Policy inquiries/consultation opportunities
24 March 2022
AMA Victoria has recently been presented with several opportunities to influence health and broader public policy in Victoria. We have been invited to contribute towards:
- An independent review of the regulation of health practitioners in cosmetic surgery
- An inquiry into children of imprisoned parents
- A review of witness welfare management
- Consultations on cannabis in Australia
- A workshop into a new state-wide electronic mental health record.
As always, we welcome (and, indeed, require) the wisdom, insights, and experiences of members in formulating policy and advocating to government. Details on how members can contribute are contained below.
Independent review of the regulation of health practitioners in cosmetic surgery
Public consultation in relation to the regulation of medical practitioners who perform cosmetic surgery in Australia is now open.
The Independent review of the regulation of health practitioners in cosmetic surgery was commissioned by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Medical Board of Australia.
The consultation paper, including consultation questions, is available on the independent review page on the AHPRA website.
If you would like to contribute to AMA Victoria’s submission, please contact Senior Policy Adviser, Lewis Horton, at LewisH@amavic.com.au.
Inquiry into children of imprisoned parents
The Victorian Parliament’s Legal and Social Issues Committee is conducting an inquiry into the children of imprisoned parents. The Committee will investigate the adequacy of policies and services to assist the children of imprisoned parents in Victoria, with particular reference to:
- the social, emotional and health impacts on affected children
- what policies exist and what services are available, including consideration of those in other jurisdictions
- how effective these services are, including -
- consideration of evaluation of work already done in this area; and
- identifying areas for improvement.
The Committee has contacted AMA Victoria inviting us to make a submission to this inquiry and requesting that we put them in touch with any GPs who specialise in this area.
If you would like to contribute towards a potential submission or otherwise contribute to the Committee’s work, please contact Lewis Horton at LewisH@amavic.com.au.
More information on the inquiry can be found here: Legal and Social Issues (parliament.vic.gov.au).
Review of witness welfare management
The Victorian Parliament’s Integrity and Oversight Committee is conducting a review of the management of witness welfare by Victorian integrity agencies.
The Committee will be examining, amongst others, the following matters:
- The experiences of witnesses and others involved in Victorian integrity agency investigations (including any matters relating to health, safety, wellbeing and reputation).
- The effectiveness of Victorian integrity agencies’ practices regarding management of the welfare of witnesses and others involved in agencies’ investigations (including in-house welfare support throughout investigations).
- The best practice principles for the management of the welfare of witnesses and others involved in integrity agency investigations, and whether Victorian integrity agencies are meeting the standard of those best practice principles.
- Overall, how Victorian integrity agencies’ management of the welfare of witnesses and others involved in agencies’ investigations might be improved.
The Committee has contacted us and is keen to learn from members’ wider experience in providing health, psychological and welfare support to witnesses and others involved in court, tribunal, inquiry, investigative and related processes. This includes witnesses who are persons of interest or otherwise subject to an investigation and compulsory attendance and questioning under oath.
Members’ experience and expertise will assist the Committee in identifying best practice principles for managing the welfare of witnesses (and their colleagues, family members and friends) during these often challenging and complex processes.
If you would like to contribute towards a potential submission, please contact Lewis Horton at LewisH@amavic.com.au.
More information on the review can be found here: Integrity and Oversight (parliament.vic.gov.au)
Invitation to participate in Penington Institute consultations on cannabis in Australia
The Penington Institute has recently begun a new national cannabis project that aims to support informed discussion on cannabis-related issues. The Institute is developing a report that will document the current approach to various forms of cannabinoids in Australia- medicinal cannabis, recreational cannabis and hemp. The aim of the report is to present a wide range of information about cannabinoids based on descriptive analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data from across the country.
As part of this work, the Institute is conducting a series of meetings with key stakeholders from a range of relevant professional areas who can help them to understand the current situation in each state and territory, and to identify the strengths and weaknesses inherent in existing systems.
They are particularly looking to speak to doctors at the ‘coal face’ about their experiences. Please contact Lewis Horton at LewisH@amavic.com.au if you are willing and available to discuss these issues with the Penington Institute.
A workshop into a new state-wide electronic mental health record
The Victorian Department of Health is seeking expressions of interest from community mental health and wellbeing service providers to inform the development of a new state-wide electronic Mental Health and Wellbeing Record.
As members might be aware, Victoria's Mental Health Royal Commission found that the mental health digital environment is outdated and ineffective. As part of Recommendation 62, the Royal Commission recommended implementing contemporary information architecture to support the delivery of safe, quality care to consumers.
This includes:
- a statewide electronic Mental Health and Wellbeing Record
- a Mental Health and Information Data Exchange, and
- a user-friendly online portal for providers, consumers and carers
The state-wide electronic record will integrate with mental health services' electronic medical records, avoiding duplication of data entry and resources.
For community mental health and wellbeing services, using the record will bring their digital services and resources to a level comparable to that of hospitals and primary health care.
The Department of Health will be hosting a workshop for six to eight people in April to discuss requirements for the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Record.
If you would like to represent AMA Victoria at this Workskop, please send an expression of interest to Lewis Horton at LewisH@amavic.com.au by tomorrow Friday 25 March 2022. An agenda and set of questions will be provided prior to the workshop.
