The Department of Health and the Health and Community Services Complaints Commission are conducting public consultation regarding the implementation of the National Code of Conduct for health care workers in the Northern Territory.
The National Code sets out the standards of professional behaviour the community ought to expect from health care workers and providers and is designed to strengthen protections for public health and safety.
This consultation provides an opportunity for the community and stakeholders to have a say in how the National Code of Conduct could work in the Northern Territory.
The National Code of Conduct is currently in place in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, with other states in various stages of implementation.
The National Code of Conduct has been approved by Australian Health Ministers for implementation by states and territories.
Specifically the consultation will seek people’s views on:
What workers should be covered by the Code
What services are covered by the Code
Prohibition orders
Investigation powers under the Health and Community Services Complaints Act
Feedback is sought from workers in the health, aged care and disability sectors, allied health practitioners, alternative and complementary medicine practitioners and as well as service providers, consumer groups, peak organisations and all other interested members of the public.
Consultation forums commenced today in Katherine with further forums to be held in Darwin and Alice Springs and a videoconference/teleconference forum for individuals unable to attend in regional centres.
The Information Paper has been released together with a series of feedback questions and are available on the Department of Health website at health.nt.gov.au.
Responses to the feedback questions can be provided until Saturday 20 January 2018.
Details of consultation forums are as follows:
Darwin
10:00am – 12:00pm
7 December 2017
Royal Darwin Hospital Auditorium
Alice Springs
10:00am – 12:00pm
11 December 2017
R.E.D Centre Building Auditorium
Alice Springs Hospital
Videoconference / teleconference
10.00am – 12.00pm
13 December 2017
Contact PublicConsultNCOC.DoH@nt.gov.au or 08 8922 7247 to register your attendance or obtain more information.
Media Contact: 8999 2818 or 0427 596 954