Audiometrists have been knocked back from joining Australia’s audiologists in becoming a regulated profession, a decision described by the peak audiometry body as “surprising and concerning”.
Dr Sonĵ Hall, CEO of the only body that represents audiometrists and audiologists in Australia, the Australian College of Audiology incorporating HAASA (ACAud inc. HAASA), said it had advocated for audiometrists inclusion.
“Both the Audiology Decision RIS and the Independent review of complexity in the NRAS – developed to support the decision-making process – recommended the inclusion of audiometrists. The outcome, therefore, is both surprising and concerning,” Dr Hall said.
“We were formally advised (on 24 September 2025) by the National Health Secretariat that under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, audiometrists will not be included in the scope of national regulation for audiology.”
Dr Hall said while ACAud inc. HAASA welcomed the national regulation of audiologists, it was disappointed that audiometrists were excluded.
“We are deeply concerned for our audiometrist members, who make up a significant portion of Australia’s hearing health workforce,” she said. “Many are understandably worried – not only for the future of their profession, but for the communities they serve, particularly in areas where access to hearing care is already limited.”
But she added: “Our advocacy is ongoing, strategic, and unwavering. We will continue to fight for transparency, inclusion, and recognition.”
Critical role
Dr Hall said the organisation had advocated for the inclusion of audiometrists in the regulatory scheme, given the critical role they play in Australia’s hearing care system — particularly in supporting access to services in rural, regional, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“Their exclusion is a missed opportunity for a more consistent and fair approach to workforce sustainability and to ensure broader accessibility to hearing services nationwide,” she said.
“Audiometrists are a vital part of Australia’s hearing care system, particularly in supporting access to services in rural, regional and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. “Their inclusion is essential not only for fairness and consistency, but also for supporting workforce sustainability and helping to meet the growing demand for hearing services across the country.”
She said the new regulation would apply to all audiologists who wish to practise in Australia, regardless of whether they intend to obtain or maintain a Qualified Practitioner (QP) number. Regulation would become mandatory for all audiologists once the new framework was in place.
Dr Hall said the organisation understood the exclusion may be disappointing and unsettling for many audiometrists.
“We want to acknowledge their ongoing contribution to the sector and reaffirm our commitment to supporting their professional identity, recognition, and development – especially as the national regulatory landscape evolves,” she said.
ACAud inc. HAASA would continue to seek further clarification and share more information with members as it became available, she added.
Dr Hall said official minutes from Health Minister’s Meetings were not released publicly and discussion around the agenda item remained confidential.
“We may never receive full clarification on how or why this decision was made,” she said.
She said the organisation was urgently seeking clarity from several key bodies, including the Hearing Services Program (HSP), on a wide range of issues. These include:
- What this decision means for the Hearing Services Program and the ACAud incl. HAASA submission to the MBS Review Advisory Committee (MRAC)
- The impact on scope of practice for audiologists and audiometrists
- What regulation will look like for audiologists, including how clinical competence and recency of practice will be assessed
- The future recognition of overseas-qualified practitioners and their qualifications.
Pose a risk to access
The college estimated it would take a minimum of 12 months for the legislation to be developed and passed and anticipated the process would take at least two years, potentially longer, to come into effect.
“While this process will not be immediate, it provides valuable time to advocate, engage, and work toward clarity and fairness for all affected professionals,” she said.
“It’s also important to emphasise that we currently have just under 700 (of 1,100) members either practising as, or training to become, qualified audiometrists across Australia.
“The idea that their role could be disregarded or diminished overnight is not only unrealistic – it would pose a real risk to access to hearing care, particularly in rural, regional, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”
The Health Ministers Meeting in Perth on 12 September 2025 confirmed audiology would be regulated under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS). Audiologists will join 16 other health professions regulated under Ahpra which administers NRAS.
A communique said: “Health Ministers noted the updated Audiology Decision Regulatory Impact Statement which affirmed the option of regulating the audiology professions under the NRAS. Health Ministers agreed to amend the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, following further policy work, to regulate the audiology profession under the NRAS structure.”
Dr Hall said the regulatory framework for audiologists may help promote professional development and offer a public register to inform people about qualified practitioners.
“Currently, some hearing health professionals operate primarily in private practice and outside of government-funded programs,” she said.
“As a result, they may not have been required to register with either of the existing practitioner professional bodies. National regulation will help ensure that all practitioners are held to consistent standards, including requirements for clinical recency and accountability.”
