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Disciplinary Law

Potts Lawyers > Disciplinary Law

What Every Professional Needs to know About Occupational Disciplinary Law

What is Occupational Disciplinary Law? Occupational disciplinary law refers to the legal framework that governs the disciplinary actions that can be taken against workers in a specific occupation or industry. This framework typically outlines the standards of conduct expected of workers, the procedures for investigating allegations of misconduct, and the possible consequences for violations, such as suspension, termination, or revocation of a license. Occupational disciplinary law may also include provisions for procedural fairness, such as the right to respond to an allegation, the right to a hearing, and the right to review that decision in a Tribunal.   How is Occupational Disciplinary Law different...

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Department of Education – Show Cause Notice Before Prohibition Notice

Introduction In Queensland, the Department of Education (the ‘Department’) is the regulatory authority that can investigate suspected non-compliance with the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) 2013 Act (the ‘Act’) and the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Regulations 2011. The Department has a wide range of powers under the Act and Regulations to take action against individuals or companies that are regulated by these laws. If a person receives a show cause notice from the Department in relation to a prohibition notice, usually this could also mean that there will be further correspondence (if not already received) from other regulatory...

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Office of the Health Ombudsman Investigations and Requirement to Provide Information or Attend

The Health Ombudsman generally investigates complaints where a complaint has been made which may amount to professional misconduct or the subject of the complaint may pose a serious risk to persons. Receiving a letter from the Office of the Health Ombudsman (Health Ombudsman) stating that they are investigating a complaint is undoubtedly a stressful and concerning time for a health practitioner or health service organization. It can be equally problematic for people who are required to provide information or attend a meeting as required by the Health Ombudsman. We appreciate that being the subject of an investigation by the Health Ombudsman may...

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Suspension of teaching registration or permission to teach by the Queensland College of Teachers because of a criminal charge or posing an unacceptable risk of harm to children.

Introduction The Queensland College of Teachers have powers under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 (Qld) (the ‘Act’) to immediately suspend a person’s teaching registration or permission to teach. The Queensland College of Teachers must provide notice of the suspension to the teacher to comply with the Act, and usually means that the person will receive a letter by email and by post. The suspension takes effect on the day the notice is given to the teacher. As discussed below, in some cases, there may be concurrent criminal charges or the potential that a person has committed a criminal offence in connection...

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Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Disclosure of an Aviation Security Relevant Offence

Introduction The Civil Aviation Safety Authority regulates, among other things, holders of aviation licenses (such as the different types of pilot licences). The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has regulatory powers under numerous legislation and is considerably more complex than other areas of law. Holders of aviation licenses have disclosure obligations upon being convicted of an ‘aviation security relevant offence’. It is important that if you are a holder of an aviation licence you are not only aware of this obligation but that penalties may apply if you fail to comply with this obligation. This article will explore an aviation licence holder’s obligation to...

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Department of Home Affairs, AusCheck and Disclosure of an Aviation Security Relevant Offence

Introduction The Department of Home Affairs has a branch called ‘AusCheck’ which regulates and monitors the compliance of people who hold an Australian Security Identity Card. This is a complex and technical area of law as there are numerous pieces of legislation which apply. Persons who hold an Australian Security Identity Card have disclosure obligations to AusCheck upon being convicted of an ‘aviation security relevant offence.’ This article will explore an aviation licence holder’s obligation to disclose an aviation security-relevant offence to AusCheck of the Department of Home Affairs. Most holders of an Australian Security Identified Card also hold a licence with Civil...

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Are you a fit and proper person to be admitted to the legal profession?

Introduction A person applying for admission to the legal profession must satisfy the court that they are a ‘fit and proper' person at the time of their admission, as part of the admission process, to be successfully admitted to the legal profession. Generally, whether an applicant is ‘fit and proper' depends on the particular circumstances and facts of each case. This article will provide an overview of the court's role in relation to an application for admission and provide a broad overview of an applicant's duty of candor to the court together with commentary concerning the outcome of a matter where an application...

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Recent Changes to Health Practitioner Regulation Laws

Introduction The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 (Qld), was passed with an amendment on 13 October 2022, which expands AHPRA’s functions and powers to regulate Australian health practitioners. According to AHPRA, the changes will be applied automatically in each state and territory – except in New South Wales and South Australia where those governments will make a regulation to confirm the changes and in Western Australia where a corresponding amendment Bill will go through the WA parliamentary process. Overall, more than 800,000 health practitioners will be affected by the new changes to the legislation.     What are the...

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Consequences of breaching professional boundaries as a health practitioner

Introduction Every health practitioner who is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner’s Agency (‘AHPRA’) are also governed by the board of their respective profession. For example, the Psychology Board of Australia governs psychologists. Each of these boards has its own standards, including ethical standards and code of conduct requirements for health practitioners. Some bodies share the same code of conduct with each other, whilst others have their own code of conduct. A commonality with the codes of conduct across all the bodies which govern the health professions is the concept of ‘professional boundaries’. This article will provide a general overview of what happens...

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What To Do When A Notification Has Been Made To AHPRA About Your Conduct As A Health Practitioner

What are notifications under the National Law? A notification made to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) against a health practitioner is an expression of concern about the health practitioner’s conduct or fitness to practice.   A notification is usually made by members of the public, or in some cases health practitioners are required to make mandatory notifications in specific circumstances. A notification may result in an investigation by AHPRA, which could lead to a finding that the practitioner has engaged in conduct which is unsatisfactory, unprofessional, or in the most serious instance, misconduct.  In these cases, the health practitioner who is...

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