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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Topic
Occupational and environmental health
Description
The National Transport Commission (NTC) undertook Phase 1 of its review of the Assessing Fitness to Drive (AFTD) Standards (2022). Fitness to drive assessments are a key medical service and contribute to patient and road safety. Physicians from Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine, Addiction Medicine and General Medicine provided a list of issues for the next edition of the Standards.
Published in
SA, Australia
Description
The RACP recommends strengthening South Australia’s Strategic Plan for Preventive Health Action 2026–2034 by building a sustainable physician and public health workforce, increasing and transparently monitoring preventive health investment, strengthening prevention across the life course, addressing health inequities, integrating prevention into healthcare settings, tackling social determinants of health, and embedding health considerations across government policy and planning.
Published in
NT, Australia
Topic
Child health and young adult medicine
Description
The RACP provided feedback on the Northern Territory Care and Protection of Children Legislation Amendment (Every Child Matters) Bill 2026. The RACP supports reforms that strengthen the safety, health, wellbeing and rights of children and young people in the NT but is concerned the proposed changes would remove the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families to participate, or be supported to participate, in decisions about the child.
Description
Our submission to IHACPA's Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2027–28 calls for a broader definition of value in hospital pricing, one that captures patient outcomes, experience, safety and complexity alongside cost, with stronger recognition of care coordination and equitable resourcing for Indigenous, disability, paediatric and rural communities.
Description
The RACP submission to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner addresses guidance on transparency in Automated Decision-Making (ADM). It argues that guidance must be practical, accessible, and reflect how ADM is used in healthcare. It recommends aligning with existing laws, clarifying transparency for clinicians and patients, addressing bias risks, and establishing accountability for developers, alongside adaptive, continuous regulation.
Topic
Access to healthcare
Description
Our submission outlines that the RACP supports widening access criteria to funded influenza vaccinations, emphasises the need for investment in culturally appropriate delivery systems, emphasises the importance of addressing inequitable access to, particularly in rural and underserved communities; and supports Cure Kids’ call for funding of nirsevimab for all infants in Aotearoa.
Description
The RACP provided feedback to the Health Committee on the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill. The RACP supports the proposals in the Bill as the Bill aligns with recommendations in the RACP position statement on achieving a health-focused approach to drug policy in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s a practical step toward reducing overdose deaths and reshaping how Aotearoa New Zealand responds to drug-related harm.
Description
Our submission to the Pharmacy Board of Australia consultation -endorsement for scheduled medicines for pharmacists-opposes its proposal to introduce national regulatory endorsement for pharmacist prescribing of Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 Medicines.
Description
The RACP provided feedback to Pharmac on their proposal to amend the Special Authority access criteria for type 2 diabetes medicines. The RACP strongly opposes the proposal to remove existing criteria that enable equitable access to medicines for people living with Type 2 diabetes, particularly where these settings currently support fair access for Māori and Pacific communities.
Topic
RACP recommendations
Description
The RACP provided feedback to the Justice Committee on the proposed Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill. The RACP strongly opposes the proposals in the Bill, and urge the Committee to weight the evidence that these changes will further normalise alcohol use and contribute to greater alcohol related harm. It will also intensify demand on the health workforce.
