Registration and Accreditation - Four categories of registration: general, specialist, provisional, limited, and non-practicing, along with student registration - Medical graduates from New Zealand are treated with the same registration standards as Australians - Separate fees for registration and application, with initial fees for general, specialist, and limited registrations being $835 AUD - Criminal history check is part of the registration process

Complaints Process - Complaints in the AHPRA are called notifications - Complaint process includes stages such as receipt of the complaint, preliminary assessment, investigation, panel hearing, and tribunal hearing - Tribunal hearing outcomes are made public - In 2021, there were 10,147 notifications about 7,858 health practitioners, with 1.6% of registered practitioners being the subject of a complaint - Complaints can be made online, by mail, telephone, or in-person, with a whistleblower policy for anonymous complaints

Criticisms and Challenges - AHPRA has faced criticism regarding medical right to privacy and informed consent - Complaint resolution process has been criticised for taking a long time - Investigation in 2014 revealed lack of transparency and delays in complaint review process - Senate inquiries have been conducted in 2011, 2017, and 2021 to address these issues - Royal Australian College of General Practitioners identified communication, transparency, and timeliness as main issues with AHPRA

Legislative Framework - Established in 2010 as a regulatory authority in Australia - Administers the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law - Works in conjunction with National Boards for each profession - Subject to legislation and regulations governing its functions - Senate Committee report released in relation to the administration of the National Law and AHPRA

External Links and References - National Code of Conduct for health care workers - AHPRA Regulatory Guide - June 2022 - AHPRA Regulatory Guide Overview - June 2020 - Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, governing the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme - Links to relevant sources and legislation - 1.6% figure refers to complaints in the year 2021 - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency FAQ - Ahpra Senior Managers information from the Medical Board of Australia - Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency information from Tasmania Legal Aid - Health workforce information from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare