Dental Board of Australia - Past Consultations
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Past Consultations

Where there are consultations which have closed, they will be shown below along with the individual submissions that were received and considered.

Where there are consultations which are open for input, they will be shown under Current Consultations.

Rapid targeted review of the use of the title ‘oral surgeon’

On 16 August 2024, Health Ministers referred the use of the dental specialist title ‘oral surgeon’ to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) for consideration and advice, to ensure patients and consumers have a clear understanding of the skills and qualifications of the practitioners providing them care. To inform timely advice to Health Ministers, Ahpra appointed an independent reviewer to carry out a rapid review of the use of the title ‘oral surgeon’. The reviewer undertook targeted consultation with key stakeholders and produced a report on the review.

The final report was published on the Ahpra website.

Public Consultation – Review of the Criminal history registration standard

Released: 4 June 2024
Closed: 30 July 2024

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the National Boards invited stakeholders to have their say on the draft Criminal history registration standard (the criminal history standard) and supporting documents.

In late 2023, as part of our work to improve public safety in health regulation the National Boards and Ahpra consulted widely on a range of reforms, including a series of questions about the current version of the criminal history standard.

After consideration of all feedback, a draft registration standard and new supporting materials were developed. Stakeholders were invited to again have their say on how we have responded to feedback, the draft changes we have made to the criminal history standard, and the other material we have developed to explain how the standard is applied.

Consultation documents and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public Consultation - Regulation of health practitioners who perform and who advertise non-surgical cosmetic procedures

Released: 27 November 2023
Closed: 1 March 2024 (Consultation was extended for four weeks)

Ahpra and National Boards are reforming the regulation of registered health practitioners who work in the cosmetics sector in Australia, to improve practice and standards, public safety and informed consumer choice.

We consulted on three draft documents below related to the regulation of registered health practitioners who perform and advertise non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

  1. Guidelines for nurses who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures (nurses practice guidelines – applies to nurses only)
  2. Guidelines for registered health practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures (shared practice guidelines – applies to registered health practitioners excluding medical practitioners and nurses)
  3. Guidelines for registered health practitioners who advertise non-surgical cosmetic procedures (advertising guidelines – applies to all registered health practitioners).

Submissions will be published on the Ahpra website.

Public consultation – Review of the Criminal history registration standard and other work to improve public safety

Released: 3 August 2023
Closed: 29 September 2023

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the National Boards invited stakeholders to have their say as part of a review of the Criminal history registration standard (the criminal history standard).

The review, which was part of the work of our blueprint for reform to strengthen public safety in health regulation, which has a focus on sexual misconduct in healthcare, sought feedback on the current version of the criminal history standard, as well as comments on the future direction of other focus areas of work to improve public safety in health regulation including: 

  • our plan to better explain and publish more information about how we make decisions about criminal history and about professional misconduct by registered health practitioners
  • whether we can publish information about practitioners who are registered again after being removed from practice because of serious professional misconduct, and
  • more support for people who are affected by professional misconduct by registered health practitioners.

The consultation formed phase one of our work to review the Criminal history standard and ensured we received a range of views before a revised criminal history standard is developed and another opportunity is provided for stakeholders to comment (phase two).

Submissions will be published to the Ahpra website.

Have your say – Dental records Fact sheet and Self-reflective tool

Released: 21 August 2023

Closed: 18 September 2023

In October 2020, the Dental Board of Australia (the Board) retired its Guidelines on dental records and replaced them with a self-reflective tool and fact sheet.

These resources were developed to support practitioners to understand their obligations and improve or maintain their dental record-keeping practices.

The Board sought feedback from practitioners to understand know this change had affected them, and their dental record-keeping practices.

Public consultation – Two further possible changes to the National Boards’ English language skills requirements

Released: 16 August 2023

Closed: 13 September 2023

The National Boards and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) consulted on two further possible changes to the National Boards’ English language skills (ELS) requirements. The National Boards invited responses to questions about the two further changes including specific issues the Medical Board of Australia asked its stakeholders to consider. This consultation did not invite further feedback on proposed changes to the National Board’s ELS registration standards (ELS standards) that were previously consulted on in 2022.

This was a shorter streamlined consultation process designed to meet timeframes expected by Health Ministers. Feedback from both consultations was used to inform the final ELS standards approved by Health Ministers.

Background

From 13 July to 7 September 2022, Ahpra and the National Boards (except the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia) publicly consulted on revised ELS standards. There was broad support from stakeholders for the proposed revised ELS standards.

On 30 September 2022, the National Cabinet announced the Independent review of overseas health practitioner regulatory settings (the Kruk review), and in April 2023, the National Cabinet endorsed the interim review report. In line with recommendations within the interim report endorsed by the National Cabinet, the National Boards consulted on two further changes to their ELS requirements: expanding the range of recognised countries and a change to one element of the English test results accepted by the National Boards.

Consultation documents and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public consultation – scheduled review of National scheme accreditation arrangements

Released: 14 December 2022
Closed: 14 February 2023

National Boards and Ahpra are reviewing the current accreditation arrangements for the national health practitioner regulatory scheme to prepare for the next period to mid-2029.

The current accreditation arrangements end on 30 June 2024 for all professions except paramedicine, which end on 30 November 2023. The National Boards and Ahpra intend to complete this scheduled review by May 2023 to inform National Boards’ decisions on arrangements for the next period and provide certainty for the future. The last scheduled review and public consultation on accreditation arrangements was in 2018.

This consultation is a key stage of the review and aims to confirm performance and progress on current accreditation priorities and will inform the priorities for the next period, including how progress in priority areas could be measured.

Public consultation on the English language skills registration standards

Released: 13 July 2022
Closed: 7 September 2022

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the National Boards (except the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia) invited stakeholders to have their say as part of the public consultation on revised English language skills registration standards (the ELS standards) in July 2022.

National Boards published a consultation paper that included an overview of the review, proposed changes to the standards, frequently asked questions (FAQs), a literature review and questions to help frame feedback.

Consultation documents and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Helping practitioners with infection prevention and control: public consultation on Guidelines on infection control 

Released: 9 September 2021
Closed: 15 November 2021

The Dental Board of Australia wants to make it easier for practitioners to know and understand the professional expectations around infection prevention and control to help them practice safely.

As part of this, the Board reviewed its Guidelines on infection control. The Board consulted on whether to shift the information contained in the guidelines to more accessible and helpful tools and resources, such as a one-stop fact sheet and a self-reflective tool.

Webinar briefing session

The Board held a public briefing session on its review on 22 September 2021.

The recorded webinar is available below.

Questions and answers from the briefing session are available below.

Consultation documents

Links to the consultation documents are available below.

Submissions received

Patient and consumer health and safety impact assessment

Public consultation on the review of the shared Code of conduct

Released: 11 May 2021
Closed: 6 July 2021

Ahpra and the 12 National Boards that share a Code of conduct carried out a public consultation on a revised shared Code. The National Boards invited practitioners, stakeholders and the community to give feedback on the revised Code of conduct.

Consultation documents, the Patient and Consumer Health and Safety Impact Assessment and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public Consultation on proposed options for Dental records guidelines

Released: 20 November 2019
Closed: 24 January 2020

The Dental Board of Australia published a public consultation paper on the Board’s proposed options for the Dental records guidelines.

Submissions received

Public consultation on the proposed Supervised practice framework

Released: 11 September 2019
Closed:  17 December 2019

National Boards (excluding psychology and pharmacy) and Ahpra carried out a public consultation on the proposed Supervised practice framework as part of their project to enable a consistent, responsive and risk-based approach to supervised practice across the National Scheme.

Consultation documents and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public consultation on the review of the Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service

Released:  11 September 2019
Closed:  26 November 2019

The National Boards and Ahpra carried out a public consultation on the Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service. The guidelines were developed to explain the advertising requirements in the National Law and to help advertisers (including registered health practitioners) to meet these requirements and advertise responsibly. The review is to make sure the guidelines are as contemporary, relevant and effective as possible.

Consultation documents and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public consultation on the review of the Guidelines for mandatory notifications

The 15 National Boards in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme) released for public consultation draft guidelines on Mandatory notifications.

Released: 11 September 2019
Closed: 6 November 2019

Consultation documents and submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public consultation on Guidelines for registered health practitioners and students in relation to blood borne viruses

Released: 5 September 2019
Closed: 1 November 2019

The Dental, Medical, Nursing and Midwifery, Paramedicine and Podiatry Boards of Australia published a consultation paper on the draft Guidelines for registered health practitioners and students in relation to blood borne viruses.  

Submissions received

Public consultation on the proposal to close the Public Sector Dental Workforce Scheme

The Dental Board of Australia (the Board) released this public consultation paper on its proposal to close the Public Sector Dental Workforce Scheme (PSDWS) pathway to general registration and retire the Guidelines on limited registration - limited registration of dental practitioners for postgraduate training or supervised practice (section 66), June 2012.

Released: 4 September 2018
Closed: 2 November 2018

Submissions received

Public consultation on review of accreditation arrangements – assignment of accreditation functions

National Boards and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) have completed public consultation as part of a scheduled review of accreditation arrangements from mid-2019, when the current terms of assignment of accreditation functions end.  

Released: 17 April 2018
Closed: 14 May 2018

Submissions and a brief consultation report are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public consultation on the draft guideline for informing a National Board about where you practise

The Dental Board of Australia has published a consultation paper on the draft guideline for informing a National Board about where you practise.

Released: 13 April 2018
Closed: 25 May 2018

Submissions received are available on the Past Consultations page of the Ahpra website.

Public consultation on a proposed revised Scope of practice registration standard and Guidelines for scope of practice

The Dental Board of Australia (the Board) released this public consultation paper on a proposed revised Scope of practice registration standard, a proposed revised Guidelines for scope of practice, and a new Reflective practice tool for scope of practice.

Released: 22 March 2018
Closed: 14 May 2018

Submissions received

Consultation on proposed entry level competencies for conscious sedation endorsement

The Dental Board of Australia (the Board) released this public consultation paper on the proposed entry level competencies (the proposed competencies) for endorsement for conscious sedation.

Released: 11 November 2016
Closed: 13 January 2017

Submissions received

Consultation on proposed entry level competencies for dental specialties

The Dental Board of Australia (the Board) in partnership with the Dental Council (New Zealand) (the Council) released this public consultation paper on the proposed entry level competencies (the proposed competencies) for dental specialties.

Released: 30 November 2015
Closed: 15 February 2016

Submissions received

The consultation report can be found on the specialist competencies page.

Public consultation on draft Guidelines for the regulatory management of registered health practitioners and students infected with blood-borne viruses

National Boards released for public consultation draft guidelines on the regulatory management of registered health practitioners and students infected with blood-borne viruses.

Released: 24 July 2014 
Closed: 26 September 2014

Public consultation on a review of the following registration standards and guidelines:

Review of registration standards:

  • Professional indemnity insurance 
  • Continuing professional development 
  • Recency of practice 
  • Endorsement for conscious sedation 
  • Specialist

Review of guidelines:

  • Continuing professional development

Released: 19 May 2014
Closed: 14 July 2014

Submissions received

Public consultation on a review of the English language skills and Criminal history registration standards

National Boards are undertaking public consultation on a review of the English language skills and Criminal history registration standards.

Released: 25 October 2013
Closed: 23 December 2013 

Submissions received can be found on the Past consultations page on the Ahpra website.

International criminal history checks - further public consultation

All National Boards have undertaken further public consultation on a proposal to refine international criminal history checks.

Released: 2 October 2013
Closed: 31 October 2013

Submissions received can be found on the Past consultations page on the Ahpra website.

Scope of practice registration standard

Released: 8 May 2013
Closed: 19 June 2013

Submissions received

Cross-Board consultation on common guidelines and shared Code of conduct

Released: 4 April 2013
Closed: 30 May 2013

Submissions received can be found on the Past consultations page on the Ahpra website.

Consultation paper on accreditation review

Released: 30 October 2012
Addendum released: 7 December 2012
Closed: 21 December 2012

Consultation paper on international criminal history checks

Released: 25 June 2012
Closed: 17 August 2012

Submissions received can be found on the Past consultations page on the Ahpra website.

Discussion paper on anxiolysis

Released: 05 June 2012
Closed: 20 July 2012

Guidelines on supervision

Released: 23 April 2012
Closed: 29 June 2012

Guidelines on limited registration

Released: 18 April 2012
Closed: 15 June 2012

Definition of practice

Released: 04 October 2011
Closed: 02 December 2011

Consultation Paper on Definition of Practice (448 KB,PDF)

Submissions received

Please note some submissions have not been posted on the Board’s website at the request of the authors.

Draft registration standard for general registration of practitioners with qualifications substantially equivalent to approved qualifications

Released: 21 December 2010
Closed: 25 February 2011

Submissions received

Please note some submissions have not been posted on the Board’s website at the request of the authors.

Draft registration standards for limited registration

Released: 22 December 2010
Closed: 18 March 2011

Submissions received

Please note some submissions have not been posted on the Board’s website at the request of the authors.

Draft guidelines on supervision (for limited registration)

Released: 22 December 2010
Closed: 18 March 2011

Submissions received

Please note some submissions have not been posted on the Board’s website at the request of the authors.

Proposed guidelines on conscious sedation area of practice endorsement

Released: 10 August 2011
Closed: 07 October 2011

Exemption from Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Public submissions are available on this website for transparency on our consultations regarding important matters affecting dentists.

We publish submissions in their original format as made by the submitter. If you have difficulty accessing a submission, please contact us, and we will try to contact the submitter to provide an accessible version of their submission for your reference.

Please note that submitters are asked to provide their submissions to our public consultations in web accessible formats, and we guide them on how this can be achieved. We will update inaccessible submissions on this website when accessible format versions of files become available.

 
 
Page reviewed 11/03/2025
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