Declaration of Quality Assurance Activity under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (QAA 1/2012)

Administered by Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Legislation au F2012L00626 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Instrument number QAA 1/2012

Declaration of Quality Assurance Activity under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973

as amended

Compilation start date:  3 June 2014

Includes amendments up to: Amendment Declaration of Quality Assurance Activities under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973QAA 1/2014

 

 

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Declaration of Quality Assurance Activities under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973─ QAA 1/2012 as in force on 3 June 2014. It includes any commenced amendment affecting the legislation to that date.

This compilation was prepared on 11 September 2014.

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of each amended provision.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not reflected in the text of the compiled law but the text of the amendments is included in the endnotes.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Modifications

If a provision of the compiled law is affected by a modification that is in force, details are included in the endnotes.

Provisions ceasing to have effect

If a provision of the compiled law has expired or otherwise ceased to have effect in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

 

 

 

I, CHRIS BAGGOLEY, Chief Medical Officer of The Department of Health and Ageing, make this instrument under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act).

 

 

  1. DECLARE the Activities described in Schedule 1 to this declaration (the Activities) to be quality assurance activities to which Part VC of the Act applies being satisfied in relation to the Activities that:

(i)            the organisations engaging in the Activities are authorised to do so by associations of health professionals or educational institutions; and

(ii)          it is in the public interest that Part VC of the Act applies to the Activities having regard to the criteria prescribed in regulations 23C to 23G (inclusive) of the Health Insurance Regulations 1975.

 

 


Part 1  Preliminary

1                     Name of Declaration

This Declaration is the Declaration of Quality Assurance Activity under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973 also known as QAA 1/2012.

 

2                     Commencement

This Declaration commences the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.  Section 124X (4) of the Act prescribes that, unless sooner  revoked, this declaration ceases to be in force at the end of five years after the instrument of declaration was signed.

 


Part 2  Schedule 1  

QAA1/2012 – Declared Quality Assurance Activities

 

[1] The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) Practice Visits: a peer review activity for specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists in Australia.

 

 Description:

 

As part of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program of RANZCOG, Fellows volunteer to participate in this peer review program which provides participants with recommendations on improving the quality and risk management of their practice. The practice visit program provides a quality framework in which to assess and evaluate the individual practice and competence of RANZCOG Fellows. Data from de-identified patients, co-workers as well as observations of the Fellow’s practice are collected and then used for evaluation. Qualitative analysis is undertaken on the de-identified information and feedback is then disseminated to the participant.  Further to individual feedback, the information is also disseminated to all Fellows of RANZCOG via a de-identified report in the O&G magazine. Presentations will also be made at either the Provincial Fellows Annual Scientific Meeting (PF ASM) or the RANZCOG ASM. The RANZCOG Practice Visit project has been declared quality activity in the past and has resulted in Fellows being more confident in participating in free flowing discussion about clinical performance and clinical decision making. This quality activity is in the public interest due to the quality improvement focus sought from the evaluation methodology employed during the practice visits. 

 

[2] The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program- Practice Evaluation – Quality Assurance; and Emergency Responses – Quality Assurance

 

 Description:

 

The Self Directed Quality Assurance (QA) Activities as part of ANZCA’s wider continuing professional development program focus on self directed and practice based learning activities rather than supervised training. Fellows are required to submit annual returns if they wish to receive a statement of participation that may be used for recertification or credentialing.  Candid self assessment is encouraged and promoted as participants develop an overarching plan that tailors their QA activities within the breadth of their jurisdiction. The self assessments are recorded in an online portfolio along with other QA activities. Specialists are then afforded the opportunity to study, analyse and audit selected aspects of their clinical performance with the aims of improving the outcomes of their patients through ongoing review of their practice. Reflection notes, practice peer review and evaluation of participation are the key methods in conducting the activity. The outcomes of the activity are disseminated to the ANZCA CPD Committee which publishes an annual report of the program. The Committee also makes any recommendations to ANZCA’s Council which in turn makes recommendations to the Education and Training Committee and Quality and Safety Committee. Public interest is demonstrated as the quality activity seeks to monitor and evaluate individuals which will shape improvements and quality measures in anaesthesiology practice.

________________________________________________________________

 

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide details of the history of this legislation and its provisions. The following endnotes are included in each compilation:

 

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Endnote 5—Uncommenced amendments

Endnote 6—Modifications

Endnote 7—Misdescribed amendments

Endnote 8—Miscellaneous

 

If there is no information under a particular endnote, the word “none” will appear in square brackets after the endnote heading.

 

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key in this endnote sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

 

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

 

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended the compiled law. The information includes commencement information for amending laws and details of application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

 

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision level. It also includes information about any provisions that have expired or otherwise ceased to have effect in accordance with a provision of the compiled law.

 

Uncommenced amendments—Endnote 5

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not reflected in the text of the compiled law, but the text of the amendments is included in endnote 5.

 

Modifications—Endnote 6

If the compiled law is affected by a modification that is in force, details of the modification are included in endnote 6.

 

Misdescribed amendments—Endnote 7

An amendment is a misdescribed amendment if the effect of the amendment cannot be incorporated into the text of the compilation. Any misdescribed amendment is included in endnote 7.

 

Miscellaneous—Endnote 8

Endnote 8 includes any additional information that may be helpful for a reader of the compilation.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

 

ad = added or inserted

pres = present

am = amended

prev = previous

c = clause(s)

(prev) = previously

Ch = Chapter(s)

Pt = Part(s)

def = definition(s)

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

Dict = Dictionary

Reg = Regulation/Regulations

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

reloc = relocated

Div = Division(s)

renum = renumbered

exp = expired or ceased to have effect

rep = repealed

hdg = heading(s)

rs = repealed and substituted

LI = legislative instrument

s = section(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

Sch = Schedule(s)

mod = modified/modification

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

No = Number(s)

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

o = order(s)

SR = Statutory Rules

Ord = Ordinance

Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s)

orig = original

SubPt = Subpart(s)

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

 

 /sub-subparagraph(s)

 

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Name

FRLI registration

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Declaration of Quality Assurance Activities under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973─  QAA 1/2012

21 Mar 2012 (F2012L00626)

22 Mar 2012

 

Amendment Declaration of Quality Assurance Activities under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973─ QAA 1/2014

2 June 2014 (F2014L00640)

3 June 2014

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

Pt 2 Sch 1

 

item [2] hdg ..............

am F2014L00640

 

Endnote 5—Uncommenced amendments [none]

Endnote 6—Modifications [none]

Endnote 7Misdescribed amendments [none]

Endnote 8—Miscellaneous [none]

 

 

Overview

The Health Insurance Act 1973, enacted by the Australian Parliament, aims to regulate the health insurance industry and protect consumers by ensuring that health insurance services are delivered efficiently and effectively. The Act establishes a framework for the accreditation of health professionals and educational institutions and mandates quality assurance activities to maintain and improve the standards of health services. The Declaration of Quality Assurance Activities under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (QAA 1/2012), made by the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and Ageing, identifies specific quality assurance activities conducted by professional associations and educational institutions as being in the public interest. These activities are intended to ensure that health professionals maintain high standards of practice, thereby safeguarding the quality and safety of health services provided to the public.

Scope and Application

The Declaration of Quality Assurance Activities under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973, also known as QAA 1/2012, applies to specific quality assurance activities conducted by authorised organisations, namely the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA). These activities are considered part of the continuing professional development (CPD) programs for specialists in their respective fields. The scope of the declaration is confined to the activities outlined in Schedule 1, which includes RANZCOG's Practice Visits for obstetricians and gynaecologists, and ANZCA's Continuing Professional Development Program that involves practice evaluation and emergency responses quality assurance. The geographic reach of this legislation is federal, as it falls under the Commonwealth's purview as per the Health Insurance Act 1973. The declaration comes into effect on the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments and will remain in force for five years unless revoked earlier. Subordinate instruments may extend or modify the application of the declaration, although there are no uncommenced amendments, modifications, or misdescribed amendments noted in this specific compilation.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of the Declaration of Quality Assurance Activity under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (F2012L00626) (the "Declaration") declare specific activities as quality assurance activities for the purposes of Part VC of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the "Act"). These activities are identified in Schedule 1 of the Declaration and include the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) Practice Visits and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program- Practice Evaluation – Quality Assurance; and Emergency Responses – Quality Assurance. These activities are described in detail in the Schedule and are intended to improve the quality of professional services provided by health practitioners. The Declaration imposes several obligations on the parties and entities it governs. Firstly, it requires that the organisations engaging in the declared activities are authorised to do so by associations of health professionals or educational institutions. Secondly, it mandates that the declared activities must be in the public interest, as per the criteria set out in regulations 23C to 23G (inclusive) of the Health Insurance Regulations 1975. Additionally, the Declaration ensures that the data collected during these activities is de-identified and that feedback is disseminated to relevant parties, including Fellows of RANZCOG and ANZCA, to promote ongoing professional development and quality improvement. The Declaration does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches. However, it is understood that breaches of Part VC of the Health Insurance Act 1973 could result in civil or criminal penalties, depending on the nature and severity of the breach. The Act itself provides for a range of penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for breaches of its provisions. The specific penalties would depend on the nature of the breach and the relevant provisions of the Act that are contravened. The Declaration is in force from the day after its registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments, as per section 124X(4) of the Act, and it will remain in force for five years unless sooner revoked. This timeframe ensures that the declared quality assurance activities can operate under the regulatory framework provided by the Act, while also allowing for periodic review and potential revocation if necessary.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.