(1) The professions listed in the Schedule are hereby declared to be allied health professions for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), after consultation with the Council, the Minister may by Order, amend the Schedule.
(3) An Order under subsection (2) to amend the Schedule to declare a profession to be an allied health profession shall not be made unless—
(a) the Minister has given interested persons, organizations and other bodies an opportunity to make representations to him or her concerning the proposed declaration; and
(b) the Minister, subject to subsection (4), considers that it is appropriate and in the public interest that the profession be declared as such under this Act.
(4) In considering, for the purposes of subsection (3) (b), whether it is appropriate and in the public interest that a profession be declared as an allied health profession, the Minister shall have regard to the following factors—
(a) the extent to which the profession has a defined scope of practice and applies a distinct body of knowledge;
(b) the extent to which the profession has established itself, including whether there is at least one professional body representing a significant portion of the practitioners of the profession;
(c) the existence of defined routes of entry into the profession and of independently assessed entry qualifications;
(d) the allied health profession's commitment to continuous professional development;
(e) the degree of risk to the health, safety or welfare of the public; and
(f) any other factors that the Minister considers relevant.