Professions Australia - A national organisation of professional associations

<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> <br><a href = "thecouncil.html">About Professions Australia</a><br> <a href = "branches.html">Branches & NSWCOP</a><br> <a href = "policymaterial.html">Policy Material</a><br> <a href = "knowledgenetwork.html">Knowledge Network</a><br> <a href = "alertsandnews.html">Alerts and Newsletters</a><br> <a href = "membership.html">Membership Information</a><br> <a href = "office.html">Office & Contacts</a><br> <a href = "sitesearch.html">Search</a><br> <a href = "Memberlogin.html">Member Login</a><br> <a href = "memberlogout.html">Logout</a><br> <a href = "Homepage.html">Home</a><br> <a href = "Constitution.html">Constitution</a><br> <a href = "YoungProf.html">Young Professionals</a><br> <a href = "ethicsresource.html">Ethics Resource Centre</a><br> <a href = "history.html">History</a><br> <a href = "visionrole.html">Vision and Role</a><br> <a href = "Board.html">Board</a><br> <a href = "committees.html">Committees</a><br> <a href = "mediaspeeches.html">Media, Speeches</a><br> <a href = "award.html">Professional of the Year Award</a><br> <a href = "archives.html">Archives</a><br> <a href = "NSWCOP.html">NSWCOP</a><br> <a href = "victoria.html">Victoria</a><br> <a href = "Queensland.html">Queensland</a><br> <a href = "wa.html">Western Australia</a><br> <a href = "sa.html">South Australia</a><br> <a href = "tasmania.html">Tasmania</a><br> <a href = "act.html">ACT</a><br> <a href = "competitionpolicy.html">Competition Policy</a><br> <a href = "insurance.html">Insurance</a><br> <a href = "highereducation.html">Higher Education</a><br> <a href = "other.html">Other</a><br> <a href = "knetsample.html">Knowledge Base Sample</a><br> <a href = "kbase.html">Knowledge Base</a><br> <a href = "kpeople.html">Knowledge People</a><br> <a href = "ktalk.html">Knowledge Talk</a><br> <a href = "submitkbase.html">Submit to Knowledge Base</a><br> <a href = "submitkpeople.html">Submit to Knowledge People</a><br> <a href = "alertssample.html">Alerts and News Sample</a><br> <a href = "alerts.html">Alerts</a><br> <a href = "newsletters.html">Newsletters</a><br> <a href = "subscription.html">Alerts and News Subscription</a><br> <a href = "criteria.html">Criteria</a><br> <a href = "Rates.html">Membership Rates</a><br> <a href = "member.html">Member Associations</a><br> <a href = "KBManual.html">Knowledge Base Manual</a><br> <a href = "defineprofession.html">Definition of a Profession</a><br> <a href = "KBWP.html">Knowledge Base White Papers</a><br> <a href = "ValueStatement.html">Value Statement</a><br> <a href = "Apply.html">Apply to join</a><br> <a href = "Constitutioncontinue.html">Constitution continued</a><br> <a href = "ParticReportsNov2003.html">Participant reports Roundtable Nov 2003</a><br> <a href = "latestnewsletter.html">Latest Newsletter</a><br> <a href = "bankruptcy.html">Bankruptcy legislation</a><br> <a href = "whatsnew.html">What's New</a><br> <a href = "ethicsplan.html">Ethics Action Plan</a><br> <a href = "definitionprofession.html">Definition of a Profession</a><br> <a href = "ethicscodes.html">Codes of Ethics</a><br> <a href = "ethicseducation.html">Ethics Education</a><br> <a href = "ethicsforum.html">Ethics Forum</a><br> <a href = "relatedsites.html">Related Sites</a><br> <a href = "ethicsreading.html">Reading</a><br> <a href = "ethicscasestudies.html">Ethics Case Studies</a><br> <a href = "ethicsresearch.html">Ethics Research</a><br> <a href = "CPSS.html">Competition Policy Submission (1998)</a><br> <a href = "SERC.html">Submission to Economics References Committee (May 2002)</a><br> <a href = "SSWSTTTR.html">Structured Settlements - Why support them through tax reform (May 2001)</a><br> <a href = "STTRLN.html">Submission to the Review of the Law of Negligence (August 2002)</a><br> <a href = "MRPWBI.html">Media Release: Professions want broader indemnity agenda (June 2002)</a><br> <a href = "PORM.html">Policy on Risk Management (November 1997)</a><br> <a href = "PR2001.html">AGM 2001 Presidents Address</a><br> <a href = "AFGFA.html">Professional Liability - A fair go for all - 1998</a><br> <a href = "TPPIAC.html">The Professions, Public Interest and Competition Policy (2000)</a><br> <a href = "APSUT.html">Australia's Professional Services under threat 1997</a><br> <a href = "NCPP.html">National Competition policy & the professions 1997</a><br> <a href = "DWRME.html">Dealing with risk. Managing expectations 1996</a><br> <a href = "GM2002.html">GM 2002 Presidents Speech</a><br> <a href = "AGM2002.html">AGM 2002 Presidents Address</a><br> <a href = "MediaRelease25Nov.html">Ipp Media Release</a><br> <a href = "MediaReleaseNov02.html">Professional Indemnity Insurance Crisis - media Release</a><br> <a href = "AGM1999.html">AGM President Address 1999</a><br> <a href = "SCAGMINCO.html">Submission to SCAG-MINCO 9 Dec 2002</a><br> <a href = "JCCV.html">John Castles CV</a><br> <a href = "BGCV.html">Barry Grear CV</a><br> <a href = "DTCV.html">David Thomson CV</a><br> <a href = "VICletter.html">Victorian market failure in Professional Indemnity insurance</a><br> <a href = "CVSTP.html">Coonan's view a shock to professionals</a><br> <a href = "PBULC.html">Peak body urges liability cap</a><br> <a href = "LDRA.html">Liability decision rouses anger</a><br> <a href = "PLNHG.html">Proportionate liability is not Holy Grail</a><br> <a href = "GPAS.html">Government position appears to be shifting</a><br> <a href = "pumta.html">Professions urge ministers to act now</a><br> <a href = "tpauc.html">TPA 'undermines capping'</a><br> <a href = "mtstmt.html">Market 'too small and too much trouble'</a><br> <a href = "pimfnps.html">PI market failure needs a package solution</a><br> <a href = "cfncoll.html">Call for national cap on lawyers' liability</a><br> <a href = "POPSR.html">Policy on Professional Self-Regulation (1990)</a><br> <a href = "RDEWL.html">Role and Duties of an Expert Witness in Litigation (1998)</a><br> <a href = "107.html">Alert No 107 (29 May 03)</a><br> <a href = "1071.html">Alert No 107 Attach 0ne</a><br> <a href = "1072.html">Alert No 107 Attach Two</a><br> <a href = "1073.html">Alert No 107 Attach three- Implementation paper</a><br> <a href = "1074.html">Alert No 107 Attach Four</a><br> <a href = "Treasurer.html">Paul Meiklejohn</a><br> <a href = "Boardmemberone.html">Monica Persson</a><br> <a href = "nswcopcontacts.html">Contacts</a><br> <a href = "nswcopobjectives.html">Objectives</a><br> <a href = "nswcoppsl.html">Professional Standards Legislation</a><br> <a href = "nswcopevents.html">Events</a><br> <a href = "nswcopnletters.html">NSWCOP Newsletters</a><br> <a href = "SeptHigherEd.html">Nelson reforms miss the main point, say professions</a><br> <a href = "PSCJune03Seminar.html">NSW PSC June Seminar</a><br> <a href = "VicCPAJuly03Seminar.html">Vic CPA professional indemnity seminar, 28 July 2003</a><br> <a href = "BrisbaneHandPI.html">John Hand Brisbane PI Paper, 30 July 2003</a><br> <a href = "ICAABrisbanePaper.html">Brisbane ICAA PI paper</a><br> <a href = "PolCampaignsArticle.html">Professions Australia learns lessons on political campaigns</a><br> <a href = "AnaGovan.html">Ana Govan (information technology)</a><br> <a href = "BrigetteHall.html">Brigette Hall (minerals)</a><br> <a href = "NikkiBrennan.html">Nikki Brennan (architecture)</a><br> <a href = "NinaQuinn.html">Nina Quinn (audiology)</a><br> <a href = "LukeFraser.html">Luke Fraser (construction)</a><br> <a href = "PhilippaThomson.html">Philippa Thomson (dentistry)</a><br> <a href = "KateWest.html">Kate West (engineering)</a><br> <a href = "profcomppublic.html">Professionalism, competition policy and the public interest: Issues paper (2003)</a><br> <a href = "SenateTPAbriefing.html">Senate TPA inquiry briefing notes March 2004</a><br> <a href = "ICActReview.html">Insurance Contracts Act review key documents</a><br> <a href = "ACCCinsurancereviews.html">ACCC insurance market pricing reviews</a><br> <a href = "SenatorCoonanwebsite.html">Senator Coonan website</a><br> <a href = "InsuranceCouncil.html">Insurance Council website</a><br> <a href = "CoonanJuly2003letter.html">Letter to Coonan on timing July 2003</a><br> <a href = "MinletterMar2004.html">Letter to Ministers on timing March 2004</a><br> <a href = "MinContOutMar2004ltr.html">Letter to Ministers against contracting out (March 2004)</a><br> <a href = "12March2004update.html">Update 12 March 2004</a><br> <a href = "TPAPSLinquiry.html">Senate Committee inquiry into Trade Practices Act amendments</a><br> <a href = "AGM2003Pres.html">AGM 2003 Presidents Address</a><br> <a href = "OMNov2003Pres.html">Ordinary Meeting November 2003 Presidents Address</a><br> <a href = "HobartMediaFeb2004.html">Comments on Hobart Insurance Ministers meeting Feb 2004</a><br> <a href = "Feb2004PISurveys.html">February 2004 professional indemnity surveys</a><br> <a href = "HigherEdltrs25Sep03.html">Higher Education letters 25 Sep 2003</a><br> <a href = "HigherEdmed8Oct2003.html">Higher Ed media 8 October 2003</a><br> <a href = "HigherEdltr6Nov03.html">Higher Ed letter 6 Nov 2003</a><br> <a href = "HigherEdltrs26Nov03.html">Higher Ed letters 26 Nov 2003</a><br> <a href = "HigherEdltr30Sep03.html">Higher Ed letter 30 September 03</a><br> <a href = "HigherEdAFR13Oct03.html">Higher Education AFR Op Ed piece 13 October 03</a><br> <a href = "pasub.html">National Competition Policy Review - PA Submission (2004)</a><br> <a href = "profoftheyear.html">Announcement of 2004 Professional of the Year</a><br> <a href = "membercodes.html">Examples of Member Codes</a><br> <a href = "codeprinciples.html">Code Principles</a><br> <br><B>Policy on Professional Self-Regulation</B> <BLOCKQUOTE ALIGN="CENTER">The Australian Council of Professions endorses the proposal by the NSW Government that the limitations of liability on time and money provided under the legislation be available to the defendants of an action in which the "Professional of Record" in the matter is listed on an approved register. </BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE>The NSW Government has defined a 'Professional of Record" as the professional who authorised the documents or actions related to the matter in contention in an action within the ambit of the legislation. The Australian Council of Professions endorses the incorporation of this definition in the legislative framework, in which an "Approved Register" is defined as: </BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE>(a) one in which membership is voluntary and is limited to professionals who </BLOCKQUOTE> <OL type=i> <OL type=i> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>have defined minimum qualifications in both tertiary education and experience such that the holders can operate as professionals independently within their field of competence; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>adhere to a Code of Ethics (the NSW Government's special requirements for risk management and continuing professional development are an inherent part of ethical practice required by the Code); and </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>are covered by professional indemnity insurance, either directly or indirectly, to the level required by the legislation; and </LI></BLOCKQUOTE></OL></OL> <BLOCKQUOTE>(b) one which provides for </BLOCKQUOTE> <OL type=i> <OL type=i> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>eligibility competently assessed using established processes against well defined criteria for tertiary education standards, professional experience and continuing professional development; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>access by the public to a register of current members and ability to lodge complaints; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>disciplinary action for breaches of the Code of Ethics; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>the right of appeal by professionals judged ineligible for entry to the scheme or judged liable for disciplinary action; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>access to a mediator or arbitrator, nominated by the President of the Professional Association, to assist in the resolution of disputes; and </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>scheme to be run by a "Registration Board" administered by the Professional Association and able to draw on the full range of Professional Association experience and expertise. </LI></BLOCKQUOTE></OL></OL> <BLOCKQUOTE>The Australian Council of Professions further proposes that the following aspects be included in the processes and documentation for a register to be submitted for approval under any legislation: </BLOCKQUOTE> <OL type=i> <OL type=i> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>definition of standards of qualification (both academic and experience) for admission to the register; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>processes for accreditation of educational programs (both Australian and overseas) which satisfy the academic qualification requirement; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>processes for assessment of applicants' conformance to the qualification requirement; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>process for appeal by applicants who have been judged ineligible for entry to the register; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>definition of standards to be achieved in continuing professional development; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>processes for assessing conformance of persons on the register to the professional development standards (quality and quantity factors); </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>defined Code of Ethics; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>defined requirements for professional indemnity insurance; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>process for issuing of annual practising certificates on payment of the annual fee; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>disciplinary processes for breaches of conditions of register; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>process for appeal by persons subject to disciplinary actions; </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>processes for mediation and arbitration in disputes; and </LI></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <LI>administrative processes and fee structure for the register. </LI></BLOCKQUOTE></OL></OL> <BLOCKQUOTE>The Australian Council of Professions expects that, as a result of this practice, registration by the Professions would supersede other registration procedures so that costs on the individual professional would largely be offset. </BLOCKQUOTE><B><I> <BLOCKQUOTE>[ Adopted, General Meeting, 5 November 1990 ] </BLOCKQUOTE></B></I> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=156 border=0> <TR> <TD vAlign=center></TD></TR></TABLE> <P> </P> </body>