COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTH

> Qualifications & Pathways • Traineeships • VET In Schools • Peak Bodies & Key Stakeholders • Resources

NSW Context

NSW Health Draft Unregistered Health Practitioners Code of Conduct

A Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Practitioners has been developed following a consultation process that included a wide range of organisations and individuals from relevant health care professions and services. Provision for this Code of Conduct is found in the NSW Public Health Act 1991, Health Legislation Amendment (Unregistered Health Practitioners) Act 2006. It is anticipated that the Code of Conduct will commence early April 2008.

The term unregistered health practitioner refers to any person who provides a health service and who is not registered under a health professional registration Act in NSW. This may include counsellors, psychotherapists, massage therapists, naturopaths, herbalists, reike therapists, homeopaths and other complementary and alternative health practitioners.

The NSW Health Impact Assessment Statement for this Code of Conduct states:

As with registered health professionals the overwhelming majority of unregistered practitioners are honest, competent and caring. However, there will always be a limited number of practitioners who represent a risk to the public because of a lack of competence, impairment or dishonesty.

Complaints about unregistered health practitioners can be made to the Health Care Complaints Commission. Under the new provisions a complaint can be made that an unregistered practitioner has breached the code of conduct and where the complaint is substantiated and the Commission finds that the person represents a substantial risk to the health of members of the public, an order can be made to either ban the person from practice or place conditions on his or her practice (a prohibition order).

Without a code of conduct the ability of the Health Care Complaints Commission to take action to protect the community from those unregistered practitioners is limited

It is expected that all training in Complementary and Alternative Health qualifications will include understanding and knowledge of the NSW Unregistered Health Practitioners Code of Conduct .

Click here to view The NSW Health Impact Assessment Statement for this Code of Conduct.

Qualifications and Pathways

HLT42707     Certificate IV in Aromatherapy

HLT51407     Diploma of Aromatherapy

HLT60907     Advanced Diploma of Aromatic Medicine

HLT41207     Certificate IV in Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultation

HLT60707     Advanced Diploma of Ayurveda

HLT60607     Advanced Diploma of Homoeopathy

HLT42807     Certificate IV in Kinesiology

HLT51507     Diploma of Kinesiology

HLT40307     Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice

HLT50307     Diploma of Remedial Massage

HLT60507     Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy

HLT61007     Advanced Diploma of Nutritional Medicine

HLT51707     Diploma of Reflexology

HLT50207     Diploma of Shiatsu and Oriental Therapies

HLT50107     Diploma of Traditional Chinese Medicine Remedial Massage (An Mo Tui Na)

HLT60107     Advanced Diploma of Western Herbal Medicine

Traineeships

The Vocational Training Board establishes traineeships in NSW. Through a consultative process between peak industry groups, employers and unions, facilitated by the ITAB, qualifications are identified that meet industry requirements and have appropriate award arrangements. This information is submitted to the Board for the declaration of a vocational training order in accordance with NSW legislation.

As qualifications have a vocational training order established, they are posted on the NSW DET Commissioner’s Bulletin. Further advice is available from NSW DET http://apprenticeship.det.nsw.edu.au/index1.htm

Current massage therapy traineeship in NSW is:

HLT40307 Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice

VET in Schools

The Complementary and Alternative Health qualifications in the HLT07 Health Training Package have not been identified as suitable for VET in Schools pathways.

For more information about VET in Schools in NSW visit: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetinschools/

The NSW Board of Studies is responsible for the inclusion of training package qualifications in the HSC studies. Further information is available at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au .

Peak Bodies and Key Stakeholders

Australian Natural Therapies Association

A major national democratic association of 'recognised professional' traditional medicine and natural therapy (Complementary Medicine) practitioners who work in the areas of health care and preventative medicine.

Resources

Please contact NSW Community Services and Health ITAB regarding training and assessment resource needs for the qualifications or skills sets in this industry sector.

Other resources may be available from industry peaks, National Training Information Service (NTIS), Registered Training Organisations and Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council.