AGY-7259 | Dental Council of New South Wales

Full description

The Dental 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).

National Boards were supported by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) which had an office in each State and Territory, including New South Wales (NSW). In NSW the Health Care Complaints Act 1993 was retained as was the role of the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), which was a separate statutory body. The Council and the HCCC consulted on and responded to complaints received about a health practitioner's performance, conduct or health where a complaint related to a registered professional's practice in NSW. This was different to other States and Territories where the National Boards and Committees established by those Boards were responsible for regulation. (3)

The purpose of the Council was to manage complaints and notifications about the conduct, performance or health of dental practitioners and students. This includes dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienists, dental prosthetists, oral health therapists and dental therapists. (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 provided efficiencies through shared services that would be costly for each Council to implement on its own and allowed 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. Dental Council of New South Wales, Annual Report, 2011, p.3.
2. Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) No 86a of 2009, NSW Legislation website, 1 July 2010
3. Dental Council of New South Wales, Annual Report, 2011, p.5.
4. Ibid.
5. Health Professional Councils Authority, Annual Report, 2014-2015, p.12.