Summary:
Audiology Australia welcomes the federal government’s decision to register audiology under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS), marking a major milestone in strengthening professional standards and public protection.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NRAS registration will provide title protection, consistent national standards, and stronger safeguards for patients.
  • The decision follows decades of advocacy by Audiology Australia and broad support from its members.
  • While implementation details remain unclear, Audiology Australia will collaborate with government to ensure a smooth transition.

Audiology Australia welcomed the announcement at the Health Ministers Meeting in September that audiology will be registered under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS), and therefore Ahpra, the operational agency that administers NRAS.

The long-awaited decision, which has been broadly supported by Audiology Australia members, is a significant step toward strengthening the reputation of the profession, according to the organization.

Reflecting decades of advocacy from Audiology Australia, registration under NRAS will deliver important outcomes, including title protection, stronger safeguards for the public, and consistent standards across both the public and private sectors, says Audiology Australia CEO Leanne Emerson.

“This is a fantastic development in our ongoing efforts to heightened recognition of the important role that audiologists play to treat Australians with hearing and balance concerns and to safeguard the Australian public,” says Ms Emerson. “We would like to recognize the hard work of members and others within the sector who provided feedback on the various consultations and advocated for the profession.”

Audiology Australia confirmed that no further details have been provided at this stage, and notes that the release of the NRAS Complexity Review in July and the Health Ministers Meeting’s recommendation to undertake further policy work make it unclear how this decision will be implemented. However, the organization is committed to a smooth transition when updates become available.

“Audiology Australia will work closely with government and policymakers to ensure the model delivers the outcomes that audiologists and the community expect,” says Ms Emerson.