Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct for unregistered health care workers is to be implemented in Tasmania.
The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to protect the public by setting minimum standards of conduct and practice for all unregistered health care workers who provide a health service. It sets national standards against which disciplinary action can be taken and if necessary, a prohibition order issued, in circumstances where an unregistered health care worker’s continued practice presents a serious risk to public health and safety.
The Code of Conduct applies to health care workers providing a health service who are not regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the National Registration Boards, or those practicing outside their registration. Some health care workers likely to be captured under the Code of Conduct include, but not limited to:
- counsellors
- massage therapists
- dietitians
- speech pathologists
- naturopaths
- alternative therapists
- personal care attendants
- pharmacy assistants.
Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Care Workers in Tasmania
Consultation on the Code of Conduct in Tasmania
On 31 December 2024, amendments were made to the Health Complaints Act 1995 to progress the implementation of the Code of Conduct in Tasmania.
The Department of Justice has completed a consultation draft of the Health Complaints (Code of Conduct) Regulations 2019. The Regulations prescribe the Code of Conduct for the provision of health services by unregistered health care workers.
The Department of Justice is conducting external consultation on the Code of Conduct in Tasmania. You can find more information about the consultation process at the Department of Justice’s Community Consultation page.
How will it work
The Code of Conduct is the set of standards that unregistered health care workers must follow. It informs consumers about what they can expect from unregistered health care workers when accessing a health service including that they:
provide safe and ethical healthcare
- obtain consent for treatment
- display appropriate conduct when giving treatment advice
- report concerns about other health service providers, minimise harm and act appropriately if something goes wrong
- take care to protect consumers from infection
- keep appropriate records
- comply with privacy laws
- be covered by insurance
- display information about the code of conduct and making a complaint.
The Code of Conduct outlines that unregistered health care workers must not:
- mislead consumers about their products, services or qualifications
- put consumers at risk due to their own physical or mental health problems
- practice under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- make false claims about curing serious illnesses such as cancer
- exploit consumers financially
- have an inappropriate relationship with consumers
- discourage consumers from seeking other health care.
You can make a complaint to us about an unregistered health care worker and we will assess the concerns raised and may investigate your complaint. If there is a serious risk to public health and safety the Commissioner has the power to issue prohibition orders.
Prohibition Orders
Prohibition orders are published in those states that have already implemented a code-regulation regime. These are:
New South Wales - Health Care Complaints Commission (external link)
Queensland - Office of the Health Ombudsman (external link)
South Australia - Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (external link)
Victoria - Health Complaints Commissioner (external link)
Western Australia – Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (external link)