Legislation Affecting Practice

Question 1

What is AHPRA, and what does it do?

Answer 1

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

- supports boards by managing registration of health practitioners

Question 2

What does the Pharmacy Board of Australia do?

Answer 2

• registration of pharmacists
• development of pharmacy profession standards
• handle notifications & complaints in relation to profession
• assess overseas trained practitioners
• approve accreditation standards

Question 3

What are the different types of pharmacy registration?

Answer 3

1) General (most)
2) Specialist (none in Australia currently)
3) Provisional (interns)
4) Student
5) Limited (overseas pharmacist)

Question 4

What are the standards that need to be met for registration?

Answer 4

1) Criminal history standard
2) English language skills standard
3) Professional indemnity insurance arrangements
4) Continuing professional development standard
5) Recency of practice registration standard (need 450hrs over 3 year = 4 weeks)
6) Supervised practice standard
7) Pass examinations for general registration

Question 5

What factors make someone unsuitable to hold general registration?

Answer 5

• impairment
• criminal history not appropriate
• competency in English not sufficient
• suspended or cancelled registration elsewhere
• recency of practice not sufficient
• not a fit & proper person or unable to practise competently and safely.
• do not meet registration standards

Question 6

What defines someone as having a criminal history?

Answer 6

1) every CONVICTION for an offence
2) Every plea of guilty or finding of guilt by a court (whether or not a conviction is recorded for the offence)
3) Every charge made against the person for an offence (even if not followed up).

Question 7

What defines someone as having an impairment?

Answer 7

The person has a physical/mental impairment, disability, condition or disorder (including substance abuse) that could detrimentally affect a person’s capacity to practise the profession.

Question 8

What defines Professional Misconduct?

Answer 8

• Conduct by the practitioner that is SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW the standard reasonably expected.
• and more than one instance of unprofessional conduct that TOGETHER makes conduct substantially below standard.
• conduct (whether be in the job or outside of it) that is inconsistent with the practitioner being a fit & proper person to hold registration.

Question 9

Who can administer registration of a pharmacy?

Answer 9

Victorian Pharmacy Authority

used to be the Pharmacy Board of Victoria

Question 10

What are the regulations surrounding owning a pharmacy business?

Answer 10

Person must not own/have a proprietary interest in a pharmacy business unless

• registered pharmacist
• have a company registration (whose directors are all registered pharmacists).
• not involved in more than 5 pharmacy businesses.