The next National Scheme Strategy is expected to be finalised as soon as next month.
Change is afoot at the national health practitioner regulator, which has restructured in anticipation of a new strategy coming in October.
Speaking at the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme annual accreditation meeting in Melbourne on Tuesday, AHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner said the regulator “can’t afford to stand idle or continue to look in the rear-view mirror”.
Mr Untersteiner took the top job in January of this year, following the departure of long-term CEO Martin Fletcher.
The new CEO has been clear on his intention to pursue a reform agenda, and reiterated this during his Tuesday address.
“People’s needs are changing and so are their expectations,” Mr Untersteiner said.
“What got us here, won’t get us there.”
The new National Scheme Strategy, which Mr Untersteiner said was currently being drafted with the aim of being finalised by October, would inform AHPRA’s new corporate plan.
In turn, he said, the corporate plan would give “visibility to what we’ll prioritise in the short-medium term and keeping us accountable to deliver on the Strategy”.
Areas of focus for reform include building a more timely, transparent, empathetic and fair notification system as well as allowing more avenues for community input into the scheme, remaining steadfast on eliminating racism in the health system and growing a health workforce that meets demand.
One more theme that Mr Untersteiner identified was becoming a leader in harm prevention and “not waiting for harm to be reported but stopping it in the first place”.
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There is evidence to suggest that work on this initiative is already underway.
When issuing new guidance on medicinal cannabis prescribing in May, the regulator included a “word of caution” noting that it may investigate the practice of practitioners with high prescribing rates even in the absence of a notification.
Mr Untersteiner also announced that AHPRA has been restructured to “recalibrate” its focus ahead of the new strategy, with new directorates for corporate affairs, health regulation and health workforce registration and accreditation.
On health workforce in particular, Mr Untersteiner spruiked AHPRA’s expedited specialist international medical graduate pathway.
“Nevertheless, there continues to be real workforce challenges in the health sector here in Australia – as there are in many jurisdictions around the world,” he said.
“Patients with little access to Australia’s otherwise well-regarded health system, or who are being served by tireless practitioners who deserve more support.
“This is not an issue solely for AHPRA to solve, however we play a critical leadership role in enabling workforce solutions through standards, registration and accreditation.”
He also foreshadowed a new data and analytics project to “revolutionise” how governments can access and interpret health workforce information.
“These projects will unlock unprecedented visibility into workforce trends, enabling real-time, evidence-based decision-making and smarter planning for the future,” Mr Untersteiner said.
“By harnessing the power of modern analytics and digital platforms, we’re not just sharing data – we’re equipping our partners with the insights needed to drive innovation, respond to emerging needs, and ultimately strengthen health services nationwide.”
