Definitions

The following definitions are based on the Health Insurance Act 1973, but have been amended for the purposes of this document.

Medical Practitioner 1 means a person registered or licensed as a medical practitioner under a law of a State or Territory that provides for the registration or licensing of medical practitioners but does not include a person so registered or licensed:
(a) whose registration, or license to practise, as a medical practitioner in any State or Territory has been suspended, or cancelled, following an inquiry relating to his or her conduct; and
(b) who has not, after that suspension or cancellation, again been authorised to register or practise as a medical practitioner in that State or Territory.

Pathologist means medical practitioner who has been recognised for the purposes of the Health Insurance Act 1973 as a specialist in one of the pathology specialties listed in Item 113 of Schedule 4 of the Health Insurance Regulations 1975.

Supervising Pathologist means a Pathologist who has had training to allow him/her to supervise a medical testing laboratory.

Scientist means a person who possesses one of the following qualifications:

(a) a degree in science or applied science with subjects relevant to the field of pathology awarded after not less than three years full-time study, or an equivalent period of part-time study, at a university in Australia, that provides for direct entry or following examination to a professional class of membership of the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists, Australian Institute of Medical Scientists, Australian Society for Microbiology, Australian Society of Cytology, Human Genetics Society of Australasia
(b) an associate qualification conferred by the Australian Institute of Medical Technologists before 1 December 1973
(c) a qualification that the Minister determines, pursuant to the definition of 'scientist' in subsection 23DNA(4) of the Health Insurance Act 1973, to be equivalent to a qualification referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this definition.

Senior scientist ² means a scientist who has had not less than 10 years full-time relevant laboratory experience and who possesses one of the following qualifications:

(a) a Doctorate of Philosophy in a subject relevant to the field of pathology
(b) a Fellowship of the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists
(c) a Fellowship of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists
(d) a Fellowship of the Australian Society for Microbiology (medical/clinical microbiology)
(e) a Fellowship of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia
(f) a qualification that the Minister determines, pursuant to the definition of ‘scientist’ in subsection 23DNA(4) of the Health Insurance Act 1973, to be equivalent to a qualification referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this definition.

Laboratory means premises which, in addition to fulfilling the requirements of the Act, may include a facility or facilities remote from the laboratory site providing it is conducting an approved range of Point of Care Testing under the direct supervision of the designated accredited laboratory.

Point of Care Testing means testing performed outside a central laboratory environment, generally nearer to, or at the site of, the patient.

1. This definition is in accordance with the Health Insurance Act 1973.

2. This definition applies specifically to this document and does not relate to classification, employment or conditions within State or Territory Awards.