State
Key State Acts include
- Health Care Act 2008
- Health & Community Services Complaints Act 2004
- Medical Practice Act 2004 There are also similar Acts covering the professions of Chiropractic & Osteopathy, Dental, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy Podiatry, Psychology, Nursing & Midwifery, Occupational therapy and Optometry
- Mental Health Act 1993 This Act is being reviewed
- Guardianship and Administration Act 1993
- Public and Environmental Health Act 1987
- Carers Recognition Act 2005
- Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Act 1995
All State Legislation is available online at www.legislation.sa.gov.au
Commonwealth
Key Commonwealth Acts
- Aged or Disabled Persons Care Act 1954
- Aged Care Act 1997
- World Health Organization Act 1947
- National Health Act 1953 (covers nursing homes and pharmaceutical benefits
- Home and Community Care Act 1988
- Private Health Insurance Act 2007
- Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 ( currently under review)
- Cancer Act 2006
- Medicare Australia Act 1973
All Commonwealth legislation is best accessed online via www.comlaw.gov.au
Policies
A range of health policy reform discussion papers are currently available:
For the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission Interim Report or the Brief Overview and Summary of the Report see the Commissions’ website
The National Preventative Health Taskforce Discussion paper “Australia the Healthiest Country by 2020” plus three technical papers are available here
The Department of Health and Ageing “Towards a National Primary Healthcare Strategy: A Discussion paper from the Australian Government “ is available here
National discussion papers are also out now on Men’s’ and Women’s’ Health Policy and can be viewed here
