Making a complaint about Ahpra’s handling of concerns regarding inappropriate treatment of endometriosis
Our office acknowledges the distress, confusion and concern many are feeling in the wake of media reporting about women receiving inappropriate treatment for endometriosis.
We recognise the strength and courage women have shown in sharing their stories.
One of our office’s important roles is to ensure the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s (Ahpra’s) decisions and actions are fair and reasonable.
Ahpra is the organisation responsible for ensuring registered health practitioners, like doctors and surgeons, are safe and competent to practice in Australia.
Ahpra can be notified if you are concerned about a health practitioner’s health, conduct or performance. Health practitioners also have mandatory notification obligations if they believe a fellow health practitioner is putting the public at risk.
Importantly, and following our Ombudsman’s recommendation, people who make a notification to Ahpra have recently become more protected. It is now an offence to threaten, intimidate, dismiss, refuse to employ or otherwise discriminate against people who notify Ahpra and the National Boards about their concerns.
Making a complaint about Ahpra’s handling of concerns about inappropriate treatment of endometriosis
Our office can assist with complaints about how Ahpra has handled notifications it has received from patients, health practitioners and others.
You can complain to us if you believe Ahpra’s decisions and actions were unfair, unreasonable or not made in line with the law and Ahpra’s obligations and policies.
If you are concerned about how Ahpra has managed your matter, you can contact us to discuss your concerns or to make a complaint.
Learn more about how to make a complaint
Ahpra has publicly announced a number of steps it is taking in response to recent allegations about inappropriate treatment of endometriosis. This includes:
- commissioning a panel of independent experts to review and support its current investigation
- reviewing its overall methodology in assessing and managing these types of cases
- encouraging individuals with concerns to contact Ahpra
- publishing more information to support people to know more about how to raise concerns about treatment for endometriosis and pelvic pain.
Other relevant publicly reported steps being taken by bodies outside of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme) include:
- Victoria Police confirmed it has received referral of relevant allegations which are being assessed
- Epworth Hospital announced it will commission an independent external review of its clinical governance arrangements
- Women’s Health Victoria has an established dedicated endometriosis and pelvic pain surgery concerns line available from 1pm 2 March 2026.
We are monitoring the issues raised in recent media reports and can take further steps, like making inquiries or commencing an investigation into Ahpra’s handling of matters, if needed in line with our role in the National Scheme.
Making a complaint about inappropriate or unnecessary health treatment
We’ve heard it can be hard to navigate how to make a complaint about the health care you’ve received.
Often, the first step to make a complaint about inappropriate or unnecessary treatment is to speak directly with the health service or health practitioner about your concerns.
If you feel that you cannot do this, or if you’re not happy with the response you have been given, you can make a complaint to Ahpra or a health complaints organisation in your state or territory. The best organisation to complain to can depend on what outcome you are seeking and where you live.
Complain to a health complaints body
You can make a complaint to your local state or territory health complaints organisation if you are concerned about the behaviour or performance of a practitioner and would like to achieve outcomes like:
• 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 or community health service.
Find the contact information for a health complaints organisation.
Make a notification to Ahpra
You can make a notification to Ahpra if you are concerned about the health, conduct or performance of a health practitioner. This may include concerns that the health practitioner is practising their profession in an unsafe way.
It is important to remember that Ahpra is a risk-based regulator and it cannot achieve some outcomes patients may be seeking (such as compensation).
You can contact Ahpra by phone on 1300 419 495 or visit its website.
Ahpra has also published information specifically for those who have concerns about treatment for endometriosis and pelvic pain.
Make a complaint to us
You can make a complaint to us if you are dissatisfied with how Ahpra has handled your matter. This can include, for example, concerns about how the notification you made about a health practitioner was managed.
We generally request that you first make a complaint to Ahpra if you haven’t done so already. This can lead to quicker outcomes because Ahpra can first directly address the concerns you wish to raise with us.
If you are not happy with Ahpra’s response, or you do not feel comfortable raising concerns with Ahpra, you can contact us to make a complaint.
Other avenues to raise health-related concerns
It is important to remember that, as well as raising a health complaint, you can:
• seek legal advice. There are law firms which specialise, for example, in providing advice about medical negligence.
• contact the police if you believe a crime has been committed.
Access support
Immediate help is also available if you need it. Find out more about available support services.
There are a range of endometriosis resources and supports available.