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National Registration and Accreditation Scheme Complexity Review – Key Outcomes for Sonography

Monday, 29 September 2025

National Registration and Accreditation Scheme Complexity Review – Key Outcomes for Sonography

The Final Report of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) Complexity Review was released publicly in September 2025 after being delivered to Health Ministers in July. Led by Sue Dawson, former NSW Health Complaints Commissioner, the Review is the most significant reform process since NRAS was established. It focuses on reducing unnecessary complexity in regulation and ensuring the system is risk-based, patient-focused and responsive.

Key Reform Directions

The Review makes 26 recommendations across four areas:

  • Regulatory stewardship model to set clear priorities and accountability
  • Integrated Health Professions Regulation Framework to guide how professions are regulated including new entry pathways
  • Realigning functions and structures to strengthen performance and accountability
  • Unified national approach to complaints with a focus on timely and fair handling of high-risk matters

For sonography, the most significant is the proposed Professions Registration Pathway, which could allow health professions to enter NRAS under a more flexible model than the current system.

Health Ministers’ Response

At their 12 September 2025 meeting, Health Ministers endorsed three immediate actions:

  • Revise the risk assessment process for professions entering NRAS by mid-2026
  • Strengthen AHPRA’s accountability for accreditation functions
  • Require improvements to complaints processes

Other recommendations have been referred to the Health Workforce Taskforce. Ministers also confirmed that audiology will become regulated under NRAS, demonstrating willingness to expand the scheme where clear public safety risks exist.

Next Steps for ASA

ASA will:

  • Advocate for statutory regulation of sonographers as an essential safeguard for patients. The decision for audiology to become regulated under NRAS strengthens the case for sonography given the potentially invasive and high-risk nature of some ultrasound procedures on vulnerable patients.
  • Engage with the Health Workforce Taskforce review of the risk assessment process, which will be critical to shaping sonography’s future case for NRAS entry

National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) Complexity Review | Final Report