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04 Sep 2013
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (National Board) will fund the Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria (NMHPV) for two more years, pending further international research.
At its August 2013 meeting, the National Board decided to extend the funding to the NMHPV to 30 June 2016 while it examines best practice in the role of national and international regulators in relation to referral, treatment and, rehabilitation programs for health practitioners with a health impairment.
The National Board will work with AHPRA and the other health profession National Boards in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (National Scheme) to undertake this exploratory study. The process will involve the development of a comprehensive business case followed by a tender process that AHPRA will manage on behalf of the National Board.
‘The role of the National Board is to protect the public. This decision means that the NMHPV will remain in place while we gather evidence to determine the regulatory role in the provision of any services to regulated health practitioners with a health impairment,’ said Dr Lynette Cusack, Registered Nurse.
Dr Cusack is currently the Board-elected Presiding Member of the National Board, pending the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council’s appointment of a new National Board Chair. Ms Anne Copeland completed her term of office as the inaugural Chair on 31 August 2013.
The review of international literature and programs for regulated health practitioners with a health impairment forms part of a wider project commissioned by the National Board. The project will guide the future direction for any national health impairment, rehabilitation and/or treatment program for regulated health practitioners. This study will also include an analysis of recommendations made in previous published research on this matter including the Siggins Miller Report, specific to the nursing and midwifery professions.
AHPRA will now negotiate a new two-year contract with NMHPV, covering the services provided, annual funding and terms and conditions.
The National Board will progressively publish more information on this exploratory study.
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Download a PDF of this Media release - 4 September 2013 (78.9 KB,PDF)