The legislative requirements for possessing, prescribing, supplying and using Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 medicines for registered health practitioners are contained in the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 and the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017.
Practitioners may have different legislative requirements, responsibilities, and lists of approved medicines, depending on their profession and scope of practice.
Medical practitioners and lawful treatment
Legislative requirements for the prescription and supply of medicines by medical practitioners.
Nurses and midwives
Including registered nurses and midwives whose registration is endorsed to use, prescribe or supply Schedule 2, 3, 4 or 8 medicines.
Legislative requirements for pharmacists
Legislative requirements, forged prescriptions and intervention requirements.
Dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists and oral health therapists
Legislative requirements for dentists plus authorisation for dental hygienists, dental therapists and oral health therapists.
Optometrists and orthoptists
Legislative requirements for optometrists and authorised optometrists plus authorisation for orthoptists.
Podiatrists
Legislative requirements for podiatrists and authorised podiatrists.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners (ATSIHPs) and health workers (ATSIHWs)
Guidelines supporting culturally safe medication administration by ATSIHPs and ATSIHWs under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017.
Veterinary practitioners
Legislative requirements for the prescription and supply of medicines by veterinary practitioners.
Updated