Talk Description
Institution: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital - Victoria, Australia
Aims:
To assess the anticipated impact of audiologists’ inclusion under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) on public health service delivery across three jurisdictions: Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.
Methodology:
A policy review was conducted using jurisdictional health service reports, stakeholder perspectives, and state health department publications. The analysis focused on projected changes in clinical governance, referral pathways, and service quality within audiology departments.
Results:
In Victoria, registration is expected to clarify referral processes and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration. Queensland anticipates improved integration of audiology services within broader care networks, particularly in regional and remote areas. Western Australia projects enhanced clinical governance, formalised service standards, and improved mechanisms for consumer feedback and workforce development.
Conclusion:
The national registration of audiologists under AHPRA represents a significant advancement in audiology regulation. It is expected to elevate professional accountability, standardise clinical practice, and improve patient safety. These developments will support more consistent and transparent audiological care across Australia’s public health system, with potential benefits for collaborative models involving otology and other specialties.
Presenters
Authors
Authors
Dr Jaime Leigh - , Dr Christopher Que Hee - , Dr Jafri Kuthubutheen - , Dr Robert Briggs -
