After regulation 6 of the Principal Regulations , the following regulations are inserted in Part 2:

6A.     Authorised health professionals

(1)  For the purposes of paragraph (a) of the definition of authorised health professional in section 3 of the Act, the following classes of health professionals are prescribed:

(a) optometrists whose registration is endorsed under section 94 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Tasmania);

(b) podiatric surgeons whose registration is endorsed under section 94 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Tasmania);

(c) podiatrists whose registration is endorsed under section 94 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Tasmania).

(2)  For the purposes of section 25C of the Act –

(a) the Optometry Board of Australia is prescribed as the authorised body for optometrists; and

(b) the Podiatry Board of Australia is prescribed as the authorised body for podiatric surgeons and podiatrists.

(3)  Subject to these regulations, an optometrist, podiatric surgeon or podiatrist, in the lawful practice of his or her profession may only possess, sell, supply or prescribe a scheduled substance if he or she is acting in accordance with an endorsement on his or her registration under section 94 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Tasmania).

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.

6B.     Administration of listed substances by optometrists

(1)  In this regulation –

optometry guidelines means the Guidelines for use of scheduled medicines published by the Optometry Board of Australia, as amended from time to time.

(2)  Optometrists, in the lawful practice of the profession of optometry, may administer a substance listed in the optometry guidelines as being a scheduled medicine approved by the Optometry Board of Australia for administration by optometrists holding general registration.

6C.     Administration of listed substances by podiatrists

Podiatrists in the lawful practice of the profession of podiatry may administer local anaesthetics included in Schedule 4 of the Poisons List.

6D.     Prescribed substances for certain first-aid services

For the purposes of the definition of prescribed substance in section 18A of the Act, the following substances are prescribed:

(a) adrenaline (S3);

(b) methoxyflurane (S4);

(c) naloxone (S3);

(d) nitrous oxide (S4);

(e) salbutamol (S3).