177Joint decision by National Board and health complaints

177 Joint decision by National Board and health complaints (1) The National Board must consider the report and discussions held with the registered health practitioner or student under section 176 (3). (2) If the assessor’s report relates to a performance assessment, the consideration must be joint consideration with the health complaints entity, and the National Board and health complaints entity must attempt to reach agreement on how the registered health practitioner or student is to be dealt with. (3) After consideration, the National Board may decide to— (a) take the action the Board considers necessary or appropriate under another Division; or (b) refer the matter to another entity, including, for example, a health complaints entity, for investigation or other action; or (c) take no further action in relation to the matter.

(4) If the report relates to a performance assessment and the National Board and the health complaints entity are not able to reach agreement on what to do in relation to the registered health practitioner or student, the decision of the board under subsection (3) must be to take the most serious action proposed by either the board or the health complaints entity. (5) The actions that may be taken under subsection (4), from most serious to least serious, are the actions set out in section 150 (4A).