National Professional Standards Panel

The National Professional Standards Panel (NPSP) is appointed by and accountable to the APA Board of Directors.

Current Panel members are  Ian Edwards (Chair), Clare Delany, Neil Sherburn, Naomi Haensel, Margaret Grant and Annabel Briggs.

The primary role of the NPSP is to:

• educate, encourage and assist members to uphold standards of professional conduct and to meet those ethical and professional obligations outlined in the APA Code of Conduct, to achieve standards of practice which meet the expectations of the membership, the profession and the community; and
  
• manage complaints made against members of the Association according to procedures prescribed in the Regulations and the Associations Complaints Management Procedures; and
  
• refer complaints according to procedures prescribed in the Regulations and the Association’s Complaints Management Procedures to other jurisdictions which have statutory authority to investigate complaints against registered physiotherapists.

• Monitor members’ compliance with the APA Constitution and the APA Code of Conduct.
  
• Consider decisions made by statutory authorities involving rulings of unprofessional conduct, professional misconduct or criminal convictions made against an APA member to determine if the conduct of the member constitutes a breach of the APA Constitution or the APA Code of Conduct and, if so, to determine a suitable penalty or course of action for the member involved.
  
• Investigate alleged breaches of the APA Constitution or APA Code of Conduct which are not the subject of investigation by any statutory authority and make a finding and related determination as to any penalty or required course of action for the member involved.
  
• Report on the findings and determinations of disciplinary proceedings brought by the National Professional Standards Panel where members are found to have breached the APA Constitution or Code of Conduct.
  
• Refer complaints regarding members which are received by the APA and which fall within the jurisdiction of one or more statutory authorities back to complainants for referral by them to such statutory authorities at their discretion.
  
• Review declarations on behalf of the APA Board made by members applying to renew their annual membership and by individuals applying to join or rejoin the APA, and make recommendations to the Board as required.
  
• Review applications on behalf of the APA Board for readmission to the APA made by individuals previously suspended or removed from the Register of Members and make recommendations to the Board as required.
  
• Oversee remedial professional development and mentoring programs.
  
• Provide guidance and support to Branch managers and nominated Branch members undertaking local advisory roles on professional standards.
  
• Provide information or advice on professional standards to members, registration boards, statutory bodies and other organisations or persons as reasonably required upon request.
  
• Seek information on rulings of unprofessional conduct, trends in external complaints handled by registration boards and health services commissioners, and legislative changes affecting the practice of physiotherapy.
  
• Identify education initiatives for APA members on professional and ethical matters.

If you would like to highlight an issue to the attention of the National Professional Standards Panel, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .