Media release

07 Nov 2014

AHPRA and the National Boards have released their 2013/14 Annual Report on the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme.

2013/14 National Scheme Annual Report published

There was a 16 per cent increase in notifications made about health practitioners in 2014 – with more than 10,000 notifications received - according to the 2013/14 Annual Report of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the National Boards reporting on the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme).

Mandatory reporting rates have also increased by nine per cent nationally over the year, varied across states and territories and professions.

More than 97 per cent of health practitioners now renew their annual registration online – setting an international benchmark – and about 96 per cent of health practitioners complete the voluntary workforce survey, creating invaluable data for workforce planning and reform.

The 2014 annual report is a comprehensive record of the National Scheme for the 12 months ending 30 June 2014.

This year for the first time, AHPRA and the National Boards have also published summaries of our work regulating health practitioners in every state and territory. Profession specific profiles will be released and progressively published.

The annual report provides a national snapshot of the work and finances of the National Scheme and is tabled in the parliaments of each state and territory and the Commonwealth. The 2014 annual report is an important reporting milestone and covers the lead up to the scheduled independent three-year review of the National Scheme, now underway.

‘The priority in 2013/14 was on improving our performance and accountability through management and reporting; our management of notifications and the experience of notifiers and practitioners; and on ensuring smooth registration and renewal processes for practitioners,’ AHPRA Agency Management Committee Chair Michael Gorton AM said.

There were more than 619,500 health practitioners from 14 professions registered in Australia on 30 June, and more practitioners in each profession.

‘Our investment in notifications management is delivering results, and this will remain a critical challenge given the steady increase in recent years in the number of complaints,’ Mr Gorton said.

AHPRA finalised more than 566,000 renewal applications this year; the largest number to date in the National Scheme.

Other highlights include:

• 61,000 criminal history checks led National Boards to limit or refuse registration in 79 cases. 
• 75 per cent of immediate actions taken by National Boards for the most serious risks posed by registered health practitioners led to restrictions on registration. 
• Of the matters decided by Tribunals, 88 per cent resulted in disciplinary action. 
• Of the 139 appeals finalised during the year, 81 per cent resulted in no change to the original decision made under the National Law. 
• 547 advertising-related complaints were received, and of the 296 cases closed during the year, 98 per cent were resolved when the individual or organisation complied with AHPRA’s demand to amend or remove the advertising. 97 per cent of complaints about title or practice protection were resolved at AHPRA’s request. 
• More than 120,459 students are registered and studying to be health practitioners in Australia.

The Chair of Forum of National Board Chairs and Chair of the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia, Dr Mary Russell, said the 14 National Boards had worked together this year to identify and address a range of issues that posed common regulatory challenges while recognising profession-specific issues.

This has included a review and implementation of common guidelines (advertising and mandatory notifications), a common social media policy and a broadly shared code of conduct.

‘All National Boards are committed to the effective and fair regulation of the health professions so the public can have confidence in the health services they access,’ Dr Russell said.

‘We will continue to work closely with AHPRA to ensure that the National Scheme is more accessible and transparent for health practitioners and the community.’

AHPRA CEO Martin Fletcher said the common regulatory principles agreed and updated across the National Scheme during the year marked a significant milestone.

‘The regulatory principles underpin decision-making across the National Scheme and help ensure all our decisions are proportionate and manage risk effectively,’ Mr Fletcher said.

The 2014 annual report is published on the AHPRA website under Publications, along with the reports profiling the work and data for each state and territory.

For more information

• Lodge an online enquiry form 
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 8708 9001 (overseas callers) 
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200

Download a PDF of this Media release - 2013-14 National Scheme Annual Report published - 7 November 2014 (223 KB,PDF)