Guidelines for administering scheduled medications by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners and health workers

About the Guidelines

The Guidelines set out the scope of practice, codes of conduct, professional standards, and responsibilities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners (ATSIHPs), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers (ATSIHWs), and authorised prescribers. The Guidelines also explain the key requirements that apply in Victoria relating to:

• standard education requirements
• an understanding of the role of health practitioners and services across diverse settings
• general rules for obtaining, possessing, administering, and supplying medications
• supervision requirements
• prohibition on self-administration and prescribing for personal use
• requirements for the supply, administration, record-keeping, and labelling of medicines
• requirements for handwritten and computer-generated prescriptions, including mandatory prescription components.

The role of ATSIHPs and ATSIHWs in administering scheduled medicines

Registered ATSIHPs and ATSIHWs are authorised under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017 (the Regulations) to obtain, possess, and administer certain scheduled medicines. ATSIHPs are also authorised to supply some scheduled medicines. These activities must be carried out as part of their lawful professional practice and for the medical treatment of patients in their care.

Under the Regulations, registered ATSIHPs may obtain, possess, supply, and administer Schedule 2, 3, 4, and 8 medicines when acting under the written administration or supply instructions of an authorised prescriber. An authorised prescriber may be a:

• registered medical practitioner
• registered dentist
• registered nurse practitioner
• authorised midwife
• authorised optometrist
• authorised podiatrist.

ATSIHWs are authorised to obtain, possess, and administer Schedule 2 and 3 medicines when acting under written administration instructions from an authorised prescriber. The authorised prescriber must be one of the registered health professionals listed.

The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017 set out most of the legal requirements that apply to the handling and use of scheduled medicines.

In addition to complying with the law, ATSIHPs and ATSIHWs must meet professional standards outlined in this guideline, as well as standards set by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

ATSIHPs and ATSIHWs must not obtain, possess, supply (where permitted), or administer Schedule 2, 3, 4, or 8 medicines unless they are satisfied that the treatment is safe, appropriate, lawful, and properly authorised for the patient.