This is a dedicated area for members of Audiology Australia including a range of tools, resources and policies relevant to your membership.
Legislation and regulations list:
NSW: Child wellbeing and protection laws in NSW
QLD: Mandatory reporting
VIC: Mandatory reporting
SA: Child protection
WA: Child protection, Mandatory reporting legislation, Children and Community Services Act 2004
TAS: Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997, Child Safety Service
ACT: Keeping Children and Young People Safe
NT: Child protection frameworks, Care and Protection of Children Act 2007
NSW: Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 No 51, Apply for a Working with Children Check, Audiologists in NSW whose role involves direct physical or face-to-face contact with children requires a WWCC.
QLD: Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000, Individuals requiring a blue card to work or volunteer with children, Audiologists in QLD providing hearing services to children in private practice settings (with parental/guardian supervision) will require a Blue Card.
VIC: Worker Screening Act 2020, Working with Children Check, Audiologists in Victoria providing hearing services to children in private practice settings will generally not require a WWCC.
SA: Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016, Working with Children Checks, Audiologists in SA who provide hearing services to children more than seven days a year in private practice will require a WWCC.
WA: Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004, Working with Children Checks, Audiologists in WA who provide hearing services to children in private practice settings will not generally require a WWCC, unless they also carry out child-related work in a relevant category that requires a WWCC, such as providing a community child health service. A full list of prescribed categories is available at Who needs a WWC Check?
TAS: Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act 2013, Audiologists in Tasmania providing hearing services to children in private practice settings will be required to register to work with vulnerable people at their employer’s request.
ACT: Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011, Working with vulnerable people (WWVP) registration, It is likely that Audiologists in ACT who provide hearing services to children in private practice settings will require a WWCC. It is recommended that audiologists in ACT speak to their employer on this matter.
NT: Care and Protection of Children Act 2007, Working with children clearance: apply and renew, Audiologists in NT must apply for a working with children clearance, also called an Ochre Card, to work or volunteer with children in the NT.
QLD Mandatory reporting: https://www.cyjma.qld.gov.au/protecting-children/about-child-protection/mandatory-reporting
www.health.gov.au/our-work/hearing-services-program
The Hearing Services program is funded by the Commonwealth. The following information outlines some background on the program: The Department of Health (the Department) is responsible for managing and administering the Australian Government Hearing Services Program (the program). Through the program the Department continues to work towards reducing the incidence and consequences of avoidable hearing loss in the Australian community by providing access to high quality hearing services and devices.
The Department:
Legislation: Hearing Services Program (Schedule of Service Items and Fees 2022-23) Instrument (No. 2) 2022
Medicare also has the ability for access to Audiology services. The following details give the background to eligibility: Make sure you read the relevant Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item descriptors and explanatory notes at MBS Online.
Diagnostic audiology items 82300-82332 let eligible Audiologists perform diagnostic tests if they have a written request from either:
For some services, Audiologists can perform the services with a written request from:
There are also other Federally funded health care schemes. Eligible participants of the NDIS and DVA also have the ability to access Audiology services.
Legislation:
Resources:
National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers The purpose of the National Code of Conduct is to protect the public by setting minimum standards of conduct and practice for all unregistered health care workers who provide a health service.
NSW: www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
Aged care legislation and policies
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has produced a range of information resources for patients, carers and health professionals that includes health care rights (such as the right to comment) and making improvements from consumer reported incidents. Refer to list of publications on website. The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights is used by health service organisations to tell patients and consumers about their rights in our healthcare system.
State and territory health services commissioners/ health complaints commissioners provide information for health consumers about making a complaint.
ACT: www.hrc.act.gov.au/health
NSW: www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
QLD: www.oho.qld.gov.au
TAS: www.healthcomplaints.tas.gov.au
VIC: www.hcc.vic.gov.au
Safe Work Australia is an Australian Government statutory agency established in 2009, with the primary responsibility of developing national policy to improve workplace health and safety and workers’ compensation arrangements across Australia. Safe Work Australia has developed a Model Code of Practice on Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace, Labelling of workplace hazardous chemicals, Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
State and territory workplace safety regulations and resources:
WA: www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) provides guidelines and information on a wide range of topics including privacy legislation, requirements for business, government and the health sector, privacy resources and compliance is available on the website. This includes information sheets such as Information Sheet (Private Sector) 22 - 2008: Fees for access to health information under the Privacy Act OAIC has developed a Privacy Business Resource which explains the obligations of healthcare provider organisations when uploading, collecting, using, and disclosing health information from a patient’s My Health Record. It also provides an overview of how the My Health Records Act 2012 interacts with the Privacy Act 1988.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has information about human rights and people with special needs, including disability rights and access to premises. Refer to Access for all: Improving accessibility for consumers with disability 2016.
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018C00125
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/F2011L02664
National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act)