Regulation of Chinese medicine practitioners in Australia 2024: Ensuring public safety and professional standards

In this article, we present a comprehensive overview of the regulatory landscape governing Chinese medicinal practices in Australia, in which we describe the regulations for Chinese medicine practitioners in Australia, as of 2024, focusing in particular on the Title Protection model under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. Central to this discussion are the core roles of the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (the Board) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) in ensuring public safety by guaranteeing that practitioners are appropriately qualified and suitable for registration. We also examine the structure and demographics of the Chinese medicine workforce in Australia and present details of the required registration process for practitioners. In addition, the article outlines specific requirements for registration, including the standards set by the Board for initial and ongoing registration, which are administered with the support of Ahpra under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme. Furthermore, we present details regarding the approved qualifications, the rigorous assessment process for overseas qualifications, and the important role of regulatory examinations designed to uphold the high standards expected of practitioners, thereby ensuring they have acquired the professional competencies required by the Australian healthcare system. This overview offers valuable insights for both current and prospective practitioners of Chinese medicine in Australia.