As of July 2020, the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers - a piece of legislation that aims to protect the public by enforcing standards of health care conduct - has not yet been enacted in Western Australia. This is despite the national Final Report being released in 2015 [1] and the last consultation in WA being held in 2018 [2]. As confirmed by an employee of HaDSCO (Health and Disability Services Complaints Office), the Code requires legislative change to go ahead.

The lack of National Code enforcement here leaves the members of the Western Australian public vulnerable to poor health care practises from unregistered health professionals who may abuse their power or harm their patients through incompetence. This can be seen with the recent situation of Tyson Vacher, a 23 year old Perth man who masqueraded as a psychologist with 10 years experience who claims he is not ruling out working as a mental health counsellor in the future. [3]

As stated by the COAG Health Council (CHC): “The purpose of the National Code, [...] is to protect the public by setting minimum standards of conduct and practice for all unregistered health care workers who provide a health service. It will set national standards against which disciplinary action can be taken and if necessary a prohibition order issued, in circumstances where a health care worker’s continued practice presents a serious risk to public health and safety.

The vast majority of health care workers practice in a safe, competent and ethical manner. However there is a small proportion who present a serious risk to the public because they are incompetent or impaired, or engage in exploitative, predatory or illegal conduct such that if they were a registered health practitioner, their registration would be cancelled and their right to practice withdrawn.” [4]

Some of the unregistered health care workers that would be included in this code are herbalists, counsellors and psychotherapists, massage therapists, alternative medicine practitioners, dental technicians and assistants, speech pathologists, social workers, dietitians, and pharmacy assistants. [5]

The states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia have all introduced a Code of Conduct - Western Australia is yet to implement the code. In doing so, the state is putting some of our most vulnerable people at risk, especially in the mental health sector.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a time where people will need to rely on well trained mental health professionals more than they do now. Within those who access these unregulated services are potentially vulnerable people experiencing the most difficult times of their lives. It is urgent that we act on this issue as soon as possible to prevent any further harm, such as to those who were victims of Mr. Vacher’s psychology scam. 

Sign and share this petition now to call on the State Government to enact the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers to ensure the safety of those seeking health care.

More info: https://www.coaghealthcouncil.gov.au/NationalCodeOfConductForHealthCareWorkers

https://www.hadsco.wa.gov.au/codeofconduct/index.cfm

https://www.pacfa.org.au/practitioner-resources/government-codes-of-conduct/

https://health.act.gov.au/about-our-health-system/consumer-involvement/community-consultation/national-code-conduct-health

https://health.act.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-12/Consulation%20Paper%20-%20National%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20for%20Health%20Care%20Workers.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0Sgs_gAn6bpMTnQyHMVB3jHTq0259Ox9tBSPzhlw1ombSkUSPaubb0NW0

References:
[1] COAG Health Council. A National Code Of Conduct For Health Care Workers. Victorian Department of Health; 2015:1.

[2] Government Codes of Conduct. PACFA. https://www.pacfa.org.au/practitioner-resources/government-codes-of-conduct/ Published 2020. Accessed June 24, 2020.

[3] 9 News. Fake WA Psychologist Fined.; 2020. https://www.9news.com.au/videos/national/fake-wa-psychologist-fined/ckbt8cw4i00130gqcmwvcx46w Accessed June 24, 2020.

[4] National Code of Conduct for health care workers. Coaghealthcouncil.gov.au. https://www.coaghealthcouncil.gov.au/NationalCodeOfConductForHealthCareWorkers Published 2020. Accessed June 24, 2020.

[5] Proposed National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers | Health. Health.act.gov.au. https://health.act.gov.au/about-our-health-system/consumer-involvement/community-consultation/national-code-conduct-health Published 2020. Accessed June 24, 2020.