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Summer 2004

Health Professionals Beware

HACSU officers recently received information from an employer advising staff of new Australian Institute of Radiography (AIR) requirements for compulsory Continual Professional Development (CPD).

This follows recent statements by the AIR President about the introduction of mandatory CPD. This statement says that compliance with mandatory CPD will be linked to Statements of Accreditation, inferring that Statements of Accreditation will not be issued unless applicants have complied with the mandatory AIR CPD.

The AIR has deemed that members must participate in mandatory CPD if they are to continue to be members. This of course does not apply to Medical Imaging Technologists or Radiation Therapists and Nuclear Medicine Technologists, who are not members of the AIR nor does this requirement override State registration requirements.

The employer who has notified staff of the new AIR requirements has advised that participation in the AIR CPD program will be compulsory regardless of membership of that association due to:

• AIR Requirements
• RANZCR Stage 3 Accreditation requirements, and,
• Likely to be a requirement to practice radiography into the future.

In Tasmania the Medical Radiation Science Professionals Registration Act 2000 explicitly outlines the requirements for registration in Tasmania. This legislation is not subject to any current review. There is no requirement to meet AIR standards for CPD outlined in this legislation.

The Act says: Who may apply for registration?

19. (1) A person may apply to the Board to be registered as a radiation therapist if

(a) the person has -

(i) a qualification in radiation therapy that is approved by, or gained from an institution that is accredited by, a national body or forum that is prescribed for the purposes of this subsection; or

(ii) passed a qualifying examination in radiation therapy held by that national body or forum; and

(b) unless the Board is satisfied that the person has received adequate clinical training in the course of gaining that qualification or preparing for that examination, he or she has completed an approved program of supervised clinical training in radiation therapy to the satisfaction of the Board.

(2) A person may apply to the Board to be registered as a diagnostic radiographer if -

(a) the person has -

(i) a qualification in diagnostic radiography that is approved by, or gained from an institution that is accredited by, a national body or forum that is prescribed for the purposes of this subsection; or

(ii) passed a qualifying examination in diagnostic radiography held by that national body or forum; and

(b) unless the Board is satisfied that the person has received adequate clinical training in the course of gaining that qualification or preparing for that examination, he or she has completed an approved program of supervised clinical training in diagnostic radiography to the satisfaction of the Board.

(3) A person may apply to the Board to be registered as a nuclear medicine technologist if -

(a) the person has -

(i) a qualification in nuclear medicine technology that is approved by, or gained from an institution that is accredited by, a national body or forum that is prescribed for the purposes of this subsection; or

(ii) passed a qualifying examination in nuclear medicine technology held by that national body or forum; and

(b) unless the Board is satisfied that the person has received adequate clinical training in the course of gaining that qualification or preparing for that examination, he or she has completed an approved program of supervised clinical training in nuclear medicine to the satisfaction of the Board.

(4) For the purposes of this section, a person may be taken to have gained a qualification from an institution if the person has successfully completed the required studies and training, if any, even though the qualification may not have been formally awarded or conferred.

HACSU supports CPD; this is a necessary part of life for all professionals, in fact, CPD is a major provision in our claim for health professionals in the public sector. But we are yet to be convinced that it should form a mandatory requirement for registration. We were made aware of moves in this area during the recent negotiations with the State Government around Radiation Therapy classifications and salaries.

HACSU advises members that in almost all cases in Tasmania, they will not have to undergo mandatory CPD to obtain Registration.

Currently there is no mandatory requirement for CPD to obtain registration in Tasmania. HACSU is not aware of any other State who has imposed such requirements.

Should members wish to discuss this matter, please contact HACSU Assistant Secretary Tim Jacobson in the Hobart Office on 6231 2253.