ATMS UPDATE
WHITE PAPER
The Australian Health Regulatory Framework
Understanding how regulation shapes the future of natural medicine.
1. Introduction
Australia’ s health regulatory framework protects public health and safety by ensuring healthcare practitioners, services, and products adhere to the highest professional standards. Understanding the regulatory landscape is key to practising responsibly and legally for both registered and selfregulated practitioners.
This white paper explores:
• The National Registration and Accreditation Scheme( NRAS)
• The functions of key national regulators: AHPRA, TGA, ACCC, and NHMRC
• The responsibilities of self-regulated professions and how ATMS supports and governs these practitioners
With this knowledge, ATMS members will be equipped to maintain best practice, meet legal and ethical obligations, and deliver consistent, client-centred care.
2. Historical Background of the National Law 2.1 Fragmented Regulation Before 2010 Prior to the introduction of a unified system, healthcare practitioner regulation in Australia was managed independently by each state and territory. This decentralised approach led to inconsistent standards, duplication of effort, and a lack of mobility for health professionals. With over 85 separate registration boards in place, public safety and practitioner accountability were variable.
2.2 The Birth of National Regulation In response to these challenges, the Council of Australian Governments( COAG) endorsed the creation of a single national scheme. The result was the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law( the National Law), enacted in 2010, which introduced the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme( NRAS).
NRAS established a uniform framework for registering practitioners, accrediting training programs, setting standards, and handling complaints and disciplinary actions. The scheme promotes consistency, transparency, and accountability in health practitioner regulation across all jurisdictions.
2.3 Expansion of Regulated Professions NRAS originally covered 12 professions. By 2025, 16 health professions are regulated through 15 National Boards, supported by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency( AHPRA):
• Chiropractic
• Dental practitioners( incl. hygienists, prosthetists, therapists) Medical practitioners
• Nurses and midwives
• Optometrists
• Osteopaths
• Pharmacists
• Physiotherapists
• Podiatrists
• Psychologists
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners
• Chinese medicine practitioners
• Medical radiation practitioners Occupational therapists
• Paramedics
All regulated practitioners must meet mandatory requirements for education, ethical conduct, and continuing professional development.
Under the National Law, a profession is only included in the AHPRA-regulated scheme if it meets specific criteria, most importantly, that the profession poses a demonstrable risk of harm to the public if not regulated. This public health risk threshold is used to justify the need for statutory oversight. While many professions fall outside this scope, it does not mean they are risk- free. Instead, it places greater importance on selfregulation, ethical codes, and consumer protections, particularly for practitioners in the natural medicine sector.
3. Key Regulatory Bodies in Australia’ s Health System
The regulation of Australia’ s healthcare sector is a shared responsibility, involving several key agencies. These bodies collectively ensure that healthcare professionals and products meet national safety and efficacy standards.
3.1 Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency( AHPRA) AHPRA oversees practitioner registration and enforces standards set by the National Boards. It ensures that registered practitioners are qualified, ethical, and competent.
172 | vol31 | no3 | JATMS