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AHPRA Complaints Process

AHPRA will assess all notifications/complaints to determine whether a Board must consider taking immediate action to protect public health or safety.

This may result in changing the registration status of a student or practitioner. If immediate action is not required, AHPRA will asses the notification thoroughly to enable the relevant Board to make an informed decision about it. Each investigation is tailored to the complaint received, and complex matters take more time. AHPRA aims to complete most investigations within six months.

Stages of the Notification/Complaint Process

All notifications/complaints pass through stages 1-2, and depending on the outcome of the preliminary assessment may pass through any of the following stages, 3-5.

Stage 1: Receipt of Notification/Complaint

AHPRA receives notification/complaint either by online form, hardcopy form (available to download on the AHPRA website) letter or telephone.

Stage 2: Preliminary Assessment

A preliminary assessment determines if the matter will be handled by AHPRA or referred to another health complaints entity.

Preliminary Assessment Outcome

The outcome of the preliminary assessment may be for the Board to:

  • take immediate action on the practitioner’s or student’s registration
  • investigate the notification
  • request a health assessment of the practitioner or student or a performance assessment of the practitioner
  • refer the matter to a health or performance panel hearing
  • refer the matter to a tribunal hearing
  • issue a caution
  • accept undertakings
  • impose conditions
  • take no further action

Stage 3: Investigation

An investigation may need to be conducted to determine the appropriate course of action, which may be to:

  • take immediate action
  • request a health or performance assessment
  • refer matter to a health or performance panel hearing
  • refer matter to a tribunal

A decision may be made to:

  • issue a caution
  • accept undertakings
  • impose conditions
  • refer all or part of the notification to another body
  • take no further action

Where an undertaking or condition applies, the registrant will be subject to monitoring to ensure compliance.

Stage 4: Panel Hearing

A panel hearing will be conducted to determine the appropriate course of action, which may be to:

  • refer to a tribunal

A decision may be made to:

  • issue a caution or reprimand (performance and professional standards panel only)
  • impose conditions
  • refer to another body
  • suspend (only by a Health Panel)
  • take no further action

Where an undertaking or condition applies, the registrant will be subject to monitoring to ensure compliance.

Panel hearing outcomes are published.

Stage 5: Tribunal Hearing

A tribunal hearing will be conducted to determine the appropriate course of action, which may be to:

  • issue a caution or reprimand
  • impose conditions
  • fine registrant
  • suspend registration
  • cancel registration
  • take no further action

Where an undertaking or condition applies, the registrant will be subject to monitoring to ensure compliance.

Tribunal hearing outcomes are made available to the public.

Telephone 1300 419 495 8am to 6pm (EST), Monday to Friday

AHPRA Complaints Process  :  Last Revised: Mon May 27th 2019
The content of the Law Handbook is made available as a public service for information purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. See Disclaimer for details. For free and confidential legal advice in South Australia call 1300 366 424.