Speak Out February 2018

Association news

The National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professionals THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF SELF REGULATING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (NASRHP) ORIGINATED IN 2008 AS AN INFORMAL ALLIANCE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS AUSTRALIA. IT HAS EVOLVED TO BE AN INDEPENDENT BODY THAT PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR SELF-REGULATING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN AUSTRALIA. YOU CAN FIND FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT NASRHP ON THEIR WEBSITE: NASRHP.ORG.AU

NASRHP standards NASRHP has established benchmark standards for regulation and accreditation of practitioners within self-regulating health professions. Standards relate to areas such as scope of practice, ethical practice and professional conduct, having robust competency standards which are maintained and strengthened with an annual CPD program, practitioner certification, course accreditation, recency of practice and English language requirements. Prescribed standards are closely aligned with the standards set by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHRPA). In order to obtain formal recognition and membership with NASRHP Speech Pathology Australia must demonstrate, as the peak body of the Australian speech pathology profession, that we meet all NASRHP standards. NASRHP objectives NASRHP objectives for the implementation of benchmark standards for self regulating health professionals are outlined as follows (NASRHP, 2017): 1. Maintain a framework of standards for self regulating health professions; 2. Providing a single point of contact for stakeholders and interested parties for matters relating to self regulating health professions; 3. Advance and promote self regulating health professions; 4. Increase public confidence in self regulating health professions; and 5. Advocate for self regulating health professions in the areas of regulation and standards. What is the standing of NASRHP? Increasingly, NASRHP is recognised and deferred to in relation to self-regulating professions. In a similar way to how AHPRA may be contacted for comment or consultation on matters in regards to the registered professions, NASRHP is also contacted by government and other bodies for consultation on matters involving self-regulating professions. Some recent examples include the Australian Digital Health Agency who contacted NASRHP to discuss the My Health Record roll out and to disseminate information to our members; and an invitation for NASRHP to discuss accreditation matters with the Health Professions Accreditation Collaborative Forum. Additionally, government recognition is demonstrated through the Department of Health grant provided as seed funding to establish NASRHP as a formal entity.

What do NASRHP requirements mean for the Australian speech pathology profession? Given that the majority of current SPA policy and procedure already meets the required NASRHP standards, changes are not expected to be significant on a practical level. More notable changes to align with the NASHRP standards are: • Extension of PSR audits to include verification of recency of practice, that is, that 1,000 hours in the previous five years can be confirmed. • Extension of practitioner certification program to non- member speech pathologists. How will NASRHP accreditation of Speech Pathology Australia benefit me as a speech pathologist? It is anticipated that NASRHP membership will strengthen the profile of speech pathologists within the Australian context. Benefits include: • Promotion of the speech pathology profession and its inter- relation with other self-regulating and registered allied health professionals. • Bolstering our professional advocacy opportunities through more formalised alignment with other peak professional allied health bodies. • Challenging ourselves to further improve and maintain our high standard of knowledge, practice and professional conduct across the profession of speech pathology. • Delivering improved outcomes for clients and other stakeholders through standards that ensure the speech pathologist’s professional knowledge remains current, relevant and evidence-based. • Providing all stakeholders with an objective measure of the speech pathologist’s commitment to maintain and extend their professional skills in line with an evidence-based national framework of regulatory standards. Next steps Speech Pathology Australia has submitted its application for approval as a recognised member of NASRHP. We look forward to confirming the outcome of our application in the near future.

Gail Mulcair Chief Executive Officer Joanna Shorland Professional Self Regulation Advisor

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February 2018 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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