Proposed reform options in major primary care scope of practice review

Media release

17 April 2024

The Australasian College of Paramedicine (the College) has welcomed the release of Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce Scope of Practice Review Issues Paper 2 which examines a range of challenges facing primary care health professionals working to full scope of practice and proposes a series of reforms that would support paramedics in primary care.

College CEO John Bruning said that the paper acknowledged the positive impact that some paramedics are already having in primary health clinics, particularly in rural and remote communities, while also recognising that legislation, regulation and policy barriers were preventing paramedics from being more broadly utilised in primary care across the country.

“Tackling nation-wide primary care reform must be done in an inclusive and collaborative way to ensure the challenges are addressed and that we build an interprofessional sustainable primary health workforce where all professions work to their full scope of practice.”

The paper outlines reform options which fall under three key themes:

• Workforce design, development and planning,

• Legislation and regulation, and

• Funding and payment policy

“The College will continue to work with the government and independent review panel led my Professor Mark Cormack throughout the consultation process and beyond, as we strive to ensure paramedics are recognised for their capabilities and empowered to utilise their skills in primary care settings for the benefit of improved healthcare for all Australians,” said Mr Bruning.

As the peak body representing and supporting paramedics and paramedic students, we strongly advocate for a multidisciplinary team-based approach to primary care in all communities across Australasia.

Read Issue Paper 2: Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce Scope of Practice Review Issues Paper 2

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