{"id":"sr:professional-standards-regulations-2017","name":"Professional Standards Regulations 2017","slug":"professional-standards-regulations-2017","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":185711,"registerId":"vic-sr:professional-standards-regulations-2017-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Professional Standards Regulations 2017","content":"Version No. 001\n\n**Professional Standards Regulations 2017**\n\n**S.R. No. 106/2017**\n\nVersion as at  \n6 November 2017\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\n1 Objectives 1\n\n2 Authorising provision 1\n\n3 Commencement 1\n\n4 Revocation 2\n\n5 Definitions 2\n\n6 Payment of fees for approval, amendment or revocation of schemes 2\n\n7 Payment of annual fees and additional member fees for members of occupational associations 2\n\n8 Interest payable on overdue fees 4\n\n9 Waiver or remission of amounts payable 4\n\n10 Notification of limitation of liability 5\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes 6\n\n1 General information 6\n\n2 Table of Amendments 8\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation 9\n\n4 Explanatory details 10\n\n**Version No.** **001**\n\n**Professional Standards Regulations 2017**\n\n**S.R. No. 106/2017**\n\nVersion as at  \n6 November 2017\n\n\t1 Objectives\n\nThe objectives of the Regulations are, for the purposes of the **Professional Standards Act 2003**—\n\n(a) to provide for the payment to the Professional Standards Council of the following—\n\n(i) application fees for the approval, amendment or revocation of schemes;\n\n(ii) annual member fees;\n\n(iii) additional member fees;\n\n(iv) interest in relation to unpaid annual fees; and\n\n(b) to prescribe a statement for the notification of an occupational limitation; and\n\n(c) to revoke the Professional Standards Regulations 2007.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 57 of the **Professional Standards Act 2003**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 6 November 2017.\n\n\t4 Revocation\n\nThe Professional Standards Regulations 2007[[1]](#endnote-2) are **revoked**.\n\n\t5 Definitions\n\nIn these Regulations—\n\n***professional standards legislation*** means—\n\n(a) the Act; or\n\n(b) a law of another State, Territory or the Commonwealth that corresponds to the Act;\n\n***the Act*** means the **Professional Standards Act 2003**.\n\n\t6 Payment of fees for approval, amendment or revocation of schemes\n\n(1) An application under section 8(3) of the Act by an occupational association for the approval by the Council of a scheme prepared by the occupational association or by the Council must be accompanied by a fee of $5000.\n\n(2) An application under section 18(2) of the Act by an occupational association for the approval by the Council of an instrument amending or revoking a scheme must be accompanied by a fee of $5000.\n\n\t7 Payment of annual fees and additional member fees for members of occupational associations\n\n(1) The annual fee to be paid to the Council by an occupational association is $50 for each member of that occupational association who is subject to a scheme in force under the Act.\n\n(2) An occupational association must pay the annual fee—\n\n(a) if the relevant scheme commences during the period of 3 months ending on 31 March in any year—not later than 31 March in each year; or\n\n(b) if the relevant scheme commences during the period of 3 months ending on 30 June in any year—not later than 30 June in each year; or\n\n(c) if the relevant scheme commences during the period of 3 months ending on 30 September in any year—not later than 30 September in each year; or\n\n(d) if the relevant scheme commences during the period of 3 months ending on 31 December in any year—not later than 31 January of each following year.\n\n(3) If an additional member of an occupational association becomes subject to a scheme during the annual fee period, an additional member  \nfee of $50 is to be paid to the Council by the occupational association for that additional member as follows—\n\n(a) if the member becomes subject to the scheme during the period of 3 months ending on 31 March—not later than 31 March; or\n\n(b) if the member becomes subject to the scheme during the period of 3 months ending on 30 June in any year—not later than 30 June in each year; or\n\n(c) if the member becomes subject to the scheme during the period of 3 months ending on 30 September in any year—not later than 30 September in each year; or\n\n(d) if the member becomes subject to the scheme during the period of 3 months ending on 31 December in any year—not later than 31 January of each following year.\n\n\t8 Interest payable on overdue fees\n\nIf any amount of the annual fee or an additional member fee is not paid by an occupational association within 30 days after it is due, simple interest accruing at the rate of 0·05% per day is payable by the occupational association to the Council on the outstanding balance until that balance is paid.\n\n\t9 Waiver or remission of amounts payable\n\n(1) The Council may, if it considers that there are special reasons for doing so in a particular case, waive or remit the whole or any part of, any or all of the following—\n\n(a) the application fee payable under regulation 6;\n\n(b) the annual fee payable under regulation 7(1);\n\n(c) the additional member fee payable under regulation 7(3);\n\n(d) any interest payable under regulation 8.\n\n(2) A person holding the position of Executive Officer of the Council may waive or remit the whole or any part of, any of the following to an amount not exceeding $250—\n\n(a) the application fee payable under regulation 6;\n\n(b) the annual fee payable under regulation 7(1);\n\n(c) the additional member fee payable under regulation 7(3);\n\n(d) any interest payable under regulation 8.\n\n\t10 Notification of limitation of liability\n\nFor the purposes of section 35 of the Act, the prescribed form of statement—\n\n(a) is \"Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation\"; and\n\n(b) must be printed in a size not less than the face measurement of Times New Roman typeface in 8 point.\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Professional Standards Regulations 2017, S.R. No. 106/2017 were made on 24 October 2017 by the Governor in Council under section 57 of the **Professional Standards Act 2003**, No. 100/2003 and came into operation on 6 November 2017: regulation 3.\n\nThe Professional Standards Regulations 2017 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 24 October 2027 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThere are no amendments made to the Professional Standards Regulations 2017 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation\n\nThere are no amendments which were Not in Operation at the date of this publication.\n\n4 Explanatory details\n\n1. Reg. 4: S.R. No. 122/2007. [↑](#endnote-ref-2)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Insufficient content was provided to assess whether the scope of these regulations changed from their original intent. The document contains only version history metadata and structural headings, with no substantive regulatory provisions visible for comparison."},"complexity_factors":["Only metadata and structural shell were provided — no substantive regulatory content is present for analysis","Professional standards legislation generally involves interaction between multiple statutes and occupational schemes, which adds inherent complexity when full text is available","Consolidated version status suggests possible layered amendments that would increase complexity if full text were available","The truncated/duplicated headings suggest a document rendering or extraction error, limiting analytical depth"],"plain_english_summary":"These are the Professional Standards Regulations 2017 made under Victoria’s Professional Standards Act (SR No.106/2017). The supplied document contains only the metadata shell (status, consolidation and amendment history) and not the substantive regulatory text, so specific obligations and limits can’t be determined from it. Generally, such regulations govern professional bodies, may cap civil liability for participating professionals, and affect professionals, their associations, and members of the public."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain tightly focused on their original purpose: establishing the fee structure and administrative mechanics for professional standards schemes. The 2017 version is a direct replacement of the 2007 regulations with no expansion into new policy areas. The scope is limited to financial administration (fees, interest, waivers) and a single notification requirement, consistent with the enabling Act's framework."},"complexity_factors":["Only 10 substantive regulations with straightforward sequential numbering","Minimal defined terms (only 2: 'professional standards legislation' and 'the Act')","No cross-references to external legislation beyond the parent Act and standard interpretation legislation","Simple conditional logic limited to quarterly payment deadlines in regulation 7","No nested exceptions or complex provisos","Single-layer delegation of authority (Council vs Executive Officer) in regulation 9","Prescriptive but unambiguous formatting requirement in regulation 10 (font size specification)"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out the administrative and financial rules for professional standards schemes in Victoria. These schemes allow professional associations (like accountants, engineers, or lawyers) to limit their members' liability for negligence claims, provided they meet certain standards of training, insurance, and complaint handling.\n\n**What this legislation does:**\n\n*   **Sets fees:** It establishes fees that professional associations must pay to the Professional Standards Council (the body that oversees these schemes):\n    *   **$5,000** to apply for a new scheme, or to amend or cancel an existing one\n    *   **$50 per member per year** for associations that run an approved scheme\n    *   **Interest** on late payments (0.05% per day)\n*   **Allows fee relief:** The Council can waive or reduce fees in special circumstances. The Executive Officer can waive smaller amounts (up to $250) without needing full Council approval.\n*   **Mandates a disclaimer:** It requires professionals using these schemes to notify clients with a specific statement: *\"Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation\"* — and specifies this must be printed in at least 8-point Times New Roman font.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n*   **Occupational associations** (professional bodies) that want to run liability limitation schemes\n*   **The Professional Standards Council**, which collects fees and administers the system\n*   **Consumers** who deal with professionals covered by these schemes (via the notification requirement)\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThese regulations are the 'machinery' that makes the Professional Standards Act work. Without them, there would be no clear way to fund the oversight body, no enforcement mechanism for late payments, and no standard way for professionals to warn clients that their liability is capped. The notification requirement is particularly important — it ensures consumers know they may not be able to sue for full damages if something goes wrong."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"These Regulations replace the 2007 Regulations and implement fee, interest, waiver and notification rules under the Professional Standards Act 2003 (regs 1–4, 6–10). They do not expand or alter the Act's substantive coverage of schemes or who may be subject to them; they primarily set administrative and financial terms for Council interaction."},"complexity_factors":["Fixed, low number of clearly stated fee amounts (regs 6–7) reduces calculation complexity","Quarterly timing windows for payment create modest administrative scheduling requirements (reg 7(2)–(3))","Simple daily interest formula on overdue amounts (reg 8) but requires tracking of due dates and balances","Discretionary waiver power concentrated in the Council with a monetary delegation to the Executive Officer up to $250 (reg 9)","Prescribed short form and minimum font size for liability notices (reg 10)","Revocation of prior regulations (reg 4) requires transitional awareness but does not add substantive rules"],"plain_english_summary":"These Regulations set out the payment, timing and recovery rules the Professional Standards Council uses under the Professional Standards Act 2003: $5,000 application fees for approval/amendment/revocation of schemes, $50 per-member annual and additional fees, interest at 0.05% per day on overdue fees, limited waiver powers (including an Executive Officer cap of $250), and a prescribed liability notice format. Occupational associations pay the fees to the Council; the Council decides on waivers. The Regulations also revoke the 2007 Regulations."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/professional-standards-regulations-2017","history":"/api/acts/professional-standards-regulations-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/professional-standards-regulations-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/professional-standards-regulations-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/professional-standards-regulations-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/professional-standards-regulations-2017/documents"}}