National Health Practitioner Ombudsman

15/09/2026

We commonly receive complaints about the notification process. This includes concerns raised by individuals that a decision not to take action against a practitioner was unfair. In July 2026, complaints to the Ombudsman about a notification more than doubled when compared with the same time last year.

We often find that people feel able to accept a decision, even if they are still disappointed by it, if they understand:
• why the decision was made
• that their concerns were properly considered.

Clear reasons for decisions and good communication are central to people having trust in the notifications process.

Learn more about how we manage notification-related complaints: www.nhpo.gov.au/notification-complaints

10/09/2026

Ahpra has announced a fee deferral pilot for medical graduates applying for provisional registration for the first time from 9 October 2026 to 4 January 2027.

Graduates who participate will have until 31 March 2027 to pay the registration fee.

More information is available on Ahpra’s website: www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2026-09-09-Fee-deferral-pilot

In 2025, the Ombudsman identified first-time registrants as one group particularly affected by the way registration fees were charged, and suggested improvements to the process.

Read the Ombudsman's report: www.nhpo.gov.au/investigation-into-the-charging-model-for-health-practitioner-registration-fees

We are monitoring Ahpra's implementation of the Ombudsman's suggestions, including initiatives that address issues identified through her investigation.

Learn more about our own motion investigation into Ahpra’s charging model for health practitioner registration fees.

03/09/2026

The Medical Training Survey is now open. The survey gives medical trainees the opportunity to share feedback about their training experiences. Its results help identify what's working well and where improvements may be needed.

Medical trainees can access the survey through their Ahpra portal.

Learn more: www.medicaltrainingsurvey.gov.au/

Have concerns about an approved training program delivered by a specialist medical college? We may be able to help.

Find out more: www.nhpo.gov.au/program-of-study-accreditation-complaints

28/08/2026

Our office can assist with complaints about how specialist medical colleges deliver training programs that have been approved by the Medical Board of Australia.

This can include concerns about selection processes or how a college has managed a complaint or concerns about a training issue.

Read more about how Sophia's complaint will help bring about greater transparency for future applicants:

Sophia applied to a specialist medical college to enter its training program. Find out more about how we managed Sophia's complaint.

20/08/2026

We may be able to help if you have a concern about how your registration matter with Ahpra has been handled.

Learn more about the common types of registration complaints practitioners make to us: www.nhpo.gov.au/registration-complaints

12/08/2026

The medical registration renewal window is now open. Medical practitioners need to renew their registration by 30 September each year.

We may be able to help if things don't go to plan with the renewal process. For example, we can assist with complaints if you don't think you've been treated fairly or the way your application has been processed doesn't seem to follow policy or legislative requirements.

Learn more about common registration-related complaints we receive here: www.nhpo.gov.au/registration-complaints

Find out more about how to make a complaint here: www.nhpo.gov.au/make-a-complaint

06/08/2026

Health practitioners and members of the public can make a privacy complaint to us if they are concerned about how their personal information has been handled by an organisation in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme, such as Ahpra and the National Boards.

Learn more about our role on our website: www.nhpo.gov.au/commissioner-complaints

Ready to make a privacy complaint? We generally request that you first complain to the organisation you believe has mishandled your personal information.

Find out more here: www.nhpo.gov.au/make-a-complaint-to-the-commissioner

31/07/2026

It’s been great to connect with health practitioners at .

Our team and Ombudsman Richelle McCausland have been having some great conversations with GPs and other health practitioners working in primary care about our role in ensuring regulatory processes are fair.

It’s important health practitioners know there is an independent and free complaint handling service they can turn when things aren’t going to plan.

Make sure to drop by our stall if you’re at the conference to ask more about what we do or to talk more about the types of complaints we can assist with.

23/07/2026

Health practitioners have often shared with our office that having a notification made about them can be distressing. This includes when a practitioner believes a person’s notification was groundless and made to cause them harm.

In December 2024, the Ombudsman reviewed Ahpra’s framework for identifying and managing vexatious notifications. The Ombudsman made 17 recommendations for improvement, including that Ahpra should be more transparent about how and when its Vexatious Notifications Framework is applied. You can read the review’s report here:
www.nhpo.gov.au/vexatious-notifications-framework-review

Our office continues to monitor Ahpra’s implementation of the Ombudsman’s recommendations.

Learn more about our independent review into Ahpra’s framework for identifying and managing vexatious notifications.

15/07/2026

We most commonly receive complaints from people who are dissatisfied with how Ahpra and a National Board handled a notification made about a health practitioner.

Navigating how to make a health complaint can be challenging and it is important that people know how their concerns will be heard by the appropriate organisation.

Find out more about how we helped Anek with his concerns about a National Board’s decision to take no further action against a practitioner

Anek contacted our office to make a complaint about Ahpra and a National Board’s handling of a notification he made about a practitioner