Mandatory notifications: What you need to know

What is a mandatory notification?

Notifying us about a concern that a health practitioner may be putting public safety at risk is called a ‘notification’.

Anyone can make a voluntary notification about a health practitioner, but by law, registered health practitioners, employers and education providers must make a mandatory notification in some limited circumstances. Mandatory notifications help to protect the public by ensuring that Ahpra and the National Boards are alerted to any potential risks to the public.

What’s changed?

On 1 March 2020, the requirements to make a mandatory notification changed. The changes aim to support health practitioners to seek help about their health without fearing a mandatory notification.

To help practitioners understand the changes, we have updated our mandatory notifications guidelines.

Helpful resources for health practitioners

Understanding when to make a mandatory notification and when not to is an important way you can help to protect the public and support your colleagues.

Here you will find resources to help you understand mandatory notifications.

Find out more