Trends in Regulation of Mental Health Practitioners

摘要

Regulation of mental health professionals in Australia and New Zealand, along with the regulation of all health practitioners, is in the process of substantial transition. With trust as the cornerstone for governance of the health professionals, the likelihood is a reorientation toward investigations into 'performance' as against 'conduct'. However, this poses particular challenges for assessment of psychiatrists' and psychologists' performance. Entitlement to registration is likely to shift conceptually toward a model involving revalidation and recertification by reference to ongoing fitness to practise, demonstration of relevant personal attributes, and maintenance of adequate skills and health. In Australia, national registration and regulation are on the agenda. Lay participation in regulation is increasing and community and regulatory tolerance for exploitative or predatory conduct by mental health professionals is on the wane. The ambit of regulation is broadening with forensic work by practitioners already incorporated and signs that the conduct of unregistered and deregistered practitioners will soon be subject to a form of regulatory intervention.