The Australian Standard Person and provider identification in healthcare (AS 4846:2014) refers to 'professions' and uses the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) to define 'professions'.

This data element cluster uses the ABS's Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations 2013 Version 1.2 (ANZSCO) instead of ASCO, as ANZSCO has replaced ASCO as the relevant classification.

The distinction between 'occupation' and 'profession' is as follows:

• 'Occupation' is a broad term describing any activity performed for monetary compensation.
• 'Profession' refers to a vocation in which a high degree of education or skills are required.

Generally speaking, a 'profession' has a code of conduct, requires specialisation in a specific field, and/or is regulated by statute, whereas an 'occupation' does not necessarily require these attributes.

For consistency with ANZSCO and other occupation-based metadata items, the word 'occupation' is used throughout this data element cluster to refer to 'profession', except for those instances that relate directly the profession's registration body.

Standards Australia 2014. AS 4846:2014 Person and provider identification in healthcare. Sydney: Standards Australia.