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15 Nov 2017
The Annual Report for AHPRA and the National Boards for the year to 30 June 2017 is now available to view online.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce grew by 3.6% over the past year, to 608 total registrants, according to data released today in the 2016/17 annual report published by AHPRA.
The annual report by AHPRA and the 14 National Boards is a comprehensive record of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme) for the 12 months to 30 June 2017.
While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners constitute a relatively small proportion of the 678,983 registrants currently in the National Scheme, the continued increase in registrants for the profession is an important step in supporting better health outcomes for Australia’s first peoples.
‘Growth in the workforce indicates increasing awareness and appreciation of the value and importance of providing culturally appropriate healthcare to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,’ said Mr Bruce Davis, Presiding Member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia.
AHPRA is committed to developing and regulating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner workforce. As at 30 June 2017, there were 12 approved programs that qualify graduates for general registration under the National Law (seven more than last year).
‘The task of accrediting education providers for our profession is sometimes challenging given that many of our approved programs are delivered where they are required – in remote and rural areas,’ said Mr Davis. ‘Our priority is to develop and regulate an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce to ensure safe, competent, qualified and culturally appropriate care of Indigenous patients.’
The 2016/17 annual report provides a nationwide snapshot of the work of AHPRA and the Boards and highlights a multi-profession approach to risk-based regulation with a clear focus on ensuring that Australians have a safe and competent health workforce.
‘There are now almost 680,000 registered health practitioners across Australia,’ said AHPRA CEO Mr Martin Fletcher. ‘This Annual Report highlights our strong and shared commitment with the Board to ensure the public has access to a competent, qualified registered health workforce and to take decisive action when required to keep the community safe.’
To view the 2016/17 annual report, along with supplementary tables that segment data across categories such as registrations, notifications, statutory offences, tribunals and appeals, and monitoring and compliance, visit the Annual Report microsite.
In the coming weeks, AHPRA and the National Boards will also publish summaries of our work regulating health practitioners in each of the 14 registered health professions. Jurisdictional reports, which present data on registered health practitioners in each state and territory will be published in December.