The Public Health Act 2010 and the Public Health Regulation 2012 commenced on 1 September, 2012.
Under the Public Health Act 2010, regulations can be made setting out a code of conduct for the provision of health services by health practitioners:
- who are not subject to the scheme for registration under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (including de-registered health practitioners), and
- are registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law for the provision of health services and who provide health services that are unrelated to their registration.
Schedule 3 of the Public Health Regulation 2012 sets out this code of conduct for unregistered health practitioners and registered health practitioners who are providing a health service unrelated to their registration.
The code of conduct is also available in the following languages:
Complaints can be made to the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) about alleged breaches of the code of conduct and the Commission can investigate. If a practitioner is found to have breached the code of conduct, the HCCC may make a prohibition order against the practitioner. Further information about the role and powers of the HCCC can be found at Health Care Complaints Commission.
Under clause 17 of Schedule 3 of the Public Health Regulation 2012, most practitioners must display a copy of the code of conduct at the premises where the practitioner carries out his or her practice, as well as a copy of a notice approved by the Secretary giving information about the way in which clients can make complaints to the HCCC.
To help practitioners to meet their obligations in this regard, a copy of the Code of Conduct and the notice approved by the Secretary can be accessed below: