Professionals in Cardiac Sciences Australia (PiCSA) is pleased to announce version 2.1 of our Position Statement “Australian Guidelines for Entry and Practice in the Field of Cardiac Physiology”. The revision incorporates feedback regarding the regulation of practicing Cardiac Physiologists[1]. We highlight the unacceptable fact that PiCSA and its registration bodies do not have power to prevent Cardiac Physiologists who are unregistered or guilty of misconduct from practicing.
PiCSA supports mandatory registration for all Cardiac Physiologists. We call upon the government to work with us to facilitate AHPRA-equivalent regulatory oversight, thereby protecting the reputation of our profession and safeguarding the health and safety of the Australian public.
We are working to strengthen and advance all modalities of Cardiac Physiology as a legitimate and unified profession. The entry and career pathway document defines and directs the future of the profession and should be referred to as a national standard (see https://picsa.org.au/about/#core-documents for the complete document).
How well does your state/territory or employer hold up to these statements?
What are the barriers?
Are your local leaders aware of PiCSA’s recommendations?
Reporting local concerns to PiCSA, the national representative body for Cardiac Physiology, is crucial. Divergence between jurisdictions across Australia can undermine the profession. PiCSA is dedicated to fostering unity, supporting, and advocating for all Cardiac Physiologists.
What else are we working on?
- Representing the CIED physiology workforce to government in the Prosthesis List Reform process. This will promote and facilitate the creation of positions for direct employment of Cardiac Physiologists within the private sector.
- Representing Cardiac Physiology to the Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Supporting the REMOTE CARE project to identify a core set of recommendations for the management of common clinical issues detected with CIED remote monitoring
- Developing scope of practice and competency standards documents
- Actively endorsing and promoting key recommendations from affiliated organisations (e.g. minimum Echo scan times from CSANZ)
- Improving visibility of the profession
- Delivering and supporting education activities
PiCSA envisions a future where every Australian state and territory fairly recognises, regulates, and compensates Cardiac Physiologists, ensuring that career pathways are visible, accessible, and attractive to top-tier students. Our goal is to establish and maintain a culture of excellence and professional pride within the field. By becoming a member, you empower PiCSA to continue its mission and invest in your future, as our success relies on your support.
Together, we can build a strong, united profession that stands as a beacon of excellence and opportunity for all Cardiac Physiologists across Australia.
Sincerely,
Miriam Norman
