ABSTRACT
A health professional uses all available techniques to resolve the health concerns of a client. Penalties may also apply to unregistered practitioners who are representing that they are registered or using protected titles that must only be used by registered professionals. Chiropractors, osteopaths and Chinese medicine practitioners, acupuncturists and Chinese herbal medicine dispensers are the only registered complementary medicine practitioners in Australia. The National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for Health Professions commenced on 1 July 2010, based upon an agreement between the states and territories to provide for a single national registration and accreditation scheme for health professions. The board has a role that includes development of competency and accreditation standards; approval of accredited courses; decisions on registration applications; and overseeing receipt and investigation of complaints against registered practitioners, including referral of serious matters for hearing by relevant external tribunals or disciplinary processes for less serious matters.
