COVID-19 response

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken steps to help contain and manage the risks associated with COVID -19 for our people, while continuing to fulfil our key responsibility of protecting public health and safety through the regulation of health practitioners in NSW.

We are committed to working in a flexible and fair way. This is particularly important at a time when the community needs to be confident in the standards and professionalism of health practitioners, especially when these practitioners have faced intense pressure to meet the challenges of COVID-19.

Complaints about health practitioners can be lodged online and you can continue to call the HPCA if you would like to discuss your concerns.

We have now reopened our offices to practitioners and other visitors. While we may hold face to face meetings, interviews, hearing and panels, we continue to offer the option of convening virtual meetings via conferencing (video and teleconferencing).

We continue to promote precautions including good hygiene, cleaning, social distancing and containment of those who are unwell or need to self-isolate.

National Coronavirus Helpline

Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19). The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 1800 020 080

If you need public health guidance and information on COVID-19, please refer to the NSW Health website.

Message for Health Practitioners

The HPCA and Councils appreciate the added pressures on many health practitioners as they respond to COVID-19. As such, Councils will consider the individual circumstances of practitioners. If you require special consideration please contact the officer listed in our correspondence to you ASAP or phone the HPCA.

Medical practitioners – 02 9879 2200

Other health practitioners – 1300 197 177

Upcoming hearings or assessments for practitioners are being conducted face to face, by video, teleconference or on the papers.

For face to face meetings we require all parties to ensure:

You do not come into the offices if you are unwell or have COVID-type symptoms or need to isolate.
Maintain safety measures while in the offices including social distancing and hygiene.

Please be proactive in notifying us immediately if the above situations apply to you so that we can make alternative arrangements.

Practitioners with conditions

Practitioners are expected to comply with requirements as stated in your conditions. If you become aware of, or are informed by any of your Council approved practitioners that they are unable to perform their role on behalf of the Council, please advise your monitoring officer immediately.

If you need to self-isolate

Please follow NSW Health guidelines for self-isolation and management of COVID-19 and do not attend for drug and/or alcohol screening or any face to face meetings such as mentoring, education/courses or supervision.

On the first day of your self-isolation, please email your monitoring officer and indicate if you are not working or engaged in remote work such as telehealth while self-isolating. Conditions still apply to any practice during self-isolation. If you are:

employed – include written correspondence from your employer(s) confirming the date you began to self-isolate and your expected return to practice date.
self-employed or not working – include any supporting documentation which confirms the date you began your self-isolation and your expected return to practice/study.
a student – include written correspondence from your university confirming the date you began to self-isolate and your expected return to study date.

If you cannot attend screening or are required to work onsite with other practitioners or require onsite supervision (for example category A or category B supervision) you must not practise in any form.

On the last day of your self-isolation please email your monitoring officer to inform them of this and include written confirmation from your employer(s)/university that you are returning to practice/study the next day. If you are self-employed or not working within 48 hours of your self-isolation ending, please email your monitoring officer supporting documentation such as a statutory declaration confirming the date your self-isolation ended. If you are subject to urine drug and/or alcohol screening conditions you must also attend for screening no later than the next business day.

If you have any concerns about meeting the requirements of your conditions or have any questions please contact your monitoring officer by email:

Medical practitioners – medicalcouncil.monitoring@mcnsw.org.au

Other health practitioners – HPCA-Monitoring@health.nsw.gov.au

Services temporarily affected by COVID-19

Drug and alcohol screening collection centres

COVID testing arrangements may affect some Council approved collection centres.

For up to date information about centres that may be affected please check the collection centre’s website before attending for screening.

NSW - Laverty Pathology website www.laverty.com.au
QLD - QML Pathology website www.qml.com.au
Vic – Dorevitch Pathology website www.dorevitch.com.au

If you do not have an accessible collection centre please contact your monitoring officer as soon as possible to discuss.

Medical practitioners – medicalcouncil.monitoring@mcnsw.org.au

Other health practitioners - HPCA-Monitoring@health.nsw.gov.au

Course providers/education training

Some courses and education training programs may have been affected by COVID-19 safety measures.

If you are affected by these circumstances, please contact your monitoring officer as soon as possible to discuss.

Medical practitioners – medicalcouncil.monitoring@mcnsw.org.au

Other health practitioners – HPCA-Monitoring@health.nsw.gov.au

HPCA is no longer accepting payment by cheque or money order. All payments, including for GIPA Act applications and subpoenas, must be made by bank transfer. Credit card facilities are being implemented but are not yet available.

Payment is to be made to the following account:

Account name: HPCA main account BSB: 032 000 Account number: 802 675

When making the payment please include the following information:

Payee name
Descriptor, e.g. “Subpoena issued by {name of Court}” or “GIPA Application”
Abbreviated name of relevant Council:

Name	Abbrev
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Council	ATSI
Chinese Medicine Council	CMed
Chiropractic Council	Chiro
Dental Council	Dent
Medical Council	MC
Medical Radiation Practice Council	MRP
Nursing and Midwifery Council	NMC
Occupational Therapy Council	OT
Optometry Council	Opt
Osteopathy Council	Osteo
Paramedicine Council	Para
Pharmacy Council	Pharm
Physiotherapy Council	Physio
Podiatry Council	Pod
Psychology Council	Psych

FAQ’s in response to Covid-19

Complaints

1. I would like to make a complaint. Where do I direct my complaint?

Complaints can be submitted using our online complaint form. You can continue to contact the HPCA by referring to the contact information on our website.

2. Are you still able to respond quickly to complaints against practitioners – especially serious complaints?

We continue to adjust our internal processes in response to the changes in working arrangements to ensure we are actioning complaints as quickly as possible. There are currently no delays but there might still be some change in the way we liaise with practitioners such as by holding hearings via video conference. We will be in contact with you if there are any changes to the way we are actioning your complaint. Otherwise, we are considering complaints in the usual way according to the seriousness of the issues raised.

3. I would like to submit my documents to Council. Where do I send it?

You can submit your documents electronically to the relevant team or staff member at HPCA. If you have made a complaint, a HPCA staff member will be in contact to provide details on how to submit your documents.

4. I am the subject of a complaint and need more time to respond to the request for submissions, information and/or documents.

Each complaint will be managed according to its seriousness. If you need an extension of time to provide responses, information or documents, please inform your case manager or program officer and explain your reasons for seeking the extension. Your request will be considered based on the reasons you have provided.

5. I am the subject of a complaint. Will there be delays with the resolution of my case?

We continue to adjust our internal processes in response to the changes in working arrangements to ensure we resolve cases in the usual time frame. There are currently no delays but there might still be some change in the way we liaise with practitioners such as by holding hearings via video conference. We will be in contact with you if there are any changes to the way we are handling your case. Otherwise, the consideration of your case will progress as usual.

Meetings and Hearings

1. How will meetings and hearings be convened between practitioners and a health professional Council?

As of May 2022, we have reopened our offices to visitors. Meetings and hearings may be convened face to face, by video conferencing, with the option of teleconferences. If your meeting or hearing is virtual then you will need to have a device that is connected to the internet or your telephone to access the meeting or hearing. Some matters may be conducted on the papers. However, please note that you will be notified by email of any meetings and hearings concerning you.

2. Are meetings and hearings held by video conference confidential and secure? Will it be recorded?

Virtual meetings and hearings are convened by Pexip, Skype for Business or MS Teams and attendance is by invitation only. For more information, please review the security details for Pexip, Skype for business and MS Teams. Section 150 hearings will be recorded as required by section 150B of the National Law. Other meetings are not routinely recorded.

3. Can I be present at a section 150A or section 150C review to speak to the Council members?

Yes, by video conference, teleconference or face to face.

Please notify your case manager or program officer that you wish to be present and HPCA staff will assist.

4. What are the options if video-conferencing fails – how do we manage those hearings?

If video conferencing fails, the meeting will be conducted via teleconference or face to face, or it will be rescheduled.

Compliance with conditions and performance assessments

1. My registration is subject to conditions, do I still have to comply?

Yes.

Conditions are imposed to protect the public and you must comply with all the conditions on your registration. If you become aware or are informed by your supervisor, mentor or other relevant approved practitioners that they are unable to perform functions that are necessary under the conditions, you should immediately advise your monitoring officer.

2. I am scheduled to undertake a Performance Assessment at my place of practice. Will this proceed?

Please contact your case manager or monitoring officer to discuss your situation with them.

3. I have been directed to self-isolate and I am not employed. Do I need to attend drug and/or alcohol screening or any face to face meetings such as mentoring, education, courses or supervision?

Please follow the NSW Health guidelines for self-isolation and management of COVID-19 and do not attend for drug and/or alcohol screening or any face to face meetings such as mentoring, education/courses or supervision.

If you have been directed to self-isolate you must also take further steps in regards to your conditions. For the full details, please visit our COVID-19 response webpage, under the heading ‘If you need to self-isolate’.

4. I have been directed to self-isolate and I am still working; for instance providing consultations by tele-health. Do I need to attend drug and/or alcohol screening or any face to face meetings such as mentoring, education, courses or supervision?

If you intend to work remotely while self-isolating, you must follow the steps set out on our COVID-19 response webpage, under the heading ‘If you need to self-isolate’.

Registration

Not currently registered

1. I am not currently registered. How do I apply for registration?

Apply directly through Ahpra for registration with the relevant national health practitioner Board.

2. I am not currently registered but when I was last registered I was on a health professional Council’s health program and/or I had an outstanding performance assessment. How do I apply for registration?

As above, you must apply directly through Ahpra or registration with the relevant National health practitioner Board. Ahpra will liaise with the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) about any outstanding matters for consideration by the relevant National health practitioner Board.

Suspended practitioner

4. My registration was suspended by a health professional Council under section 150 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) (National Law). How can I get the suspension removed?

You can seek a review of the suspension under section 150A of the National Law. The HPCA and Councils are aware of the added pressure the pandemic has placed on health practitioners. Councils will consider your individual circumstances on review. Please be aware that a NSW health professional Council may only vary or set aside a decision if it is satisfied that there has been a change in your circumstances that justifies the variation or setting aside of the decision.

You can also seek to appeal the suspension at NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). Appeals must be made within 28 days of you being told about the suspension decision (not 28 days of receiving the written reasons).

Practitioners are encouraged to seek independent legal advice on the suitability of each option.

5. My registration was suspended by NCAT and I want to apply for registration.

If your period of suspension has passed, you should contact Ahpra for information relevant to your registration.

If your period of suspension has not ended, please seek independent legal advice on how to appeal NCAT’s decision.

Cancelled practitioner

6. My registration was cancelled by NCAT and the preclusion period has passed. How do I apply for registration?

You will need to apply for a reinstatement order from NCAT. The reinstatement order will enable you to apply for registration from the relevant National health practitioner Board.

To progress with your application for a reinstatement order, please email a completed copy of this NCAT form to HPCA-Mail@health.nsw.gov.au, addressing it to the Executive Officer of the applicable health professional council.

Disqualified practitioner

7. I am disqualified from being registered as a health practitioner by NCAT and I want to apply for registration.

You will need to apply for a reinstatement order from NCAT. The reinstatement order will enable you to apply for registration from the relevant National health practitioner Board.

Conditions

8. I have conditions imposed on my registration by a health professional council under section 150 of the National Law. Can I have the conditions removed?

You must comply with the conditions on your registration. The COVID-19 pandemic does NOT provide an excuse for non-compliance.

You can contact your monitoring officer and seek guidance about how to apply for a review of the conditions under section 150A of the National Law by the relevant health professional Council.

The HPCA and Councils are aware of the added pressure the pandemic has placed on health practitioners. Councils will consider your individual circumstances on review. Please be aware that a Council may only vary or set aside a decision if it is satisfied that there has been a change in the practitioner’s circumstances that justifies the variation or setting aside of the decision.

You can also seek to appeal the conditions at NCAT. Appeals must be made within 28 days of you being told about the decision to impose conditions (not 28 days of receiving the written reasons).

Further information about registration conditions can be found via this link on our website.

Practitioners are encouraged to seek independent legal advice on the suitability of each option.

9. I have conditions imposed on my registration by NCAT. How can I have the conditions removed?

You can seek a review of your conditions with the appropriate review body identified in the decision imposing the conditions. If no review body is specified then it is NCAT.

You can also seek to appeal NCAT’s decision to impose conditions.

Practitioners are encouraged to seek independent legal advice on the suitability of each option.

NCAT

1. I would like to appeal a decision of Council are there any changes to NCAT’s processes that I need to know about?

Information about NCAT’s operations is available on their website.