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AHPRA and the National Boards’ 2016/17 annual report shows growing awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice

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.’

A snapshot of the profession

  • Easy to renew: This year saw the largest online registration renewal rate ever achieved across all 14 registered health professions – with over 98.5% of all registrants renewing online and on time (91.6% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners renewed online).
  • Increased registration year on year: While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders made up less than 0.1% of all health practitioners registered nationally, the total registrant base exceeded 600 registered practitioners for the first time this year (from 587 last year to 608).
  • Growth trends consistent with increased awareness of the profession: It has been five years since the profession joined the National Scheme (on 1 July 2012) year on year:
    • In 2012/13, there were 300 registrants
    • In 2013/14, there were 343 registrants
    • In 2014/15, there were 391 registrants 
    • In 2015/16, there were 587 registrants (due largely to the end of grandparenting arrangements, which led to an influx of applications for registration in that reporting year) 
    • In 2016/17, there were 608 registrants
  • More students on the register: As at 30 June 2017, there were 448 registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner students, representing an increase of 53.4% on 2015/16.
  • Accreditation: There are currently 12 programs of study available to those who wish to qualify as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (up from four in 2015/16). 
  • Complaints received about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners:
    • Seven notifications were received nationally about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners, representing just 1.2% of the profession.
    • There were two mandatory notifications made; both were about standards of practice.
  • Of six matters closed, in 2016/17: one resulted in a caution or reprimand being made by the Board, two resulted in conditions being imposed on the practitioners’ registration, and three resulted in no further action being taken. 
  • Statutory offences by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners: Three new complaints were made this year relating to possible statutory offences by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners. Of these, two related to title protection. 
  • Active monitoring cases in 2016/17: 73 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners were monitored during the year. The vast majority (65) were monitored for suitability/eligibility for registration in the profession; three were monitored for performance and four for health. 
  • The development of a reconciliation action plan: This year, the Board played a leading role in the commencement of the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan for AHPRA and the National Boards.

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.

For more information

 
 
Page reviewed 15/11/2017