/sites/default/files/styles/featured_extra_small_portrait_high_resolution/public/2020-08/Annual%20report%2018-19%20Page%2016%20iStock-1026367516.jpg?itok=ESTOFqmV

Commissioner complaints

Our office provides a free and independent complaint handling service for the public and health practitioners

Make a complaint

Complaints to the Commissioner

Our office accepts complaints about how the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the National Boards use or share personal information.

The Commissioner can decide:

what action should be taken to resolve a complaint
whether compensation should be awarded for any loss or damage suffered due to a breach of privacy
that the handling of personal information was reasonable and take no further action.

Make a complaint to the Commissioner

Your privacy rights

The Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth) promotes and protects the privacy of individuals by regulating the way personal information (information that identifies someone) is handled by agencies including Ahpra and the National Boards.

Complaints about breaches of privacy may relate to the inappropriate sharing or use of personal information.

Ahpra and the National Boards keep several files that may contain personal information, including:

registration files
notification files
investigation files
public register information, including previous registration and disciplinary information
legal files
employment files
general administration files and documents.

Ahpra's privacy policy

Find out more about Ahpra’s privacy policy.
Ahpra's collection statements

Learn more about Ahpra’s collection statements.
Privacy Act

Find out more about the Privacy Act from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Make a complaint

Make a complaint to the Ombudsman and Commissioner and find out how to lodge a complaint

Apply for FOI review

Apply for review of Ahpra's FOI decision or find out more about how to make an application

Complaints to the Ombudsman that raise privacy concerns

We also consider complaints to the Ombudsman about how Ahpra or a National Board handled a matter. Sometimes these complaints raise concerns that relate to a person's privacy. The Ombudsman commonly hears concerns about actions related to the publishing of information (for example, registration information about practitioners on the public register).

If you are unsure whether you should make a complaint to the Ombudsman or the Commissioner, please contact us and we can discuss these different complaint types with you.

Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme

Ahpra and the National Boards must notify us about data breaches involving personal information that are likely to result in serious harm to a person. A data breach of this nature is called a ‘notifiable data breach’.

Since the scheme began on 22 February 2019, we have not received any eligible notifications from Ahpra or the National Boards about eligible data breaches.

Find out more

Make a complaint to the Commissioner

Make a complaint to the Commissioner

Are you ready to make a complaint about how Ahpra or a National Board used or shared personal information?

Read more
Use of personal information

Use of personal information

We strive to improve how your personal information is protected by Ahpra, its management committee and the National Boards

Read more
Ombudsman complaints

Ombudsman complaints

The Ombudsman can assist with complaints about how Ahpra and the National Boards have handled notification or registration matters, personal information and FOI requests.

Read more
Privacy complaints

Privacy complaints

We can consider complaints to the Ombudsman about how Ahpra or a National Board handled a privacy-related matter.

Read more