The following resources are designed to help you understand your obligations under the Scope of practice registration standard, including the guidelines.

• Reflective practice tool
• Watch the webinar on Scope of practice requirements
• Q&A session recordings – Held on 3 and 18 June 2020
• FAQs – Revised Scope of practice registration standard
• Download the podcast (10.5 MB, mp3) – Revised Scope of Practice Registration Standard for Dental Practitioners 2020
• State and territory legislation

The Scope of practice registration standard became into effect on 1 July 2020 after it was approved by the Council of Australia Governments (COAG) Health Council (CHC) at its November 2019 meeting.

A scheduled review of the standard began in late 2017 and included wide-ranging public consultation from March until May 2018. In November 2018, the Board submitted its proposed revised Scope of practice registration standard to the CHC. 

At the CHC’s March 2019 meeting, Health Ministers referred the proposed standard to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the ACSQHC). The purpose of the referral was for the Commission to independently assess the patient quality and safety implications and the consumer benefit of the revised standard. The ACSQHC completed its review in July 2019.

The ACSQHC’s independent review report was submitted to the CHC’s November 2019 meeting. 

Health Ministers noted the review outcomes that there is no evidence the proposed revised Scope of practice registration standard will have an adverse effect on patient safety or quality of care. The review also indicated that the changes may increase the capacity of the dental workforce, may provide greater access to services and reduce wait times for services for rural and remote communities. 

Considering the ACSQHC’s independent report, Health Ministers approved the revised Scope of practice registration standard. They also supported publication of the ACSQHC’s independent report.