Strategic Plan 2023 – 2025
The Forum Strategic Plan 2023-2025 is focused toward improvements in accreditation practices through the Forum’s influence in the development of accreditation processes under the National law.
View our Strategic PlanLeadership
The Forum members elect the Chair and Deputy Chair from among the members. Office bearers, previous Chairs and Deputy Chairs have been drawn from across the accreditation authorities.
Current leadership
Dr Terry Crisp
HPAC Forum Chair
(1 January 2024 – current)
Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia
Mr Anton Barnett-Harris
HPAC Forum Deputy Chair
(1 January 2024 – current)
Australian Physiotherapy Council
Professor Alex Gentle
HPAC Forum Accreditation Managers Sub-Committee Chair
(October 2023 – current)
Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand
Previous leadership
Chair
Ms Narelle Mills
Australian Dental Council
(1 July 2021 – January 2024)
Ms Bronwyn Clark
Australian Pharmacy Council
(December 2017 – July 2021)
Professor Mike Morgan
Australian Dental Council
(December 2014 – December 2017)
Dr Nicholas Voudouris
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
(December 2012 – December 2014)
Professor Richard Smallwood AO
Australian Medical Council
(April 2011 – December 2012)
Professor Joan McMeeken
Australian Physiotherapy Council
(September 2008 – April 2011)
Dr Joanna Flynn
Australian Medical Council
(November 2007 – September 2008)
Deputy Chair
Professor Brian Jolly
Medical Chinese Accreditation Committee
(1 July 2021 – 31 December 2023)
Mr Michael Shobbrook AM
Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia
(December 2017 – July 2021)
Ms Theanne Walters
Australian Medical Council
(December 2014 – December 2017)
Ms Lyn LeBlanc
Australian Dental Council
(February 2013 – December 2014)
Dr Nicholas Voudouris
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
(July 2012 – December 2012)
Dr Robert Broadbent
Australian Dental Council
(March 2011 – July 2012)
Dr Susan Gaffney
Australian Dental Council
(August 2010 – March 2011)
Emeritus Professor Gina Geffen AM
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
(September 2008 – August 2010)
Governance and coalition
The Inaugural Meeting of the Forum was hosted by the Australian Medical Council in November 2007 when the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) had begun planning for an Intergovernmental Agreement on a national registration and accreditation scheme moving from state and territory-based to national registration of practitioners requiring national accreditation systems for the regulated health professions.
The first meeting included the established and developing accreditation authorities for the nine professions initially proposed for inclusion in the Scheme. The meeting resulted in agreement to work together to ensure the proposed national registration and accreditation scheme was underpinned by best practice principles for accreditation, and would support high quality health profession education and training. Members agreed to support each other by sharing accreditation practices. From this meeting, a shared website showing the work of the accreditation authorities was agreed, The first meeting also considered a joint statement of national principles for accreditation for the health professions councils, and this document was finalised at the second meeting and shared with the taskforce implementing the National Scheme.
The Forum meets 5 times per year.
View our Terms of referenceKey dates in the Forums development
2021-22
- August 2021 – Ahpra establishes accreditation committee under Ministerial policy directive, with Forum Chair and Deputy Chair as members
- October 2021 – Forum, Universities Australia, National Alliance of Self Registering Health Professions joint workshops on COVID-19 learnings
- November 2021 – Forum members agree to joint approach to Cultural Safety Training for accreditation contributors
2019-20
- May & July 2019 – New accreditation committees, Paramedicine and Podiatry join the Forum
- February 2020 – Ministers’ response to the Independent Accreditation System Review Final Report released
- From March 2020 – Forum members collaborate to share responses to COVID-19 and to support education providers response
2017-18
- March 2017 – Three accreditation authorities that are committees of National Boards join the Forum
- May 2017 – Name changed to Health Professions Accreditation Collaborative Forum
- April-June 2018 – All accreditation authorities undergo review of assignment to their roles by their national boards
- October 2018 – Accreditation Systems Review report released
- November 2018 – Memorandum of Understanding with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
2014-16
- April 2014 – Independent Review of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme, report released August 2015
- October 2014 – Forum Accreditation Managers’ Subcommittee established
- September – October 2016 – Accreditation Systems Review begins, review team and Chair of UK Health & Care Professions Council attend Forum accreditation workshop
2012-13
- June 2012 – Forum proposes process for review of accreditation authorities’ work and their assignment to their roles by national boards
- August-November 2012 – All accreditation authorities undergo review of assignment
2010-11
- July 2010 – National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) begins
- February 2011 – Joint meeting Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), National Boards and Forum representatives leads to establishment of Accreditation Liaison Group (ALG) in 2012. ALG meets quarterly with a Forum co-chair
- August 2011 – Forum endorses ALG-developed document Accreditation under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, statement of expectations, and Quality Framework for Accreditation Functions
2007-09
- November 2007 – First meeting of health profession accreditation authorities leads to the Health Professions Accreditation Councils’ Forum. Members are the external entities appointment as accreditation authorities under National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS)
- March 2008 – Council of Australian Governments signs Intergovernmental Agreement for NRAS for health professions