Clinical and Service Standard

The Clinical and Service Standard will be mandatory for approved medical practitioners and approved health professionals once the replacement Order is operational. The replacement Order is expected to come into effect on 1 January 2026; however, releasing the Clinical and Service Standard now enables approved medical practitioners and approved health professionals to proactively prepare for its implementation.

This is a legal term commonly found in many laws. A ‘fit and proper person’ is an individual who meets the ethical, professional, and legal standards required by their profession.
This requirement within the Clinical and Service Standard aims to promote high ethical standards and enhance a profession’s reputation for trustworthiness.

Conflicts of interest may arise when an approved medical practitioner or approved health professional’s personal, financial, or professional interests could influence, or be perceived to influence, their independence when completing replacement Order health assessments. These may include:

• providing both independent health assessments and separate consulting services to the same employer that may influence medical decisions
• having a financial interest in a product or service that may be recommended during health assessments (e.g. referrals to allied health professionals)
• conducting health assessments for coal mine workers where there is a personal relationship (family member or close friend)
• accepting gifts, benefits, or hospitality from employers, coal mine workers, or other third parties that could be seen to influence impartiality when conducting health assessments.

If others could reasonably see an action, relationship, or decision as compromising impartiality, independence, or fairness, it should be managed appropriately. This could mean discussing the situation with the Practice Manager or your relevant governance body, documenting the potential conflict, and following your organisation’s procedures for disclosure and management.

Corrupt or fraudulent practices may occur when an approved medical practitioner or approved health professional’s actions are dishonest, unlawful, or intended to provide an unfair advantage, financial gain, or misleading outcome when completing replacement Order health assessments. This may include:

• altering or falsifying health assessment results or a health assessment certificate to favour an employer or coal mine worker
• charging employers for health assessments that were not conducted or charging for additional services not provided
• colluding with employers or coal mine workers to avoid compliance with the replacement Order
• misusing confidential coal mine worker health information for personal, financial, or business gain
• accepting payment, gifts, or inducements in exchange for favourable health assessment outcomes or reports.

Both the Respiratory Health Standard and Cardiovascular Health Standard include transitional arrangements that specify which parts are not mandatory until the replacement Order comes into effect.

If you are unsure about these requirements, contact CS Health for guidance.

Yes. A new health assessment certificate has been introduced as part of the replacement Order. The health assessment certificate now includes a RAG (Red-Amber-Green) status, also called a traffic light report. This gives employers a clear, at-a-glance view of a coal mine worker’s fitness for work.

The replacement Order also sets out what information can be released. These details are listed in Schedule 2 of the replacement Order. More information will be shared once the replacement Order has been gazetted.

Applications for new approved health professional approvals can only be submitted after the replacement Order has commenced. However, practices may begin or complete the required training beforehand, so that applications are ready to submit once the replacement Order takes effect.

Only approved medical practitioners who perform their own audiometric testing need to complete this training. If this testing is conducted by approved health professionals, the approved medical practitioner is not required to complete the course.

Approved medical practitioners who perform audiometric testing must provide evidence of completed training to CS Health before conducting audiometric testing under the replacement Order. CS Health will accept this evidence prior to the replacement Order coming into effect, ensuring approved medical practitioners are ready once it is implemented.

Until the replacement Order is gazetted and a commencement date confirmed, all the requirements of Order 43 will continue to apply.

CS Health will keep all stakeholders informed about the progress of replacement Order and provide updates if there is any delay to the implementation start date.

Yes. There will be no change to respiratory fit testing training requirements or training providers. The current register of accredited training providers is listed on the Coal Services website.

No. All providers must provide evidence of completed respirator fit test training to CS Health before they can conduct respirator fit testing under the replacement Order. CS Health will accept this evidence prior to the replacement Order coming into effect, ensuring providers are ready once it is implemented.

If a delay is expected, the approved medical practitioner should contact CS Health to discuss the reason for the delay. It is also essential that any delays are communicated directly to the customer and/or coal mine worker. This responsibility rests with the approved medical practitioner, not CS Health.

Under the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIP Act), health information and medical records must be kept secure, accurate, and confidential, and retained for the minimum periods required by law or professional standards:

• Adults: Health and medical records must be retained for at least 7 years from the last service date.
• Minors: Health and medical records must be retained for at least 7 years after they turn 18.

When the records are no longer required, they must be disposed of securely to protect confidentiality.

All new approved medical practitioners will receive regular feedback throughout the first 6 months. Additional training and support may be offered when recurring issues are identified. The audit period may be extended based on audit outcomes to ensure the approved medical practitioner meets the required standards.

CS Health is updating the External Doctor Network portal to allow health assessment reviews to be entered in the same manner as health assessments.

Further details about these requirements will be provided when the portal updates are released.