Only tertiary consultants and general practitioners who are accredited and maintain their continuing professional development (CPD) in HIV are able to prescribe ART.
The HIV Community Prescriber Program enables GPs and tertiary consultants to do this.
The program consists of three main parts:
ASHM maintains the HIV Community Prescriber Programs for New South Wales, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia & in partnership in Victoria*
The HIV s100 Prescriber Course is a face-to-face course that runs for two days. It includes these topics:
Upon successful completion of the training and assessments, medical practitioners in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria* will be accredited and registered with the relevant State/s Department/s of health to prescribe s100 drugs for the management of HIV.
The Introduction to HIV Care for General Practitioners course is the prerequisite for this course.
As part of the initial accreditation process to become an s100 HIV community prescriber, a practitioner must fulfil each of the five criteria outlined in the National Standards for Certification of Community HIV s100 Prescribers (2008, revised 2015).
In the 12 months following accreditation HIV s100 community Prescribers are required to demonstrate a relationship with a mentor.
The Mentor must be a registered Medical Practitioner currently working in HIV Medicine and needs to have demonstrated ongoing contemporary experience in HIV Medicine and a demonstrated commitment to CPD in HIV Medicine.
In the first instance, responsibility for contact remains with the prescriber. The times and reasons for making contact with the mentor will vary and may include assistance with areas such as:
The new prescriber must seek support from their mentor on a minimum of four occasions within the first 12 months. The continuation of this relationship is encouraged after the initial 12 month period. Prescribers with no current caseload of people living with HIV still are asked to contact their mentor every three months.
Other than on initial documentation, the relationship between mentor and prescriber is not formally evaluated or reported unless:
HIV s100 community-based Prescribers are required to participate in CPD to maintain accreditation to prescribe s100 HIV drugs in Australia. This is a requirement set out in the Highly Specialised Drugs Program (HSDP) and the National Standard for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Community HIV s100 Prescribers
To maintain accreditation, Prescribers are required to:
The aim of the HIV CPD program is to ensure Prescribers maintain their clinical competency and hence, assist with maintenance of patient safety.
HIV CPD points can be accrued through participation in accredited education activities which may be delivered by ASHM or external CPD providers.
Community Prescribers are required to participate in a variety of HIV CPD accredited activities such as; clinical updates, clinical mentoring, clinical placement, clinical audit, conference attendance or online CPD activities.
For a detailed breakdown of the points available for specific activities, please refer to the National Standards for Certification of Community HIV s100 Prescribers (2008, revised 2014).
External organisations may apply to have their educational activities adjudicated for HIV CPD points by ASHM on behalf of and according to the National HIV Standards, Training and Education Committee.
External providers are required to submit attendance lists and evaluation reports to ASHM so HIV CPD points can be allocated to prescriber attendees.
Provider application for adjudication form
Prescribers can apply to ASHM directly to have educational activities adjudicated for HIV CPD points. These activities can include HIV updates or non-HIV-specific updates attended that have not previously been adjudicated for HIV CPD points.
Prescriber Application for Adjudication form
National Standards for Training and Certification
ASHM works to support HIV prescribers by sending monthly email bulletins outlining upcoming training opportunities, relevant research and other important sector news.
We offer a robust support network of prescribers around Australia, which includes some of the finest medical practitioners in the country.
ASHM can provide ad hoc support to prescribers with particular needs. If you are a prescriber looking for support, please email HIVprescriber@ashm.org.au and we will assist however we can.
We look forward to welcoming new prescribers.
** Community HIV s100 Prescribers accredited in South Australia must accrue 5 out of the 7 total HIV CPD points required from activities held in South Australia
