English language skills

This registration standard applies to all applicants for registration.

It does not apply if you are applying for non-practising registration or if you are a student.

If you are applying for registration you must demonstrate your English language competency through:

• the successful completion of an approved program of study, or
• holding a qualification that is at the level of Certificate IV or higher.

You will be required to provide a certified copy of your qualification upon application for registration.

The Board retains the power to require further evidence of English language skills under section 80 of the National Law. This may include formal testing of English language proficiency in accordance with the Australia Core Skills Framework².

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners will only be trained in Australia.

Further information about the evidence that applicants must provide to the Board to prove that they meet this standard is set out in the application form.

This registration standard was approved by the Ministerial Council on 30 June 2019.

Registration standards are developed under section 38 of the National Law and are subject to wide-ranging consultation.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner means a person registered by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board. The practitioner may use the titles:

• Aboriginal Health Practitioner, or
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner, or
• Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner.

Approved program of study means an accredited program of study approved by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia under section 49(1) of the National Law and published in the Board’s list of approved programs of study on the Board’s website.

Certificate IV or higher means vocational education taught and assessed in English in Australia where:

• the level of the vocational education was at the Australian Qualifications Framework Level 4 or Certificate IV or higher³, where the training and assessment leading to the qualification:
  • was in English in Australia,
  •  was delivered primarily through face-to-face methods, and
  • required students to use English language speaking, writing, reading and listening skills.

National Law means the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory. Registration means:

• a practitioner applying for registration in Australia in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice profession for the first time, or
• a practitioner applying for registration (including moving from non-practising to another registration type) who has not used English for a period of more than five years.

Registration means:

• a practitioner applying for registration in Australia in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice profession for the first time, or
• a practitioner applying for registration (including moving from non-practising to another registration type) who has not used English for a period of more than five years. 

Student means a student currently registered under the National Law.

This registration standard will be reviewed from time to time as required. This will generally be at least every five years.

Last reviewed: 1 December 2019.

This standard replaces the previously published registration standard dated 1 July 2012.