Health Insurance (Accreditation of Podiatric Surgeons) Guidelines 2004 (Cth)

Health Insurance (Accreditation of Podiatric Surgeons) Guidelines PHB23/2004

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I, TONY ABBOTT, Minister for Health and Ageing, make the following Guidelines under subsection 3AAA(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

Dated          22nd  of    Dec 2004

Tony Abbott

Minister for Health and Ageing

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1      Name of Guidelines

These Guidelines are the Health Insurance (Accreditation of Podiatric Surgeons) Guidelines 2004.

2      Commencement

These Guidelines commence immediately after the Health Legislation Amendment (Podiatric Surgery and Other Matters) Act 2004 commences on 13 January 2005.

3    Interpretation

(1) In these Guidelines:

Actmeans the Health Insurance Act 1973

podiatristmeans a podiatrist within the meaning of subsection 3(1) of the Act

(2)For the avoidance of doubt, in these Guidelines a reference to the Act includes a reference to regulations made under the Act.

4    Eligibility Requirements

In considering whether a podiatrist should be accredited under subsection 3AAA(1), the Minister must apply the following eligibility requirements:

(1)   Current Practitioners (Australian and Overseas Trained Graduates) at commencement of the Health Legislation Amendment (Podiatric Surgery and Other Matters) Act must:

(a)    be a Fellow (or eligible for Fellowship) of the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons; and

(b)   have current podiatry registration or licence in an Australian State or Territory.

(2)   Persons who complete their podiatry training after the commencement of the Health Legislation Amendment (Podiatric Surgery and Other Matters) Act 2004

must meet the following requirements:

(a)    have obtained an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at Pass or Honours level in Podiatry from an Australian university;

(b)   have current podiatry registration or licence in an Australian State or Territory

(c)    have successfully completed the training program of the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons, for recognition by State and Territory Podiatry Registration boards for registration or licensing purposes; and

(d)   be a Fellow (or be eligible for Fellowship) of the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons.

(3)   Persons who completed their podiatry training overseas and who wish to apply for accreditation as a podiatric surgeon after the commencement of the Health Legislation Amendment (Podiatric Surgery and Other Matters) Act 2004 must meet the following requirements:

(a)    have current podiatry registration or licence in an Australian State or Territory; and

(b)   one of the following:

(i) satisfy the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons that there is equivalence between their overseas podiatric surgery qualification and Fellowship of the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons; or

(ii) have their overseas podiatric surgery qualification successfully evaluated by the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons for equivalence with Fellowship of the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons and successfully complete additional subjects, as directed by the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons; or

(iii) successfully complete training for Fellowship of the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons.