Students seeking registration urged to apply online now

13 Oct 2014

Students seeking registration as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner, who are soon to complete the approved program of study, can apply online now.

Students must be studying the Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice and be graduating at the end of 2014.

Graduates of the approved program of study must apply for general registration if:

• they intended practising under the protected title ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner’ or 
• they are required by their employer to use one of the following protected titles: 
• ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner’ 
• ‘Aboriginal Health Practitioner’ or 
• ‘Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner’, or 
• they are required to be registered as part of their employment requirements, even if the protected title is not used.

Graduates who complete the approved program of study, but who are not currently required to use the protected titles, may also apply for registration.

The online graduate application service on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) website smooths the path from study to work by enabling students to apply for registration four to six weeks before completing their course.

Graduates are required to return some supporting documents to AHPRA by mail to complete their application.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia Chair Peter Pangquee said graduates of the approved program of study must also meet the National Board’s registration requirements to be registered.

Registration standards that relate to the new graduate are:

• criminal history 
• English language skills, and 
• professional indemnity insurance.

‘Graduates need to be a registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner before they can start practising using one of the three protected titles or if registration is a requirement of their employment,’ Mr Pangquee said.

‘To assist with the processing of their application, it’s important that graduates post supporting documents to AHPRA as soon as possible after applying online.’

There are five simple steps to registration for graduates:

1. Students apply for registration four to six weeks before completing their program at Graduate applications on the AHPRA website. 
2. Applicants fill out an online application (if eligible) or download an application form. All applications require some documents to be sent to AHPRA by mail to complete the application. 
3. Education providers advise AHPRA when applicants are eligible to graduate. 
4. AHPRA finalises assessment, confirms registration, publishes new graduates’ names on the national register of practitioners and sends out registration certificates. 
5. New graduates registered with the National Board are eligible to start work as soon as their name is published on the national register.

For more information

• Go to Graduate applications on the AHPRA website for FAQ and links to more information 
• For registration enquiries or difficulties in accessing the online application form: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) 
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200