Professional body Independent Audiologists Australia (IAA) has issued a strong call for audiologists to be registered under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) following recent reports highlighting significant issues in the quality of audiology care in hospitals across multiple states.
The call for regulation comes in the wake of reviews in Queensland and South Australia that revealed concerning lapses in audiology standards, sparking fears that similar problems exist elsewhere in the country. IAA believes that a broader national review would likely expose further shortcomings in the standard of audiology care and is advocating for immediate action to safeguard patients.
IAA has welcomed Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman's support for registering audiologists under AHPRA and is urging other state health ministers to follow suit. The professional body argues that external regulation is essential to preventing future risks to public health and improving the overall quality of care.
Why Audiology Should Be Regulated Under AHPRA
Audiology is one of the few healthcare professions in Australia that AHPRA does not regulate. This gap in oversight, IAA argues, poses a significant risk to public safety, as there are currently no mandatory national standards that audiologists must meet before practising.
“If audiology were regulated under AHPRA, it would bring accountability, transparency, and consistency to the profession, ensuring that patients receive the highest possible standards of care,” said an IAA spokesperson.
AHPRA regulates various health professions, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists, ensuring that all practitioners meet strict standards for education, training, and conduct. Bringing audiologists under this umbrella would align them with other allied health professionals and create a more rigorous framework for managing complaints, handling disciplinary matters, and removing underperforming practitioners.
“Patients need to know that their audiologist is held to the same high standards as other health professionals,” the IAA spokesperson continued. “Without AHPRA regulation, the public is vulnerable to substandard care, and there are limited pathways for addressing incompetence or misconduct.”
A National Crisis in Audiology Care?
The issues identified in Queensland and South Australia have raised alarm bells. Hospitals in these states were found to have delivered care that fell below expected standards, leading to fears that other parts of Australia may face similar problems.
IAA has expressed concern that a national review would likely uncover widespread issues with the quality of audiology services. The organisation argues that introducing AHPRA regulation would act as a preventive measure, helping to raise standards and avoid the recurrence of such problems in the future.
“The fact that these issues are coming to light is saddening but not surprising,” said the IAA spokesperson. “This is why we need immediate action. The lack of regulation means these problems have been allowed to fester without adequate oversight.”
Ensuring Public Safety and Trust
The push for regulation also comes when hearing health is increasingly recognised as a critical issue, particularly among children and Australia's ageing population. Early intervention in hearing issues can prevent further health complications, including cognitive decline, social isolation, and developmental delays in children. Without proper regulation, there are fears that vulnerable populations are not receiving the care they need.
“AHPRA registration would give the public greater confidence in audiology,” IAA noted. “It would ensure that audiologists are held to the highest standards and that those who fail to meet these standards can be held accountable. This is vital to protecting patients and maintaining trust in the healthcare system.”
A Path Forward
While Queensland's Health Minister has supported the move, IAA is now calling on health ministers across Australia to take similar action. The organisation believes that only a nationwide effort to regulate the profession will bring about the necessary changes to protect the public and raise standards across the board.
“For too long, audiology has operated without the kind of oversight other health professions have in place,” the IAA spokesperson said. “It's time for that to change.”
As Australia grapples with an ageing population and the increasing importance of early hearing intervention, the push for AHPRA regulation of audiologists is gaining momentum. For patients, such regulation would offer peace of mind that highly trained and accountable professionals are managing their hearing health. This move could have lasting benefits for the nation's healthcare system.
