AGY-7256 | Medical Council of New South Wales

Full description

The Medical Council of New South Wales was established on 1 July 2010 (1) under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) No 86a of 2009. (2)

The National Boards are supported by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) which has an office in each State and Territory, including New South Wales (NSW). NSW did not adopt the regulatory part of the Scheme which handles complaints and notifications about practitioners. Instead, the co-regulatory environment in NSW was maintained and the NSW Medical Board was replaced by the Council. The Council, together with the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), continue to be responsible for dealing with complaints about the professional performance, conduct and health of medical practitioners who practise in NSW. (3)

The Board also developed and approved standards, codes and guidelines for approved accredited programs of study which provided the necessary qualifications for registration in the medical profession. (4)

The Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) provided shared executive and corporate services to support the Council's regulatory activities. On behalf of the Councils, the HPCA liaised with:

• The Ministry of Health to provide advice and responses to the Minister for Health and the Secretary on regulatory matters and member appointments and about other operational functions such as human resources.
• The HCCC on complaints management issues.
• The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) regarding financial, registration and reporting matters.

This coordinated approach provides efficiencies through shared services that would be costly for each Council to implement on its own and allows the Councils to concentrate on their core regulatory functions. The HCCC had a wider role in complaints management covering unregistered health practitioners and health services. (5)

Endnotes
1. The Medical Council of New South Wales website, About the Council, https://www.mcnsw.org.au/ (accessed 7 November 2022).
2. Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) No 86a of 2009, NSW Legislation Website, 1 July 2010.
3. The Medical Council of New South Wales website, About the Council, https://www.mcnsw.org.au/ (accessed 7 November 2022).
4. The Medical Council of New South Wales website, Management and activities, https://www.mcnsw.org.au/ (accessed 7 November 2022).
5. Health Professional Councils Authority, Annual Report, 2014-2015, p.12.