The draft framework is available for review from early November 2004.

The framework is divided into 7 learning areas that are further subdivided into 22 learning topics (these are listed in full in Have your say on this site).

The framework is designed to be flexible and can be used to develop curricula, competency-based training programs and other safety and quality initiatives.

Within each learning topic you will find:

• The rationale.
• The framework setting out the levels of knowledge and performance required for each category of health care worker (see below). Each level of knowledge and performance builds on the previous level.
• The development document derived from the literature and containing the background information used to create the framework.

Levels of knowledge and performance elements required by each category of health care worker:

• Category 1 – Health care workers who provide support services (e.g. volunteers, transport, catering, cleaning and reception staff) only require Level 1 knowledge and performance elements.
• Category 2 – Health care workers who provide direct clinical care to patients and work under supervision (e.g. ambulance officers, nurses, interns, residents and allied health workers) require both Level 1 and 2 knowledge and performance elements.
• Category 3 – Health care workers with managerial, team leader and/or advanced clinical responsibilities (e.g. nurse unit managers, catering managers, department heads, registrars, allied health managers and VMOs) require Level 1, 2 and 3 knowledge and performance elements.
• Category 4 – Clinical and administrative leaders with organisational responsibilities (e.g. CEOs, board members, directors of services and senior health department staff) only require Level 4 knowledge and performance elements.

The framework content is intended to be comprehensive and patient-centred, therefore not all elements and learning topics will be relevant to all health care workers in a given category.

Level 1 knowledge and performance elements have been written in a language that everyone can understand.

It is anticipated that health care workers can move through the framework as they develop personally and professionally.