The Optometry Board of Australia (OBA) has ended its two-year freeze on registration fees and set a 2.5% increase to align with indexation.
A new annual renewal fee of $308 – $8 more than last year – has been applied as of 16 September, and covers the registration period for most practitioners from 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.
OBA is one of 11 national boards to increase fees this year, with some announcing increases as high as 3% while four rained frozen.
It comes after optometrists enjoyed a consistent fee of $300, which was first imposed in 2016-17 and frozen for two years. Prior to that, the sector saw consecutive price drops from a high of $415 in 2012-13.
Indexation increases of 3% – the highest possible rate this year – applied to members of the Medical Board of Australia, whose fees rose to $787, as well as the Medical Radiation Practice Board ($191), the Nursing and Midwifery Board ($175) and the Pharmacy Board ($408).
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) CEO Mr Martin Fletcher said the 2019-2020 fees were in response to the increased demand on the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme.
“With over 744,000 practitioners registered and a significant increase in notifications, we work with each national board to set fees that allow us to meet the expectations of the public and practitioners,” he said.
“Registration fees fully cover all costs involved in regulating each of the 16 professions included in the National Scheme. AHPRA works closely with National Boards to make sure the fees set allow us to carry out our duties and together protect the public.”
Registration fees are published annually and fund the work of National Boards in partnership with AHPRA to keep the public safe by:
- Supporting national registration to ensure only qualified, competent health practitioners can practise in Australia.
- Developing evidence-based and practice-tested standards, codes and guidelines.
- Investigating concerns raised about registered health practitioners.
- Approving accredited programs of study that lead to registration and endorsement.
The fees schedule for each profession is published on National Board websites, including the fee arrangements for practitioners whose principal place of practice is New South Wales (NSW).
Any variation to the fees payable by NSW practitioners is announced by the Health Professional Council Authority in NSW and detailed in the published fee schedule.Regulation of health practitioners in Australia is entirely funded by fees from registered practitioners, with no funding from governments.
