Policy and Advocacy Library
The library is the culmination of the collaborative work of RACP members and comprises a comprehensive range of evidence-based, published RACP position statements, policies and submissions.
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Description
Since the launch of the Australian Disability Strategy (ADS) in 2021, significant developments, including the findings of the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review, have reshaped the landscape, necessitating a fresh perspective. The RACP hopes that its 2024 review of the ADS, highlighted in this submission, addresses important healthcare gaps for people living with disability, their families, and their carers.
Description
This RACP submission provides feedback on the draft Thrive by Five Early Childhood Guarantee Bill 2024 (draft Bill). The RACP supports the principles and intent of the draft Bill and its aim to create a universally accessible early childhood development system for all Australian children. An early childhood development system that encapsulates high-quality essential services, such as antenatal care, targeted nurse home visiting and parenting programmes, as well as early childhood education and care (ECEC), is critical to improving the health and wellbeing of all children and their families.
Description
The RACP provided feedback to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee on the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill. The Bill establishes a new regulatory framework to implement a compulsory random roadside oral fluid (OF) testing regime to address drug-impaired driving. While the RACP supported the harm reduction intentions of the Bill, members were concerned that a punitive approach might lead to a reduction in funding for essential prevention, impairment information, and research. Recommendations included investing in health-focused initiatives that provide reliable impairment information, addressing the potential for racial bias by removing the provision for random searches, and considering the use of medical certificates for drivers.
Description
The RACP made a submission to the Medical Board of Australia’s consultation on the draft revised registration standard – specialist registration. In summary, the RACP has concerns regarding the maintenance of quality and safety standards if formal assessment by specialist medical colleges is removed as proposed. The RACP Overseas Trained Physician assessment process already provides an efficient, holistic, transparent, procedurally fair and safety focused approach that extends well beyond a desk-top checking of qualifications. The RACP strongly advocates for continued responsibility for critical elements of the assessment process including recognition of qualifications, training, assessment and experience against the standard of an RACP specialist as well as supervision/work-based assessment. It is also noted that the proposed model also risks creating a disconnect between some of the most vulnerable specialists and the specialist medical colleges that exist to support them.
Description
The Position Statement titled ‘Prevention and Treatment of Gambling-Related Harm’ has been jointly developed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).
The position statement addresses gambling-related harm and its impact on individuals, family, whānau and support networks (including carers). It highlights the need for stronger regulation to address the increasing burden of harm caused by gambling in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes prohibiting all forms of gambling advertising through legislation.
It also outlines the need to address barriers preventing help-seeking and the need for assessment, diagnosis, treatment of harmful gambling behaviour given current challenges to access for evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
Description
This submission is in response to the Primary Production Committee's consultation on the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme Agricultural Obligations) Amendment Bill. The Bill would remove agricultural activities from the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme. The submission reaffirms the RACP's position on mitigation climate change through the reduction of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions, strongly opposing the proposed outlined in the Bill. The RACP calls upon the Aotearoa New Zealand Government to facilitate low carbon systems of food production, utilising all available legislative tools including the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Description
The RACP provided feedback on the draft 2024 Rheumatic Fever (RF) and Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) Diagnosis and Management Guidelines, produced by the RF and RHD Guideline Steering Group at the University of Auckland (last updated 2014). Additional chapters have been included to promote culturally responsive practice and to provide specific guidance regarding the care and management of RHD in pregnancy, and developmentally appropriate care for rangatahi.
Description
The RACP and its Northern Territory Committee are committed to advocating for the development of policies that are based on evidence, informed by the knowledge and expertise of Territory physicians, and that benefit the health of Territorians and the Territory healthcare system.
Description
This RACP submission outlines College feedback to the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority’s (IHACPA) annual consultation on the Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2025-26. This submission addresses the unaccounted costs of admitted and non-admitted care, cost impacts of patient vulnerability and complexity, especially in mental health care, and the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. It also describes the importance of service integration and incentivisation of innovative models of care.
Topic
Child health and young adult medicine
Description
This RACP submission, led by PCHD, outlines feedback to the National Mental Health Commission on the draft National Guidelines for including mental health and wellbeing in Early Childhood Health Checks. The National Guidelines aim to support states and territories to implement nationally consistent mental health and wellbeing checks as part of the early childhood health checks for children aged 0-5 years, and provide children and families with early help and support. The inclusion of mental health and wellbeing in the National Guidelines is built on the knowledge that the first 2000 days of a child’s life are critical to their long-term thriving.
