Registration fees for optometry will increase to AU$317 for 2020–2021, limiting the increase to indexation at 3%.
Optometry is one of eight regulated professions to have registration fees increased by up to 3%, the others being dental, medical, medical radiation practice, nursing and midwifery, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy and physiotherapy).
Two National Boards have reduced registration fees (Chinese medicine and chiropractic) and fees for five National Boards (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice, osteopathy, paramedicine, podiatry and psychology) have been frozen to remain the same as last year.
Registration fees fund the work of National Boards in partnership with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) to keep the public safe by:
- Supporting national registration to ensure only qualified and competent health practitioners can practice in Australia,
- Developing evidence-based and practice-tested standards, codes and guidelines,
- Investigating concerns raised about registered health practitioners, and
- Accreditation of programs of study that lead to registration and endorsement.
Regulation of health practitioners in Australia is funded by fees, with no ongoing funding from governments.
This year, all National Boards have supported practitioners through the COVID-19 pandemic by offering a renewal fee payment plan for those experiencing financial hardship. Information about the payment plan can be found on the COVID-19 updates page of the Ahpra website.
Ahpra Chief Executive Officer Martin Fletcher highlighted the significant role of all health practitioners in response to the biggest public health challenge of our lives.
“2020 has shown us all how much we rely on health practitioners to keep us safe. Frontline health practitioners are playing a vital role in treating and containing COVID-19 and we are all sincerely grateful for your commitment, professionalism and for the care you provide,” he said.
“Registration fees fully cover the costs of the National Scheme1 and the work to regulate each of the 16 professions. Ahpra works closely with National Boards to make sure the fees set allow us to carry out our duties to ensure the community has access to a safe health workforce across all registered professions.”
In most cases, the annual fees cover the registration period from 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021. The fees schedule for each profession is published on National Board websites. Any variation to the fees payable by NSW practitioners is announced by the Health Professional Council Authority (HPCA) in NSW and detailed in the published fee schedule.
The Optometry Board of Australia has set registration fees for 2020–2021 to $317. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
For more information visit www.ahpra.gov.au/enquiry.
- The National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme).
