Expedited SIMG pathway brings 368 GPs in 2025
The Medical Board of Australia released figures for the first full year since the expedited SIMG registration pathway began. In 2025, 368 specialist GPs applied for the program and started supervised...
Ahpra
AHPRA: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the national body responsible for regulating health practitioners across Australia. Working alongside the National Boards for each profession, AHPRA oversees registration, accreditation, standards, and professional conduct to protect public safety and uphold the quality of health services. Its work ensures that registered practitioners meet consistent standards of education, competency, and ethical practice across a wide range of health professions.
What AHPRA Does
AHPRA administers practitioner registration across regulated health professions, including doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied health practitioners, and a range of specialist roles. It sets and enforces standards for safe and effective practice and investigates concerns about professional conduct, competence, and health. By maintaining current registers and handling complaints, AHPRA helps safeguard patients and strengthen confidence in the health system.
Registration and Standards
A core function of AHPRA is to manage the process through which health practitioners become registered to practise. This includes setting education and training requirements, evaluating applications, and ensuring ongoing professional development. AHPRA works with National Boards to define standards of practice that align with evidence, safety expectations, and public interest, helping maintain consistent care quality across Australia.
Handling Complaints and Conduct
AHPRA manages processes for handling complaints and concerns about registered practitioners’ conduct, performance, or health. Through investigation and regulatory action where necessary, it works to protect patients and ensure accountability. This includes managing notifications, coordinating with Boards on fitness to practise, and enforcing professional standards that reflect ethical and safe practice.
Role in Healthcare Safety
AHPRA’s regulatory oversight contributes directly to patient safety and public confidence in healthcare services. By ensuring that practitioners are qualified, competent, and fit to practise, the agency helps reduce risk and uphold professional integrity. Its work also supports national consistency in standards and accountability, which is especially important in a system where patients may receive care across multiple settings and regions.
AHPRA’s Impact on the Health System
As the national regulator for health practitioners, AHPRA plays a critical role in maintaining trust, safety, and quality in Australia’s healthcare system. Its oversight of registration, standards, and professional conduct helps ensure that patients can access competent, ethical care wherever they live, supporting the broader goals of equitable, effective, and safe health services.
Expedited SIMG pathway brings 408 GPs into practice
The Medical Board of Australia released two reports on pathways for specialist international medical graduates SIMGs seeking specialist registration. In the first full year with the expedited SIMG pro...
TGA cracks down on peptide craze after $2m seizures
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has broadened its 2026–27 priority areas to cover unapproved peptide products amid rising imports, online advertising and safety concerns. Deputy secretary Anthony...
Forensic decision log under AHPRA rules
Australian clinics accelerating AI scribes and diagnostic assistants are now shaped by a tightening legal framework. Under the 2026 AHPRA standards, the human clinician remains 100% legally liable for...
AHPRA urges telehealth during petrol crisis
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) released a statement urging practitioners, especially in regional and remote areas, to consider telehealth as an alternative during the pet...
AHPRA under media scrutiny over trust and governance
AHPRA is at the centre of sustained media criticism over how it handles clinicians involved in the gender-affirming treatment debate. Critics question the regulator’s neutrality, its links with advoca...
RACGP says telehealth-only services face small fines
The RACGP has issued a position statement on telehealth-only services, setting out safeguards to protect patient care. It requires these services to share information with the patient’s usual GP, and...
ATO targets income splitting under PCG 2025/5
The Australian Tax Office has confirmed it is actively reviewing income-splitting structures used by doctors and allied health practitioners under Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2025/5. The window...
Doctors on social media face AHPRA risk
In 2026 more doctors are using social media to educate, advocate and connect, but online activity remains subject to professional standards. The author warns that social platforms are public, permanen...
AHPRA CEO refutes bias accusations
The Australian published pieces questioning AHPRA’s independence on transgender issues. In response, AHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner and Medical Board of Australia chair Dr Susan O'Dwyer released a join...
Prescribing medicines for family and friends: AHPRA
Regulators in Australia have issued guidance warning health practitioners against treating family or close friends, except in emergencies or when no other clinician is available. The Medical Board of...
GP presence under AI in 88% Australian searches
Google now routinely generates AI overviews for healthcare queries in Australia, with about 88% producing a paragraph about the queried doctor. Most patients do not click through to underlying pages,...
AI medical license driving test proposed for doctors
Australian health policy circles are weighing a licensing regime for doctors around the safe use of medical AI. The idea is in the thinking stage and would start with a compulsory AI training componen...
Medicinal cannabis prescriptions fall 28.5% in 2025
Medicinal cannabis prescriptions in Australia declined sharply in the second half of 2025, according to the Penington Institute. The report, using data from the Federal Department of Health, Disabilit...
Pharmacist prescribing endorsement moves to federal
The Pharmacy Board of Australia and AHPRA have launched a public consultation on a proposed national prescribing standard for pharmacist prescribing. The endorsement would create a uniform qualificati...
Pharmacist prescribing of the contraceptive pill: 5000
NSW Health is widening pharmacist prescribing of the contraceptive pill, with the first 5000 consultations to be free under a $4.5 million state investment. After the free phase, consultations are exp...
Medicinal cannabis sales fall to 2.65m in H2 2025
Medicinal cannabis usage in Australia declined in the second half of 2025, dropping to 2.65 million units after regulators signalled a tougher stance on problematic actors. Department of Health, Disab...
Dodgy dental claims flagged by ATO and AHPRA
The Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency have joined forces to warn about the compassionate release of superannuation for dental work. They insist access...