Frustration about regulators not taking action on notifications drives complaints to the Ombudsman
Most complaints to the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman in 2025–26 were about the handling of concerns about health practitioners (56%), according to the office’s recently released annual report
Frustration about regulators not taking action on notifications drives complaints to the Ombudsman
Most complaints to the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman in 2025–26 were about the handling of concerns about health practitioners (56%), according to the office’s recently released annual report.
Complaints were mostly made by those who had raised a concern about a health practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) (70% of complaints made about notifications were made by notifiers). The office received 492 complaints related to the notifications process in 2025–26, down from 508 complaints in 2024–25.
The top 5 issues raised across these 492 complaints all related to a notifier’s concern that a National Board had not taken regulatory action at the assessment stage of a notification. The office recorded a total of 580 issues about a regulator’s decision not to take action, up from 493 issues in 2024–25.
“It is very important that we hear from people who have concerns about the process for making a notification about a health practitioner,” said Ombudsman, Richelle McCausland.
“Notifiers aren’t able to appeal a decision about a notification, so my office plays a particularly important role as an independent body that can look at whether a decision or action was unfair or unreasonable.”
“We often find that it is easier for people to accept an outcome, even if it’s not the one they wanted, if it’s clear that a fair process was followed and the reasons for the outcome are properly explained,” said the Ombudsman.
Privacy complaints and freedom of information (FOI) review applications to the National Health Practitioner Privacy Commissioner increased more than in previous financial years. Privacy complaints increased to 28 (from 16 in 2024–25) and FOI matters rose to 26 (up from 22 in 2024–25).
The Ombudsman and Commissioner’s annual report also highlights positive systemic changes in 2025–26, including steps Ahpra has taken to address health practitioner concerns related to registration fees. This included its introduction of a 30% rebate on annual registration fees for practitioners who take parental leave or other protected leave from 1 July 2025 and its initiation of a wider review regarding fees.
The Ombudsman’s investigation in November 2025 found that the way registration fees are charged can lead to unfair financial outcomes for some practitioners. Practitioners taking or returning from parental leave, applicants registering for the first time and practitioners changing registration types appeared to be more negatively affected by the way fees are charged. Ahpra accepted the Ombudsman’s 2 suggestions for improvement.
The office’s annual report also highlights further systemic work the office achieved, including:
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Finalising the review of accreditation processes. The Part 2 report, Processes for Progress: Towards fairer and more transparent accreditation processes has been provided to the Health Workforce Taskforce.
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Proactively influencing good administration in health practitioner regulation through 12 submissions, including 5 submissions in response to public consultation processes in the National Scheme, such as in response to the consultation on Ahpra’s Review of the Supervised Practice Framework.
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Progressing the Ombudsman’s investigation into delay and procedural safeguards for health practitioners who are subject to immediate action.
Read the 2025–26 annual report
For more information, please contact our media team at media@nhpo.gov.au.