is published on the national register.

For more information

• Go to Graduate applications on the AHPRA website for FAQ and links to more information 
• For registration enquiries or difficulties in accessing the online application form: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 8708 9001 (overseas callers) 
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200