Under the BIG Act, reserved procedures are medical procedures that can pose unacceptable risks when carried out by an unskilled person. Doctors, dentists and midwives may perform these procedures independently.
Healthcare providers who are not independently authorised may perform reserved procedures on behalf of an independently authorised provider, subject to conditions. The provider carrying out the procedure must be authorised and competent to do so.
Authorisation and competence
You are authorised on the basis of your diploma. You are competent when you have the knowledge and skills for the procedure and take steps to maintain them.
You must be able to demonstrate your authorisation and competence. Regular further training and evidence of certificates or accreditation points can help. Accreditation Platform keeps this training and evidence together.
Re-registration
In many cases, BIG Act registration must be renewed every five years. If you are not registered, you may not use the professional title associated with your registration. Reserved procedures may then only be performed under the supervision of a registered healthcare provider.