Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria

Full description

Establishment

The Chinese Medicine Board of Victoria was formed in December 2000 under the Chinese Medicine Registration Act 2000 (No. 18/2000). The main purpose of the Act was to protect the public by providing for the registration of Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioners, acupuncturists and dispensers of Chinese herbs. The Act also enabled the Board to conduct investigations into notifications about registrants' professional conduct or fitness to practise.

Formation and Membership of the Board

The Board consisted of 9 members nominated by the Minister and appointed by the Governor in Council and was made up of:

* 6 registered practitioners, each with at least 5 years practise as a Chinese medicine practitioner or Chinese herbal dispenser

* 1 lawyer

* 2 persons who were not registered practitioners

At least 2 members of the Board needed to be able to communicate in English and either Mandarin or any other Chinese dialect.

Functions of the Board:

The Board was a body corporate with perpetual succession and performed the following functions:

* to register persons complying with the requirements of the Act as Chinese medicine practitioners or Chinese herbal dispensers

* to approve courses of study which provide qualifications for registration and practice as Chinese medicine practitioners or Chinese herbal dispensers.

* to approve courses of training or study which provide qualification for endorsement of registration under section 8

;* to regulate standards of practise in public interest

* to investigate professional conduct or fitness to practise and impose sanctions where necessary

* to issue and publish guidelines about the minimum terms and conditions of professional indemnity insurance

* to issue and publish codes for the guidance of registered practitioners about standards recommended by the Board relating to the practise of Chinese medicine and the prescribing, labelling, storage, dispensing and supply of Chinese herbs including Schedule 1 poisons within the meaning of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981.

* to initiate, promote or participate that the Board considers will protect the public


Abolition

The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) Act 2009 (No. 79 of 2009) came into operation on 1 July 2010. The purpose of his Act was to provide for the adoption of a national law to establish a national registration and accreditation scheme for health practitioners. The Act prescribed the establishment of 14 new National Boards, 10 of which commenced on 1 July 2010. The National Boards may establish a State or Territory Board, where members are to be appointed by the responsible Minister for the participating jurisdiction.

The Health Professions Registration Act 2005 (No. 97/2005) was amended as a consequence of the enactment of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) Act 2009 (No. 79 of 2009). The piece of legislation that enabled these amendments was the Statute Law Amendment (National Health Practitioner Regulation) Act 2010 (No. 13 of 2010), proclaimed in the Government Gazette on 30 March 2010. One of the purposes of the Act was to abolish the State registration boards for the health professions that were to operate under the Health Practitioner Regulation Law (Victoria) from July 1 2010. A commencement date of 1 July 2012 has been set for the application of this Law to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice, Chinese medicine, medical radiation practice and occupational therapy professions. The Chinese Medicine Board of Victoria (VA 4915) will remain in operation until 1 July 2012.