Strengthening regulation of the medical physics workforce

The Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM) has set a strategic goal of achieving inclusion of physicists, scientists and engineers working in medicine in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS). The College has invested significant time and resources developing a draft application that outlines key risks for users of diagnostic and therapeutic services, issues associated with varying levels of training of those in medical physics roles, and the importance of improving regulation in this area of professional practice.

The ACPSEM Board recently met to review the progress of that work alongside a broader review of the organisation’s strategic goals. As part of that review, the Board was presented with an update about the outcomes of the recently completed NRAS Complexity Review and the work currently being undertaken by Health Workforce Taskforce on behalf of Australian health ministers to help guide decisions about where to focus short and medium term activities. Both are outlined briefly below.

Policy context

The Australian government commissioned an Independent Review of the NRAS in mid-2024. The report was completed in 2025 and recently released by the Australian Health Ministers. The full report can be found here. A key recommendation of that review was for governments to review and potentially revise both the risk criteria that guide decisions about access and the initial assessment process.

Australian Health Ministers (HMM) issued a subsequent communique (see here) in September 2025 in response to that review endorsing several key recommendations. Health ministers have:

• Directed HWT to review and revise the risk assessment method and the process for assessing professions for entry to the National Scheme by mid-2026.
• Issued a policy direction to Ahpra to strengthen accountability for accreditation functions.
• Directed Ahpra to take immediate steps to improve complaints processes.

Health Ministers also announced that the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law would be amended to expand the NRAS to include audiology, a process that is expected to be completed in 2030-2031.

Implications for ACPSEM

The decision to review and revise both the risk assessment method, and the process for assessing professions for entry to the National Scheme means that the draft application developed by ACPSEM cannot yet be progressed. The organisation will need to wait until at least mid-2026 to determine how the assessment criteria may have changed and whether this will require re-focusing or re-writing components of the draft application.

While this delays ACPSEM in progressing its case for inclusion, a range of complementary strategies are currently being considered by the Board. These are intended to further strengthen the case for inclusion and explore additional regulatory options that may address some of the biggest risks for the profession.

Further updates will be provided in the coming months as the next phase of work is undertaken.