Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists
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Consultation

Current consultations

ARONAH develops and reviews professional standards through an independent process informed by professional expertise, stakeholder participation and public consultation.

Consultation & independence

Professional expertise is central to good regulation.

Professional associations bring an important collective understanding of the profession, its practitioners and the realities of clinical practice. Education institutions contribute expertise in curriculum, clinical preparation and implementation, while practitioners and other stakeholders contribute experience from across the profession.

ARONAH brings these perspectives into an independent standards-setting process, considers the evidence and consultation feedback, and retains responsibility for the final regulatory standard.
Open consultation

Updated Code of Conduct

Review of the professional conduct framework following trans-Tasman collaboration with professional associations and education institutions.

Current action
Feedback open until 30 October 2026

Key dates

Development and consultation

Collaboration Throughout 2025 Regular stakeholder meetings
Development 2026 Updated Code prepared
Opened 27 August 2026 Public consultation commenced
Closes 30 October 2026 Extended consultation period

Professional & stakeholder participation

Expertise brought into the review

The consultation process brings together professional, educational and practitioner perspectives so that proposed standards can be tested against contemporary practice before they are finalised.

Professional associations Key consultation partners
Professional associations contribute a vital collective perspective on the profession, practitioner experience and the practical implications of professional standards. Their involvement helps ensure that ARONAH’s regulatory work is informed by those who understand the profession and its development.
ANTA CMA NHAA NMHNZ
Education institutions Education expertise
Contributed perspectives relating to professional education, practitioner preparation and implementation.
ECNH SCU SPCNM TUA
Wider profession Consultation feedback
Suitably qualified practitioners, educators and other stakeholders can review the proposed Code and provide feedback during the public consultation period.
ARONAH Regulatory responsibility
ARONAH coordinates the review, considers professional and stakeholder feedback and retains responsibility for determining the final Code of Conduct.

Consultation timeline

From collaboration to public consultation

Throughout 2025 Stakeholder collaboration Professional associations and education institutions participated.
2026 Updated Code prepared Consultation material developed.
27 August 2026 Consultation opened Wider professional feedback invited.
30 October 2026 Consultation closes Submissions then proceed to review.

Consultation document

Updated Code of Conduct

2026 Code of Conduct for Naturopaths and Western Herbal Medicine Practitioners View PDF →
Initial consultation complete

2026 Naturopathic Competency Standards

Comprehensive review of the competencies expected of naturopathic practitioners, informed by professional materials, consultation and comparative analysis.

Next stage
Further comment planned for October 2026

Key dates

Development and review

Earlier standards 2013–2019 Development and subsequent reviews
Major review 2026 Comprehensive comparative analysis
Consultation 25 May–7 June 2026 Initial comment period
Draft revised 22 June 2026 Feedback considered

Professional & comparative input

What informed the standards

Professional associations Profession-specific expertise
Current professional frameworks and materials supplied by Australian and New Zealand associations contributed direct profession-specific context to the review. This is important in ensuring that competency standards remain connected to contemporary naturopathic practice.
ANTA CMA NMHNZ
Other health professions Comparative benchmarking
Competency frameworks from other health professions were reviewed to compare structure, contemporary expectations and approaches to professional competency.
International naturopathy Comparative material
Naturopathic competency frameworks from Brazil, Canada, Switzerland and the United States were considered as comparative sources. They were not participating stakeholder organisations.
Practitioners & stakeholders Consultation feedback
Consultation provided an opportunity to identify areas requiring refinement and contribute practical professional feedback.
ARONAH Standards responsibility
ARONAH undertook the comprehensive review and comparative analysis, considers the material and consultation feedback and retains responsibility for determining the final competency framework.

Review timeline

Development of the 2026 draft

2013–2019 Earlier standards Initial framework and subsequent reviews.
2026 Comprehensive review Comparative analysis and framework redesign.
25 May–22 June Initial consultation Feedback considered and draft revised.
October 2026 TBC Further comment Additional consultation planned.

Draft standard

2026 competency framework

Draft 2026 ARONAH Naturopathic Competency Standards View PDF →
Review methodology and comparative sources

ARONAH’s competency standards were first developed in 2013 and subsequently reviewed in 2015 and 2019.

The 2026 review compared professional frameworks describing the knowledge, skills and attributes expected across health professions in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Australian and New Zealand material

Comparative material included frameworks supplied by ANTA, CMA and NMHNZ together with standards from other Australian health professions.

International comparison

Naturopathic competency frameworks from Brazil, Canada, Switzerland and the United States were reviewed as additional comparative material.

Structural comparison

The structural format draws extensively from the ANZCP Competency Standards for Clinical Perfusionists, alongside additional prescribing and interprofessional competency frameworks.

Open consultation

Review of the Education Standards for Naturopathy

Review of ARONAH’s Naturopathic Course Accreditation Standards following professional engagement, education-sector consultation, feedback mapping and structured benchmarking.

Current action
Feedback open until 30 October 2026

Key dates

Review and consultation

Engagement 2025 Regular stakeholder meetings
Review period 2025–26 Feedback mapping and benchmarking
Final draft 2026 Standards and evidence prepared
Closes 30 October 2026 COB Friday

Professional & education sector participation

Expertise shaping the review

Accreditation standards affect both professional preparation and education delivery. The review therefore draws deliberately on expertise from the profession and from institutions responsible for educating future practitioners.

Professional associations Professional voice
Professional associations bring an important understanding of practitioner expectations, contemporary clinical practice and the needs of the profession. Their feedback helps ensure education requirements remain connected to the competencies graduates will require in practice.
ANPA ANTA ATMS CMA NHAA NMHNZ
Education institutions Education expertise
Contributed expertise in curriculum, clinical education, program delivery and implementation of accreditation requirements.
ECNH SCU SPCNM TUA
Wider profession Public feedback
Naturopathic stakeholders across Australia and New Zealand and suitably qualified practitioners are invited to review the final draft and contribute additional feedback.
ARONAH Accreditation responsibility
ARONAH develops and maintains the accreditation standards, considers professional and education-sector feedback alongside benchmarking and retains responsibility for determining the final standards used in accreditation.

Review timeline

From stakeholder engagement to final consultation

2025 Stakeholder engagement Associations and education institutions participated.
2025–26 Evidence reviewed Feedback mapping and benchmarking undertaken.
2026 Final draft prepared Standards and supporting material released.
30 October 2026 Consultation closes Final public feedback received.

Standards & evidence

Consultation documents

2026 Naturopathic Education Accreditation Standards View PDF → Stakeholder Feedback Mapping Document View PDF → Benchmarking Summary Report View PDF →
About the review and benchmarking

ARONAH worked with professional associations and education institutions during the review of the Naturopathic Education Standards.

The feedback mapping document records how earlier stakeholder feedback was considered, while the benchmarking report provides supporting comparative evidence.

Benchmarking included areas such as clinical program and practicum hours, online learning and class size caps, and telehealth requirements.

Consultation history

Previous consultations

Explore earlier consultations, professional and stakeholder contributions, submissions, supporting records and consultation outcomes.

Explore Previous Consultations →