NRAS report welcome
AHPRA has welcomed the report of the independent three-year review of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS), which was released on 7 August, along with a Communique from Health Ministers responding to its recommendations.
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Ministers expressed strong support for the work of the National Scheme, noted that it was now embedded in the health system and was among the most significant and effective reforms of health profession regulation in Australia and internationally.
AHPRA and the National Boards’ joint submission to the review is published on the Corporate publications page.
The 33 recommendations of the Review are grouped in five major areas:
Improving consumer responsiveness: Recommendations focus on improving notifications management and reflect our ongoing work to improve experience, timeliness, investigation processes and establish clearer partnership with health complaints entities. AHPRA will report to Ministers on progress at the end of 2015.
Consolidation of National Boards: Ministers deferred a decision about consolidating some of the lower volume Boards within the National Scheme and sought further advice in a report to Ministers by the end of 2015, after targeted consultation.
Accreditation: Ministers have flagged intense interest in this part of the Scheme and commissioned work to identify opportunities for reform to improve efficiency, effectiveness and administrative arrangements.
Governance arrangements: Ministers rejected a call to establish any new governance bodies and reinforced the role of the Agency Management Committee in improving transparency and accountability and to oversight any necessary reforms.
New professions: Ministers will issue a Communique to provide more clarity about the basis for any new professions entering the Scheme. Ministers ruled out changes to mandatory reporting pending further data and analysis.
Overall the NRAS Review Report and the response of Ministers to the recommendations provides a very positive and solid foundation for the next phase of our work.
Martin Fletcher, AHPRA CEO
An inviting event
Leather chairs, comfortable sofas, coffee tables with teapots of violets provided a welcoming atmosphere for visiting writers and presenters at the Bendigo Writers Festival.
For audience, the atmosphere was equally inviting. The suitability and accessibility of the 6 main venues in View Street, all with individual appeal, ranging from an ambience of gold gilt in the Capital or Bendigo Bank Theatres to the intimacy of the Old Fire Station, proved a perfect precinct for the Festival, although I did notice that the inside roof of the Trades Hall could do with a paint!
The Festival had been really well planned. With such close proximity to numerous cafes in the area or to Rosalind Park – lovely to stretch the legs during a break – View Street is also an easy, direct walk from the station and has the advantage of free (on weekends) car parking behind.
There were sufficient conveniences, venues were well sign posted and lots of assistance available, by means of Volunteers, for any enquiries. Use of The Hub as a central meeting area was perfect. Set up of the Lanyon Room, offering food and cake for the early arrivals, was much appreciated.
Thoroughly enjoying every session I engaged in, and the chance to join with like-minded others, the Festival exceeded any expectations. A highlight for me had to be Robert Dessaix, truly a delight to listen to even if he claimed to be showing us his ‘theatrical self’. Attending the Mindfulness at Twilight was an excellent choice after a volley of Saturday sessions.
The Festival continued to shine on Sunday, even though it was a dull day.