Concerned about a health practitioner?

Concerns about practitioners

Managing notifications during the COVID-19 pandemic

Like all organisations, Ahpra will be affected by the evolving social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We will continue to receive and manage concerns about registered practitioners.

We will prioritise the management of concerns that identify an immediate or high risk to public safety.

We anticipate there will be delays in responding to lower risk concerns during this time.

If you are considering making a notification, we encourage you to first

watch the five-minute video “I have a concern: Am I In the Right Place?” below, and
read the “Why am I raising this concern” table below.

Ahpra and National Boards thank you for your understanding during this time.

I am concerned about a health practitioner - Am I in the right place?

Watch our video to help decide if Ahpra is the right place for your concerns. Don’t forget to press pause to make note of important information in the video, or find further information below.

Why am I raising this concern?

If you are raising this concern for:

an explanation
an apology
a refund or compensation
access to your health records or to amend them
change in policy or practice at a hospital, medical/dental practice, pharmacy, ambulance, community health service.

Submit a complaint to a health complaints organisation

If you are raising this concern because you think:

a practitioner's behaviour is placing the public at risk
a practitioner is practising their profession in an unsafe way, or
a practitioner's ability to make safe judgements about their patients might be impaired because of their health.

Submit a concern to Ahpra

How we manage concerns

Here’s where you can learn more about what happens when a notification is made with us.

Are you reporting an advertising or other offence?

For example, someone claiming to be a registered health practitioner or unlawful advertising.

Are you in NSW or QLD?

Find out how to raise a concern about a health practitioner if you're in NSW or QLD.

Further information and support?

Call us on 1300 419 495

Are you making a mandatory notification?

This information is for all states and territories. Including NSW.

Want to watch our video series?

We answer common questions by practitioners and the public about notifications.

Overview of co-regulatory arrangements

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Ahpra is the right place if you are concerned that a health practitioner may be behaving in a way that could present a significant risk to you, to other patients or members of the public. There are different arrangements for people in Qld and NSW for managing concerns about registered health practitioners.

Further information is provided in the diagram below and on the NSW and Qld page.

The National Scheme

In all states and territories other than NSW and Queensland
Notification made to Ahpra (on behalf of National Board)
Consult with the local health complaints entity if the matter could be dealt with by that entity
Matter assessed
Recommendation presented to committee who hold a delegation to make a decision
Decision made
National online public register updated as required (e.g. to include conditions on a practitioner’s registration)

In Queensland
Notification made to Office of the Health Ombudsman (on behalf of National Board)
OHO shares details of the complaint with Ahpra to update National Database
Matter assessed
Matter referred to Ahpra (on behalf of National Board)

Recommendation presented to committee who hold a delegation to make a decision
Decision made

OHO decides to keep for early resolution, or investigation
Decision made and Ahpra notified

National online public register updated as required (e.g. to include conditions on a practitioner’s registration)

In NSW
Notification made to Health Care Complaints Commission or a council
HCCC/council shares details of the complaint with Ahpra to update National Database
Follows NSW complaints process
Decision made and Ahpra notified
National online public register updated as required (e.g. to include conditions on a practitioner’s registration)