ASAR Information on
Temporary Suspension from the Register
Preamble
This document aims to provide information about temporary suspension from the Australasian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR) - it is an excerpt from the main information document.
Voluntary Deactivation and Reactivation
Sonographers may request to be voluntarily deactivated from the Register by completing the prescribed form. To reactivate their registration, they must pay a prescribed fee to have their name placed back onto the Register.
If the period of voluntary deactivation is less than 12 months, the CPD triennium will continue unchanged. In this case, sonographers need to maintain a log of CPD credits while they are deactivated. However, if the period is greater than 12 months, a new CPD triennium will commence following reinstatement to the Register. Accrued activities will not be credited to the new triennium.
If the period of deactivation is 3 years or more, sonographers will need to comply with ASAR’s Return to Clinical Practice Policy in order to return to the Register.
Deactivation will begin on the date that the Registry receives request for deactivation from the sonographer. Similarly, subsequent reinstatement/reactivation will occur on the date that the Registry receives the application for reactivation. Medicare Australia will be notified when an individual’s name gets deactivated and reactivated on the ASAR Register. Deactivations and Reactivations cannot be back-dated. It is the individual sonographer’s responsibility to notify the Registry accordingly.
Deactivation and Reactivation forms are available from the Forms page of the ASAR website.
Removal From The Register
If a Sonographer does not comply with all of the requirements for continuation on the Register, the sonographer’s name will be removed. A reminder letter will be sent after the due date for either fee payment or CPD default. If the Registry receives no correspondence within the specified timeframe, the sonographer’s name will be removed from the Register and Medicare Australia notified accordingly.
Return to the Register Following CPD Default Removal
A completed ASAR application form and fee of AUD $150 including GST must be forwarded to the ASAR Secretariat. Once received and approved by ASAR Council the applicant will be placed on the Register under the following conditions:
- For the following three years, the sonographer must pay an annual fee of AUD $150 including GST to remain on the Register.
- The sonographer must participate in the ASAR CPD program and submit 30 CPD credits to ASAR within each 12-month period for a total of 36 months. A CPD audit will be conducted at the end of each 12-month period. The first 12-month period will begin on the date that ASAR Council returns the sonographer to the Register.
Following the final CPD audit, successful completion of this 36-month period will result in the Sonographer being returned to regular accredited sonographer status.
If at any point in this 36-month period the sonographer does not comply with the outlined CPD and/or fee requirements, the sonographer’s name will be removed from the Register and Medicare Australia will be notified of the removal. In this case, the sonographer may return to the Register via Category 2 by enrolling in an ASAR accredited qualification. Alternatively, the sonographer may return to the Register following successful completion of an ASAR accredited re-entry program.
Return to the Register Following Removal Due to Non Payment of Fees
If a Sonographer does not comply with all of the requirements for continuation on the Register, the sonographer’s name will be removed. A reminder letter will be sent after the due date for either fee payment or CPD default. If the Registry receives no correspondence within the specified timeframe, the sonographer’s name will be removed from the Register and Medicare Australia notified accordingly.
Appeals
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Registry may, within thirty days after the receipt of communication of that decision, lodge an appeal with the Registry, accompanied by an application fee as prescribed by the Registry. Upon receipt of a notice of appeal accompanied by the prescribed fee, the Registry will refer the appeal to a Tribunal consisting of one academic Councillor of the ASAR, one professional body Councillor and one impartial expert adviser, who will determine the outcome of the appeal as soon as practicable thereafter. At the conduct of any appeal, the appellant
- may appear before the Tribunal in person
- may appoint a representative to appear on his/her behalf
- may make such oral or written submissions, as he or she thinks fit.
A decision of the Tribunal shall be in writing and shall set out the reasons for the decision. If a decision is in favour of the appellant, the application fee lodged with the notice of appeal shall be refunded to the applicant. A decision by the Tribunal shall be final and binding on both the Registry and the appellant.