Victorian Numbered Acts

HEALTH LEGISLATION (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) ACT 2005 (NO 42 OF 2005) - SECT 45

    (1)     In section 3 of the Podiatrists Registration Act 1997 insert the following definition—

' "professional indemnity insurance" includes insurance against civil liability in connection with the provision of podiatry services by a registered podiatrist and an agreement or arrangement for discretionary indemnity in respect of that liability;'.

    (2)     After section 6(2)(g) of the Podiatrists Registration Act 1997 insert —

    "(ga)     that, in the opinion of the Board, the podiatrist does not have adequate arrangements for professional indemnity insurance that meet the minimum terms and conditions set out in the guidelines of the Board;".

    (3)     After section 6(3) of the Podiatrists Registration Act 1997 insert —

    "(3A)     Without limiting the Board's powers under sub-section (3), it may impose a condition—

        (a)     that—

              (i)     the podiatrist must hold professional indemnity insurance; or

              (ii)     the podiatry services provided by the podiatrist must be covered by professional indemnity insurance; or

              (iii)     the podiatrist must be specified or referred to in professional indemnity insurance, whether by name or otherwise, as a person to whom the professional indemnity insurance extends even though the podiatrist is not a party to the professional indemnity insurance; and

        (b)     that the professional indemnity insurance must meet the minimum terms and conditions set out in the guidelines of the Board.

    (3B)     If the applicant's arrangements satisfy the minimum terms and conditions set out in the guidelines of the Board, the Board must not—

        (a)     refuse to grant registration on the basis that the podiatrist's arrangements for professional indemnity insurance are in the form of insurance or a discretionary indemnity; or

        (b)     impose a condition on the registration of a podiatrist to require that the podiatrist's arrangements for professional indemnity insurance must be in the form of insurance or a discretionary indemnity.".

    (4)         In section 6(4) of the Podiatrists Registration Act 1997 after "(3)" insert "or (3A)".

    (5)         After section 7(1)(b) of the Podiatrists Registration Act 1997 insert —

    "(ba)     if the Board is satisfied that, in order to meet an identified need for a podiatrist, it is necessary for a person having qualifications and training in the nature of the applicant's to practise as a podiatrist in Victoria; or".