APHRA is up and for running WA

National Registration is finally here.... I have heard about it for over 20 years and finally the time has come; CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION:

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for WA is up and running, have some fun and check out your name, check out your doctors name see if they are registered and if there are any restrictions placed on them. Click on this link APHRA then scroll down a third of the screen, go to the second blue box, heading HEALTH PRACTITIONERS then click How can I check my registration status? Follow the instructions and all you have to do is put in your full name, health profession and state, you don’t need the registration number.... and then see what happens.

I am undecided whether I think this is a good idea or not, yes I think it is beneficial that you can check so easily that someone is registered, but having my disciplinary history for the world to see, that I consider an invasion of my privacy. I will however remain open about the concept and see how it all pans out. In terms of people state hopping when they are investigated yes a fantastic idea, but for those who genuinely make a mistake your record is there for everyone to see.

You can also visit the Decisions and check on all Health Practitioners and decisions made in relationship to complaints.......this is transparency for you; These are outcomes of court hearings, tribunal hearings and hearings conducted by regulation agencies that were completed or started before 1 July 2010, relating to complaints and notifications made about health practitioners or students.

Let me know what your thoughts are? And be sure that you don’t find your name in that list........it may work as a deterrent.

Click here to read more for WA....Practitioners from WA who have not renewed by 30 September: also read frequently asked questions information. The APHRA site is packed with information, spend some time looking at the site, it is worth your time;

Great You Tube video.... watch this.....

"Madre De Muchos" - "Mother Of Many", by Emma Lazenby
great view...let me know what you think

Cheers Pauline

Happy International Midwives Day 2010

Here is a video of part of our celebration on the 1st of May 2010 @ UWA - please excuse my voice..... we celebrated in style and had so much fun.... a huge thank you to Beth O'Neil for her expert tuition and guiding us to sing....it reminded me that singing is so good for the soul... it was a memorable exercise and uplifting..... Review of the sessions still to come......also a big thank you to the superb organisation of the education committee.
Enjoy International Midwives Day - "Being with Woman"
Pauline Costins

Have your say on what the 'Eligible Midwife' will be

Well here it is the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has released a draft of what 'eligible midwife' may look like.....

The Key points are as follows;
1. Current general registration as a midwife in Australia with no restrictions on practice - having as it does all the requirements for eligibility for registration under the Act.

2. Practice for at least three years across the continuum of midwifery care (ante-natal care, intrapartum care and post-partum care of women and their infants), within the previous 5 years.

3. participation in an additional 20 hours per year of continuing professional development relevant to the continuum of midwifery care.

4. successful completion of a NMBA approved professional midwifery practice review program for midwives working across the continuum of midwifery care.

5. compliance with the collaboration requirements for eligible midwives- that is the requirements for midwives to work collaboratively with other health professionals as outlined in regulation and national health policy instruments.

6. successful completion of an accredited and approved program of study determined by the Board to develop midwives' knowledge and skills in prescribing, or a program that is substantially equivalent to such an approved program of study (at midwifery post graduate level and designed around the flour components of prescribing - information gathering, clinical decision making, generation of medication order and monitoring the review.

As the model of care for eligible midwives is across the continuum of maternity care, eligibility is contingent upon all requirements being met..... therefore once a midwife has been endorsed as an eligible midwife; and authorised and provided with the necessary provider number by Medicare Australia: READ the full document Guidelines & Assessment framework for the recognition & endorsement of eligible midwives

2 Endorsement to practice as an eligible midwife (to read the full document click the hyperlink)

To be entitled to endorsement under section 98 of the National Law an applicant wishing to be identified as an eligible midwife must be able to meet all the requirements including being a currently registered midwife in Australia; being able to demonstrate through professional review of practice at least 3 years experience across the continuum of midwifery care within the 5 year period preceding the application, comply with the collaboration requirements for eligible midwives; and have an approved qualification to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe and supply scheduled medicines required for practice across that
continuum of midwifery care.

Wording to appear on the register
Endorsed as an eligible midwife working across the continuum of midwifery care and qualified to provide the associated services, order diagnostic investigations and administer, obtain, possess, prescribe and supply schedule 2,3,4 & 8 medicines in
accordance with relevant State and Territory legislation, required for midwifery practice.

If you wish to provide comments on this paper, please lodge a written submission in electronic form by email to natboards@dhs.vic.gov.au by close of business on Wednesday 27 April 2010.

PLEASE FORWARD COMMENTS....if you wish please respond to the blog and I will collate the comments for a submission, but you need to add your name to the comments, otherwise they will not be included....... Now is the time to have your say..... get women, mothers, consumers....anyone who is interested in birthing in Australia needs to have a say....this is the future of Homebirth and Private Practice in Australia.....there is a short consulation period so please do it now!

Cheers Pauline