Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

2015/16 Annual Report Summary

At a glance: Regulating nurses and midwives in 2015/16

This annual report summary provides a snapshot of our work regulating more than 380,000 registered nurses and midwives in the financial year to 30 June 2016.

A more detailed profile, encompassing data relating to all 14 National Boards in Australia, is published in AHPRA and the National Boards’ 2015/16 annual report

About this report

This report provides a profession-specific view of the work of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) to manage risk to the public and regulate nurses and midwives in the public interest in 2015/16.

The NMBA has worked in close partnership with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to provide all Australians with a safe, qualified and competent workforce under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme).

Information included in this report is drawn from the data published in the 2015/16 annual report by AHPRA and the National Boards, and was correct as at 30 June 2016.

Whenever possible, historical data are provided to show trends over time, as well as comparisons between states and territories.

For a wider context, and to compare the profession against national data from all 14 professions regulated by National Boards under the National Scheme, this report should be read in conjunction with the 2015/16 annual report. Download the report.

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Message from the Chair, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

The NMBA contributes to safer healthcare for the public by regulating the nursing and midwifery professions, within the National Scheme.

The NMBA sets the research-based standards and guidelines that nurses and midwives must meet to register and practise in Australia. In 2015/16, the NMBA oversaw a number of important projects to further support nurses and midwives to provide safe care to the public.

On 1 June 2016, the NMBA’s Registered nurse standards for practice came into effect across Australia. This important document guides the practice of over 300,000 registered nurses in Australia, and replaces the previous National competency standards for the registered nurse. The new standards are a testament to the NMBA’s commitment to evidence-based policy development and open consultation with the public and the professions. The Registered nurse standards for practice are based on consultation with close to 10,000 stakeholders, as well as literature and evidence reviews, gap analysis and observations of registered nurse practice.

To support nurses and midwives to provide safe care to the public, in 2015/16 the NMBA commissioned the development of an independent national health service for nurses and midwives. This service will launch in 2017 and will offer 24/7 confidential advice and referral on health issues.

On behalf of the NMBA, I would like to thank all of our stakeholders who have participated in these and other NMBA projects and consultations in 2015/16, and the nurses and midwives who continue to provide great care across the country.

Associate Professor Lynette Cusack was reappointed Chair of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia from 31 August 2015.

Members of the National Board in 2015/16

• Associate Professor Lynette Cusack (Chair)
• Ms Angela Brannelly
• Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey
• Professor Mary Chiarella (until 30 August 2015)
• Ms Maria Ciffolilli (from 31 August 2015)
• Professor Denise Fassett
• Ms Melodie Heland
• Mr Christopher Helms (from 31 August 2015)
• Ms Louise Horgan (until 30 August 2015)
• Mr Max Howard
• Ms Mary Kirk (until 30 August 2015)
• Dr Christine Murphy (until 30 August 2015)
• Ms Annette Symes (from 31 August 2015)
• Mrs Allyson Warrington
• Ms Margaret Winn
• Mrs Jennifer Wood (from 31 August 2015)

During 2015/16, the Board was supported by Executive Officer Tanya Vogt.

More information about the work of the NMBA, including codes, guidelines and information on registration standards, can be found on the Board website.

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Message from the Agency Management Committee Chair and the AHPRA CEO

Since the National Scheme began six years ago, AHPRA has worked in partnership with the National Boards to ensure that the community has access to a safe and competent health workforce across 14 registered health professions Australia-wide.

We rely on the expertise and insights of the National Boards to make decisions about the 657,621 health practitioners currently registered in Australia in the interests of the Australian public. It’s a role that Board members commit to with dedication and passion, and the community can be assured that its safety is always their number-one priority.

As at 30 June 2016, there were 380,208 nursing and/or midwifery registrants. These practitioners represent almost 60% of the total registrant base, and the professions are growing, with new applications for registration increasing by 16% from 2014/15 and student registrations up 15% over the same period.

Overseeing the large and often complicated responsibility of regulating these professions is the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, with valuable input from professional and community groups. Together, they uphold the values of the National Scheme by taking a risk-based approach to regulatory decision-making and policy implementation, with a continued focus on improving effectiveness, efficiencies and timeliness.

The NMBA took on two major new initiatives in 2015/16 – developing clear standards for practice; and creating and funding a national health support service for nurses and midwives, so practitioners receive the support they need to care for patients and protect the public.

We’d like to thank the Board members for their continued commitment to ensuring a competent and flexible health workforce that meets the current and future health needs of the community.

We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the NMBA.

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Year in review: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

Over the past 12 months, the NMBA has continued to fulfil its regulatory role in the registration and regulation of nurses and midwives in order to protect the public.

The NMBA commissioned two major initiatives for nurses and midwives in Australia in 2015/16: developing Registered nurse standards for practice and a new national health support service for nurses, midwives and students. These projects aim to:

• ensure that the standards for practice for registered nurses are contemporary, relevant and useful, and that registered nurses understand the professional practice standards set by the NMBA under the National Law, and
• support registered nurses, midwives and students to access the support that they need if they have a health issue, to ensure they can provide safe care to the public.

National health support service for nurses and midwives

In 2014, the NMBA commissioned a report to review:

• the referral/notification, assessment, treatment, monitoring and rehabilitation of nurses, midwives and students with a health impairment (both the management and support process), and
• the role the regulator can play in national health support programs, giving consideration to the National Law.

Based on recommendations from the final report, in 2015/16 the NMBA funded the development of a national health support service for nurses, midwives and students of those professions who have a health impairment or are at risk of a health impairment.

The service will raise awareness and provide information about health issues concerning nurses and midwives, as well as advice to their employers. The independant service will include:

• a confidential telephone service, providing advice and referral to appropriate health services, and
• a website to provide up-to-date information and resources.

The national service is expected to be available from early 2017.

Developing registered nurse standards for practice

In 2014, the NMBA commissioned a project to develop standards for practice for registered nurses, including a review of existing national competency standards, which culminated in the release of new standards in 2015/16.

Since the last review of the National competency standards for the registered nurse, the role and scope of practice of registered nurses across Australia had changed. The model of education and training leading to registration, and the regulatory framework in which registration of nurses occurs has also developed substantially.

The project aimed to develop standards that reflect current nursing practice and are contemporary, relevant and useful.

The new standards were developed by a process of literature and evidence reviews, gap analysis, two rounds of consultation and two rounds of observation of registered nurse practice. Interviews were also conducted with consumers, who shared their stories about the strengths and limitations of the nursing care they had received. As well as supporting registered nurses to provide good care, these standards will also help consumers and consumer representatives understand registered nurse practice.

The newly developed Registered nurse standards for practice comprise seven interconnected standards that are relevant to all registered nurses across all areas of practice. The standards came into effect on 1 June 2016.

A spirit of collaboration

The NMBA would also like to acknowledge the strong working and consultative relationship it has with all nursing and midwifery key stakeholders – in particular, the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, with whom we engage in the development of all relevant policy related to nursing and midwifery to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health matters are appropriately considered and addressed – and looks forward to continuing to strengthen these relationships.

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Data snapshot: Regulation at work in 2015/16

The profession in brief

• The registrant base encompassing nurses and midwives grew by 2.7% year on year, to 380,208 in 2015/16.
• Of these, 346,387 registered as a nurse, 29,699 registered as a nurse and midwife, and 4,122 registered as a midwife only.
• Over 27% of nurses and midwives had a principal place of practice in New South Wales (104,721); the Northern Territory (NT) was home to the fewest (4,378).
• The age bracket with the most nurses and midwives was 55–59 (at 49,169 registrants).
• 19,379 registrants were under 25 years of age; 106 were aged 80 or over.
• Of the registrant base, women comprised 88.5% of nurses, 98.2% of nurses and midwives, and 99.6% of midwives only.

About our data

Data in this NMBA summary are drawn from the 2015/16 annual report, published by AHPRA and the National Boards. Data relating to nurses and midwives have been extracted from national source data that include all 14 health professions currently regulated under the National Law.

In the following pages you’ll find registration data, including registrant numbers by profession, age and principal place of practice, as well as data about notifications (complaints or concerns) received about nurses and midwives in the financial year to 30 June 2016. Data about tribunals and panel hearings, active monitoring cases and statutory offence complaints are also included.

For a further breakdown of data from the 2015/16 annual report by AHPRA and the National Boards, as well as summary reports by state and territory, go to the annual report website.

Notifications data

Notifications are complaints or concerns that are lodged with AHPRA about registered health practitioners or students practising in Australia.

Our data generally excludes complaints handled by co-regulatory jurisdictions, such as in:

• NSW, where complaints about health practitioners with this state as their principal place of practice (PPP) are not managed by the NMBA and AHPRA, unless the conduct occurred outside NSW. Complaints about health practitioners where the conduct occurred in NSW are handled by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA), the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Council and the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), and
• Queensland, where complaints are received and managed by the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) and may be referred to AHPRA and the relevant National Board. We are not able to report on all complaints about health practitioners in Queensland because we only have access to data relating to matters referred to us by OHO.

Note that some NSW regulatory data published in this report may vary from data published in the HPCA’s annual report. This is due to subsequent data review by the HPCA after submission of initial data to AHPRA. For more information on how complaints about health practitioners are managed in NSW, and for data about complaints made in the state, please refer to the HPCA website.

For data relating to complaints in Queensland that have not been referred to AHPRA, please refer to the OHO website.

Registration of nurses and midwives

As at 30 June 2016, there were 380,208 enrolled nurses, registered nurses and midwives across Australia. This represents a national increase of 2.7% from the previous year.

Nurses and midwives made up 57.8% of all registered health practitioners across the National Scheme in 2015/16. Of the registrant base:

• 16.6% held registration as an enrolled nurse only; an increase of 1.8% from 2014/15
• 1.7% held registration as both an enrolled nurse and registered nurse; 15.8% higher than the previous year
• 72.8% held registration as a registered nurse only; an increase of 3.1%
• 7.8% held registration as a midwife and an enrolled or registered nurse; a decrease of 2.7%
• 1.1% held registration as a midwife only; an increase of 12%
• 1,418 nurses held an endorsement as a nurse practitioner; an increase of 13.7%, and
• 250 midwives held an endorsement for scheduled medicines; an increase of 37.4%.

At the end of June 2016, there were 89,620 registered nursing students, which is 14.9% higher than at the end of 2014/15. The number of registered midwifery students rose to 3,949 this year; an increase of 6.6%.

The NMBA received 28,854 new applications for registration as an enrolled or registered nurse; an increase of 16.2%. Of the new applications, 93.7% were for general registration and 5.2% were applying to move to the non-practising register.

There were 1,715 new applications for registration as a midwife; an increase of 0.2%. Of these, 81.7% were for general registration and 17.3% were applications to move to the non-practising register.

See Tables 1–6 for segmentation of registration data about nurses and/or midwives.

Criminal history checks

As a standard part of the registration process, applicants for initial registration as a health practitioner in Australia must undergo a criminal record check. AHPRA requested 66,698 domestic and international criminal history checks for practitioners across all professions in 2015/16. Of these, 36,140 checks were carried out for persons wanting to register as nurses. The checks resulted in 1,977 disclosable court outcomes. Conditions or undertakings were imposed on six nurses’ registrations.

A further 859 criminal history checks were carried out for persons wanting to register as midwives, resulting in 52 disclosable court outcomes. No conditions or undertakings were imposed on any midwives’ registration.

For source data on domestic and international criminal history checks, as well as more registration information across all regulated health professions, please refer to page 42 of the 2015/16 annual report by AHPRA and the National Boards, which is published online.

Regulation of nurses and midwives

Complaints about nurses and midwives

In 2015/16, 1,942 notifications were received nationally about nurses (including HPCA data in NSW). This represents an increase of 12.1% from 2014/15. The number of matters received and managed by AHPRA was 1,340 (excluding the HPCA). Notifications about nurses represent 22.1% of all notifications received by AHPRA (excluding HPCA) during the year.

There were 103 notifications received nationally about midwives (including HPCA); an increase of 39.2%. AHPRA received and managed 95 matters (excluding HPCA). Notifications about midwives represent 1.6% of all notifications received by AHPRA (excluding HPCA) during 2015/16.

On a national basis, the percentage of registered health practitioners with notifications received during the year was 1.5%. The percentage of all nurses with notifications received was 0.5%. The percentage of all midwives with notifications received was 0.3%.

A total of 1,174 notifications relating to nurses were closed in 2015/16 (excluding HPCA). This represents 22.5% of all matters closed across all health professions. Of the closed notifications relating to nurses:

• 21.5% resulted in conditions being imposed or an undertaking accepted by the NMBA
• 14.6% resulted in the nurse receiving a caution or reprimand by the NMBA
• 1.2% resulted in suspension or cancellation of registration, and
• 60.2% resulted in no further action being taken by the NMBA (no further action is taken when, based on the available information, the NMBA determines there is no risk to the public that requires regulatory action).

Seventy-six notifications relating to midwives (excluding HPCA) were closed. This represents 1.5% of all matters closed across all health professions. Of the closed notifications relating to midwives:

• 21.1% resulted in conditions being imposed or an undertaking accepted by the NMBA
• 10.5% resulted in the midwife receiving a caution or reprimand by the NMBA
• 2.6% resulted in suspension or cancellation of registration, and
• 63.2% resulted in no further action being taken by the NMBA.

As at 30 June 2016, there were 895 open notifications about nurses and 77 open notifications about midwives (excluding HPCA).

Immediate action

Immediate action was taken by the NMBA on 198 matters relating to nursing and midwifery registrants in 2015/16 (compared with 148 instances in 2014/15), excluding matters managed by the HPCA in NSW.

A National Board has the power to take immediate action in relation to a health practitioner’s registration at any time, if it believes this is necessary to protect the public. Immediate action limits a practitioner’s registration by suspending or imposing conditions on it, or accepting an undertaking or surrender of the registration from the practitioner or student. This is an interim step that Boards can take while more information is gathered or while other processes are put in place.

To take immediate action, the Board must reasonably believe that:

• because of their conduct, performance or health, the practitioner poses a ‘serious risk to persons’ and that it is necessary to take immediate action to protect public health or safety, or
• the practitioner’s registration was improperly obtained, or
• the practitioner or student’s registration was cancelled or suspended in another jurisdiction.

Monitoring and compliance

There were 1,274 active monitoring cases about nurses (excluding HPCA). This represents 25.7% of all monitoring cases managed by AHPRA across all registered health professions. There were 144 active monitoring cases about midwives (excluding HPCA), which represent 2.9% of all monitoring cases.

Statutory offences

AHPRA received 87 new complaints about possible statutory offences relating to nursing and midwifery this year. These complaints constitute 6.5% of all statutory offence matters received in 2015/16. Almost all new matters related to concerns about the use of protected titles. Forty-six statutory offence matters were considered and closed.

Statutory offences are breaches of the National Law, committed by registered health practitioners and unregistered individuals. There are a number of offences created under the National Law, including the following:

• unlawful use of a protected title
• performing a restricted act
• holding out (claims by individuals or organisations as to registration), and
• unlawful advertising.

See Tables 7–28 for segmentation of data on notifications, monitoring and compliance, outcomes of tribunals and panels, and statutory offences relating to nurses and/or midwives.

Want to know more?

For data and analysis relating to all 14 regulated health professions in Australia please refer to the full 2015/16 annual report and supplementary data tables published by AHPRA and the National Boards on the annual report website.

Segmentation of data by state and territory is also available.

For more information on the National Law as it applies to each state and territory, see AHPRA's legisltaion.

Table 1: Registrant numbers at 30 June 2016¹

Nursing/midwifery	ACT	NSW	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP2	Total
Midwife: 2015/16	120	903	73	770	522	22	1,181	385	146	4,122
Midwife: 2014/15	101	809	59	656	492	22	1,071	349	123	3,682
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16	18.80%	11.60%	23.70%	17.40%	6.10%	0.00%	10.30%	10.30%	18.70%	12.00%
Nurse: 2015/16	5,382	95,076	3,785	67,703	30,764	8,212	91,129	34,664	9,672	346,387
Nurse: 2014/15	5,193	92,160	3,679	64,564	30,305	8,053	88,550	33,988	9,607	336,099
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16	3.60%	3.20%	2.90%	4.90%	1.50%	2.00%	2.90%	2.00%	0.70%	3.10%
Nurse and midwife: 2015/16	579	8,742	520	6,019	2,123	646	7,769	2,968	333	29,699
Nurse and midwife: 2014/15	583	9,148	537	6,102	2,193	656	7,940	3,023	340	30,522
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16	-0.70%	-4.40%	-3.20%	-1.40%	-3.20%	-1.50%	-2.20%	-1.80%	-2.10%	-2.70%
Total: 2015/16	6,081	104,721	4,378	74,492	33,409	8,880	100,079	38,017	10,151	380,208
Total: 2014/15	5,877	102,117	4,275	71,322	32,990	8,731	97,561	37,360	10,070	370,303
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16	3.50%	2.60%	2.40%	4.40%	1.30%	1.70%	2.60%	1.80%	0.80%	2.70%
Percentage of all nurses and midwives based in the state or territory	1.60%	27.50%	1.20%	19.60%	8.80%	2.30%	26.30%	10.00%	2.70%	100.00%
All health practitioners 2015/16	11,362	190,986	6,913	127,376	53,119	14,123	169,478	67,384	16,880	657,621
All health practitioners 2014/15	10,978	185,247	6,696	121,788	52,192	13,886	164,324	65,588	16,519	637,218
Nurses and midwives as % of all health practitioners in the state or territory	53.50%	54.80%	63.30%	58.50%	62.90%	62.90%	59.10%	56.40%	60.10%	57.80%

Table 2: Registrants by registration type and state or territory

	ACT	NSW	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP1	Total 2015/16	Total 2014/15	% change 2014/15-2015/16
Midwife	120	903	73	770	522	22	1,181	385	146	4,122	3,682	12.00%
Midwife: General	120	884	73	761	513	21	1,161	378	139	4,050	3,616	12.00%
Midwife: Non-practising		19		9	9	1	20	7	7	72	66	9.10%
Nurse	5,382	95,076	3,785	67,703	30,764	8,212	91,129	34,664	9,672	346,387	336,099	3.10%
Nurse: General	5,293	93,200	3,742	66,870	30,297	8,081	90,114	34,215	9,259	341,071	331,232	3.00%
Nurse: General and non-practising2		11		1	1		10	2		25	20	25.00%
Nurse: Non-practising	88	1,841	41	793	459	129	973	426	411	5,161	4,847	6.50%
Provisional3	1	24	2	39	7	2	32	21	2	130
Nurse and midwife	579	8,742	520	6,019	2,123	646	7,769	2,968	333	29,699	30,522	-2.70%
Nurse and midwife: General	536	7,647	513	5,746	2,029	609	7,458	2,844	298	27,680	28,616	-3.30%
Nurse and midwife: General and non-practising4	27	762	6	172	49	30	209	77	5	1,337	1,253	6.70%
Nurse and midwife: General and Provisional				3	2		1			6
Nurse and midwife: Non-practising	16	333	1	95	43	7	99	47	30	671	653	2.80%
Nurse and midwife: Provisional3				3			2			5

Table 3: Registrants by age

Nursing/midwifery	U-25	25-29	30-34	35-39	40-44	45-49	50-54	55-59	60-64	65-69	70-74	75-79	80+	Not available	Total
Midwife: 2015/16	366	782	661	527	571	478	307	221	133	57	16	3			4,122
Midwife: 2014/15	355	668	554	489	520	445	251	206	118	58	17	1			3,682
Nurse: 2015/16	18,564	40,192	42,389	35,558	40,552	41,033	40,733	42,681	29,144	12,286	2,665	503	87		346,387
Nurse: 2014/15	17,704	38,950	38,800	34,870	40,818	39,798	41,806	41,874	27,219	11,288	2,426	472	73	1	336,099
Nurse and midwife: 2015/16	449	1,571	1,946	1,793	2,424	3,253	5,060	6,267	4,549	1,869	418	81	19		29,699
Nurse and midwife: 2014/15	461	1,535	1,849	1,818	2,568	3,569	5,631	6,450	4,437	1,711	403	76	14		30,522
Total nurse and midwife: 2015/16	19,379	42,545	44,996	37,878	43,547	44,764	46,100	49,169	33,826	14,212	3,099	587	106	0	380,208
Total nurse and midwife: 2014/15	18,520	41,153	41,203	37,177	43,906	43,812	47,688	48,530	31,774	13,057	2,846	549	87	1	370,303
Age group as % of all nurses and midwives	5.10%	11.20%	11.80%	10.00%	11.50%	11.80%	12.10%	12.90%	8.90%	3.70%	0.80%	0.20%	0.00%		100.00%
All practitioners 2015/16	31,601	84,964	88,223	75,403	75,746	71,619	69,819	71,754	50,259	24,897	8,533	3,137	1,666		657,621
All practitioners 2014/15	30,606	82,019	82,501	72,732	75,161	69,354	71,265	70,526	47,345	23,202	7,981	2,959	1,560	7	637,218
Nurses and midwives as % of all practitioners	61.30%	50.10%	51.00%	50.20%	57.50%	62.50%	66.00%	68.50%	67.30%	57.10%	36.30%	18.70%	6.40%		57.80%

Table 4: Registrants by principal place of practice and gender

	ACT	NSW	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP1	Total 2015/16	Total 2014/15	% change 2014/15-2015/16
Midwife	120	903	73	770	522	22	1,181	385	146	4,122	3,682	12.00%
Midwife: Female	119	897	72	768	521	21	1,178	385	146	4,107	3,666	12.00%
Midwife: Male	1	6	1	2	1	1	3			15	16	-6.30%
Nurse	5,382	95,076	3,785	67,703	30,764	8,212	91,129	34,664	9,672	346,387	336,099	3.10%
Nurse: Female	4,722	82,726	3,199	60,109	27,285	7,258	81,412	31,436	8,303	306,450	297,792	2.90%
Nurse: Male	660	12,350	586	7,594	3,479	954	9,717	3,228	1,369	39,937	38,307	4.30%
Nurse and midwife	579	8,742	520	6,019	2,123	646	7,769	2,968	333	29,699	30,522	-2.70%
Nurse and midwife: Female	567	8,551	494	5,917	2,078	631	7,689	2,925	325	29,177	29,975	-2.70%
Nurse and midwife: Male	12	191	26	102	45	15	80	43	8	522	547	-4.60%

Table 5: Registrants by division

	ACT	NSW	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP1	Total 2015/16	Total 2014/15	% change 2014/15-2015/16
Nurse	5,382	95,076	3,785	67,703	30,764	8,212	91,129	34,664	9,672	346,387	336,099	3.10%
Nurse: Enrolled nurse	703	13,840	425	12,622	8,016	1,472	20,396	5,406	114	62,994	61,880	1.80%
Nurse: Enrolled nurse and Registered nurse2	67	1,269	64	1,337	675	69	2,408	544	32	6,465	5,585	15.80%
Nurse: Registered nurse	4,612	79,967	3,296	53,744	22,073	6,671	68,325	28,714	9,526	276,928	268,634	3.10%
Nurse and midwife	579	8,742	520	6,019	2,123	646	7,769	2,968	333	29,699	30,522	-2.70%
Nurse and midwife: Enrolled nurse and midwife2	2	4	1	16	3		38			64	62	3.20%
Nurse and midwife: Enrolled nurse and Registered nurse and midwife2	1	13	1	4	4		33	10		66	59	11.90%
Nurse and midwife: Registered nurse and midwife2	576	8,725	518	5,999	2,116	646	7,698	2,958	333	29,569	30,401	-2.70%

Table 6: Registrants by profession, principal place of practice and endorsement or notation

Endorsement/notation	ACT	NSW	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP1	Total 2015/16	Total 2014/15
Nurse	44	356	40	1196	126	33	438	259	23	2,515	2,228
Nurse: Nurse practitioner	38	317	21	367	119	28	274	238	16	1,418	1,247
Nurse: Scheduled medicines - rural and isolated practice	6	39	19	829	7	5	164	21	7	1,097	981
Midwife	6	105	7	236	55	17	119	86	0	631	487
Midwife: Eligible midwife2	2	24	3	62	7	1	25	11		135	304
Midwife: Midwife practitioner		1								1	1
Midwife: Scheduled medicines - rural and isolated practice	2	40	2	88	24	8	47	39		250	182

Table 7: Notifications received by state or territory

Nursing/midwifery	ACT	NSW	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP1	Subtotal	HPCA2	Total
Midwife 2015/16 (PPP)3	5	3	3	35	8	2	27	11	1	95	8	103
Midwife 2014/15 (PPP)	2		3	28	8	1	12	11		65	9	74
Midwife 2014/15 (Responsible Office)4	3		4	26	7	1	12	12		65	9	74
Nurse 2015/16 (PPP)	35	10	35	417	258	60	378	130	17	1,340	602	1,942
Nurse 2014/15 (PPP)	30	13	48	270	184	60	344	158	24	1,131	602	1,733
Nurse 2014/15 (Responsible Office)	31		59	276	191	63	349	162		1,131	602	1,733
Total 2015/16 (PPP)	40	13	38	452	266	62	405	141	18	1,435	610	2,045
Total 2014/15 (PPP)	32	13	51	298	192	61	356	169	24	1,196	611	1,807
Total 2014/15 (Responsible Office)	34		63	302	198	64	361	174		1,196	611	1,807
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16 (PPP)	25.00%	0.00%	-25.50%	51.70%	38.50%	1.60%	13.80%	-16.60%	-25.00%	20.00%	-0.20%	13.20%
All professions notifications received 2015/16 (PPP)	206	94	123	1,919	808	242	1,886	718	60	6,056	4,026	10,082
All professions notifications received 2014/15 (PPP)	178	53	147	934	655	215	1,889	758	55	4,884	3,542	8,426
All professions notifications received 2014/15 (Responsible Office)	194		178	917	676	237	1,901	781		4,884	3,542	8,426
Nursing/midwifery as % of all notifications received 2015/16 (PPP)	19.40%	13.80%	30.90%	23.60%	32.90%	25.60%	21.50%	19.60%	30.00%	23.70%	15.20%	20.30%
Nursing/midwifery as % of all notifications received 2014/15 (PPP)	18.00%	24.50%	34.70%	31.90%	29.30%	28.40%	18.80%	22.30%	43.60%	24.50%	17.30%	21.40%

Table 8: Percentage of registrant base with notifications received, by state or territory

Nursing/midwifery	ACT	NSW1	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP2	Total
Midwife: 2015/16 (PPP)3	0.70%	0.10%	0.50%	0.50%	0.30%	0.30%	0.30%	0.30%	0.70%	0.30%
Midwife: 2014/15 (PPP)	0.30%	0.10%	0.50%	0.40%	0.30%	0.10%	0.10%	0.30%	<0.1%	0.20%
Midwife: 2014/15 (Responsible Office)4	0.40%	0.10%	0.70%	0.40%	0.30%	0.10%	0.10%	0.40%		0.20%
Nurse: 2015/16 (PPP)	0.60%	0.60%	0.80%	0.60%	0.80%	0.70%	0.40%	0.30%	0.20%	0.50%
Nurse: 2014/15 (PPP)	0.50%	0.60%	1.10%	0.40%	0.60%	0.70%	0.40%	0.40%	0.20%	0.50%
Nurse: 2014/15 (Responsible Office)	0.50%	0.60%	1.40%	0.40%	0.60%	0.70%	0.40%	0.40%		0.50%

Table 9: Notifications received about nursing registrants, by division and state or territory (excluding HPCA)¹

Nursing2	ACT	NSW3	NT	QLD4	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP5	Total 2015/16	Total 2014/15
Enrolled nurse	4	2	1	89	65	11	81	24		277	189
Enrolled nurse and Registered nurse	1			13	5		11	1		31	28
Registered nurse	30	8	33	315	186	49	265	104	4	994	850
Unknown practitioner6			1		2		21	1	13	38	64
Total 2015/16 (PPP)7	35	10	35	417	258	60	378	130	17	1,340
Total 2014/15 (PPP)	30	13	48	270	184	60	344	158	24		1,131
Total 2014/15 (Responsible Office)8	31		59	276	191	63	349	162			1,131

Table 10: Notifications received, closed in 2015/16 and open at 30 June 2016, by state or territory¹

Nursing/midwifery	ACT	NSW2	NT	QLD3	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP4	Subtotal	HPCA5	Total
Notifications received	40	13	38	452	266	62	405	141	18	1,435	610	2,045
% of all nursing and midwifery notifications	2.00%	0.60%	1.90%	22.10%	13.00%	3.00%	19.80%	6.90%	0.90%	70.20%	29.80%	100.00%
Mandatory received	19	5	1	7	141	19	106	44	3	345	190	535
% of all nursing and midwifery notifications	3.60%	0.90%	0.20%	1.30%	26.40%	3.60%	19.80%	8.20%	0.60%	64.50%	35.50%	100.00%
Notifications closed	34	18	38	350	213	60	385	132	20	1,250	595	1,845
% of all nursing and midwifery notifications	1.80%	1.00%	2.10%	19.00%	11.50%	3.30%	20.90%	7.20%	1.10%	67.80%	32.20%	100.00%
Open at 30 June 2016	28	12	21	313	208	33	262	85	10	972	336	1,308
% of all nursing and midwifery notifications	2.10%	0.90%	1.60%	23.90%	15.90%	2.50%	20.00%	6.50%	0.80%	74.30%	25.70%	100.00%

Table 11: Open notifications at 30 June 2016, by state or territory

Nursing/midwifery	ACT	NSW1	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP2	Subtotal	HPCA3	Total
2015/16 (PPP)4	28	12	21	313	208	33	262	85	10	972	336	1,308
2014/15 (PPP)	24	12	19	210	157	32	243	82	10	789	321	1,110
2014/15 (Responsible Office)5	25		22	220	163	32	241	86		789	321	1,110
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16 (PPP)	16.70%	0.00%	10.50%	49.00%	32.50%	3.10%	7.80%	3.70%	0.00%	23.20%	4.70%	17.80%
All cases for all professions open 2015/16 (PPP)	110	49	68	1,288	564	106	1,082	495	25	3,787	2,002	5,789
All cases for all professions open 2014/15 (PPP)	114	44	84	749	446	119	940	436	26	2,958	1,573	4,531
All cases for all professions open 2014/15 (Responsible Office)	121		90	773	462	127	918	467		2,958	1,573	4,531
Nursing/midwifery as % of all open cases 2015/16 (PPP)	25.50%	24.50%	30.90%	24.30%	36.90%	31.10%	24.20%	17.20%	40.00%	25.70%	16.80%	22.60%
Nursing/midwifery as % of all open cases 2014/15 (PPP)	21.10%	27.30%	22.60%	28.00%	35.20%	26.90%	25.90%	18.80%	38.50%	26.70%	20.40%	24.50%

Table 12: Notifications closed by state or territory

Nursing/midwifery	ACT	NSW1	NT	QLD2	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP3	Subtotal	HPCA4	Total
2015/16 (PPP)5	34	18	38	350	213	60	385	132	20	1,250	595	1,845
2014/15 (PPP)	46	20	63	338	182	72	385	177	23	1,306	541	1,847
2014/15 (Responsible Office)6	48		75	355	191	73	383	181		1,306	541	1,847
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16 (PPP)	-26.10%	-10.00%	-39.70%	3.60%	17.00%	-16.70%	0.00%	-25.40%	-13.00%	-4.30%	10.00%	-0.10%
All notifications closed 2015/16 (PPP)	206	105	144	1,372	687	251	1,745	654	63	5,227	3,612	8,839
All notifications closed 2014/15 (PPP)	236	140	166	1,240	710	236	2,123	811	67	5,729	3,274	9,003
All notifications closed 2014/15 (Responsible Office)	267		226	1,258	737	267	2,154	820		5,729	3,274	9,003
Nursing/midwifery as % of all notifications closed 2015/16 (PPP)	16.50%	17.10%	26.40%	25.50%	31.00%	23.90%	22.10%	20.20%	31.70%	23.90%	16.50%	20.90%
Nursing/midwifery as % of all notifications closed 2014/15 (PPP)	19.50%	14.30%	38.00%	27.30%	25.60%	30.50%	18.10%	21.80%	34.30%	22.80%	16.50%	20.50%

Table 13: Notifications closed, by stage at closure (excluding HPCA)¹

Stage at closure	2015/16: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2015/16: All registrants	2014/15: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2014/15: All registrants
Assessment2	629	3,147	592	3,069
Health or performance assessment3	187	341	238	440
Investigation	368	1,386	391	1,772
Panel hearing	28	179	47	269
Tribunal hearing	38	174	38	179
Total	1,250	5,227	1,306	5,729

Table 14: Registrants with mandatory notifications (including HPCA)¹

Profession	2015/16: No. practitioners2: AHPRA	2015/16: No. practitioners2: HPCA	2015/16: No. practitioners2: Total	Rate/10,000 practitioners	2014/15: No. practitioners2: AHPRA	2014/15: No. practitioners2: HPCA	2014/15: No. practitioners2: Total	Rate/10,000 practitioners
Nurse/midwife3	333	186	519	13.7	267	206	473	12.8
All registrants	605	315	920	14	491	298	789	12.4

Table 15: Mandatory notifications received, by state or territory (including HPCA)

Nursing/midwifery	ACT	NSW1	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP2	Subtotal	HPCA3	Total
2015/16 (PPP)4	19	5	1	7	141	19	106	44	3	345	190	535
2014/15 (PPP)	7	5	1	8	91	21	79	53	10	275	217	492
2014/15 (Responsible Office)5	8		3	6	95	23	83	57		275	217	492
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16 (PPP)	171.40%	0.00%	0.00%	-12.50%	54.90%	-9.50%	34.20%	-17.00%	-70.00%	25.50%	-12.40%	8.70%
All mandatory notifications received 2015/16 (PPP)	44	9	1	15	205	35	224	100	8	641	339	980
All mandatory notifications received 2014/15 (PPP)	17	11	2	16	149	30	171	106	16	518	315	833
All mandatory notifications received 2014/15 (Responsible Office)	20		4	14	160	34	172	114		518	315	833
Nursing/midwifery as % of all mandatory notifications received 2015/16 (PPP)	43.20%	55.60%	100.00%	46.70%	68.80%	54.30%	47.30%	44.00%	37.50%	53.80%	56.00%	54.60%
Nursing/midwifery as % of all mandatory notifications received 2014/15 (PPP)	41.20%	45.50%	50.00%	50.00%	61.10%	70.00%	46.20%	50.00%	62.50%	53.10%	68.90%	59.10%

Table 16: Outcomes of assessment for mandatory notifications about nurses and midwives, by grounds for the notification (excluding HPCA)¹

Outcome of assessment	Standards	Impairment	Sexual misconduct	Alcohol or drugs	Not classified	Total 2015/16	Total 2014/15
End matter: No further action2	47	18	2	4		71	49
End matter: Refer all or part of the notification to another body						0	1
End matter: Dealt with as enquiry	1					1	0
End matter: Caution	8	1				9	19
End matter: Accept undertaking	5	3		1		9	14
End matter: Impose conditions	6					6	6
End matter: Surrender of registration						0	1
Total closed after assessment	67	22	2	5	0	96	90
Refer to further stage: Refer to health or performance assessment	22	13		6		41	54
Refer to further stage: Refer to investigation	142	42	4	13	2	203	147
Refer to further stage: Refer to panel hearing						0	0
Refer to further stage: Refer to tribunal hearing						0	0
Total referred to further stage	164	55	4	19	2	244	201
Total assessments finalised 2015/16	231	77	6	24	2	340
Total assessments finalised 2014/15	162	85	8	34	2		291

Table 17: Outcomes at closure for mandatory notifications about nurses and midwives (excluding HPCA)¹

Outcome at closure	Total 2015/16	Total 2014/15
No further action2	162	152
Impose conditions	66	101
Accept undertaking	40	74
Caution	38	51
Suspend registration	5	3
Reprimand	4	3
Refer all or part of the notification to another body	2	3
Not permitted to reapply for registration for 12 months or more	2	1
Cancel registration	2	4
Proceedings withdrawn	1	1
Health complaints entity to retain	1
Accept surrender of registration		1
Fine registrant		2
Total	323	396

Table 18: Immediate action cases by state or territory (including HPCA)

Nursing/midwifery	ACT	NSW	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP1	Subtotal	HPCA2	Total
2015/16 (PPP)3	8	2	7	52	42	9	57	20	1	198	103	301
2014/15 (PPP)	11	2	2	30	40	7	31	24	1	148	102	250
2014/15 (Responsible Office)4	11		3	30	41	7	30	26		148	102	250
% change from 2014/15 to 2015/16 (PPP)	-27.30%	0.00%	250.00%	73.30%	5.00%	28.60%	83.90%	-16.70%	0.00%	33.80%	1.00%	20.40%

Table 19: Outcomes of immediate actions for nursing and midwifery (excluding HPCA)¹

Stage at closure	2015/16: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2015/16: All registrants	2014/15: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2014/15: All registrants
Not take immediate action	18	66	20	45
Accept undertaking	21	67	28	77
Impose conditions	106	229	56	124
Accept surrender of registration	2	6	2	2
Suspend registration	48	74	34	66
Decision pending	3	22	8	22
Total	198	464	148	336

Table 20: Outcomes at closure for notifications closed (excluding HPCA)¹

Stage at closure	2015/16: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2015/16: All registrants	2014/15: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2014/15: All registrants
No further action2	755	3,466	713	3,439
Caution or reprimand	179	719	179	811
Impose conditions	200	580	192	612
Accept undertaking	68	181	134	311
Health complaints entity to retain	15	120	54	435
Refer all or part of the notification to another body	8	53	11	22
Suspend registration	12	46	7	38
Cancel registration	4	34	6	24
Proceedings withdrawn	1	9	2	4
Not permitted to reapply for registration for 12 months or more	3	8	2	9
Practitioner surrender of registration	5	6	3	12
Fine registrant		5	3	12
Total	1,250	5,227	1,306	5,729

Table 21: Outcomes of assessments finalised (excluding HPCA)¹

	2015/16: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2015/16: All registrants	2014/15: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2014/15: All registrants
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further
Investigation	540	1,975	433	1,668
Health or performance assessment	183	295	131	233
Panel hearing	3	16		13
Tribunal hearing		3	7	9
Subtotal	726	2,289	571	1,923
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment
No further action2	442	2,358	391	2,136
Health complaints entity to retain	12	109	54	435
Refer all or part of the notification to another body	2	33	5	10
Dealt with as enquiry	8	47
Managed as a complaint by a co-regulator	1	5
Managed as an offence under Part 7 of the National Law		7
Caution	91	367	85	322
Accept undertaking	17	46	32	59
Impose conditions	46	164	23	104
Practitioner surrenders registration	2	2	2	3
Subtotal	621	3,138	592	3,069
Total assessments finalised	1,347	5,427	1,163	4,992

Table 22: Outcomes of investigations finalised (excluding HPCA)¹

	2015/16: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2015/16: All registrants	2014/15: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2014/15: All registrants
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further
Assessment	3	16		2
Health or performance assessment	57	116	76	145
Panel hearing	17	79	21	166
Tribunal hearing	30	100	32	114
Subtotal	107	311	129	427
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation
No further action2	214	838	219	1,052
Refer all or part of the notification to another body	4	11	5	11
Dealt with as enquiry	1	1
Managed as a complaint by a co-regulator	1	5
Health complaints entity to retain	2	8
Caution	69	272	76	391
Accept undertaking	20	72	36	126
Impose conditions	63	189	55	192
Suspend registration		1
Subtotal	374	1,397	391	1,772
Total investigations finalised	481	1,708	520	2,199

Table 23: Outcomes of panel hearings finalised (excluding HPCA)¹

Outcome	2015/16: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2015/16: All registrants	2014/15: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2014/15: All registrants
No further action2	6	32	12	63
Refer all or part of the notification to another body			1	1
Caution	6	39	5	57
Reprimand	1	11	4	13
Accept undertaking		1
Impose conditions	15	88	23	130
Accept surrender of registration		1		1
Suspend registration		1	2	4
Total	28	173	47	269

Table 24: Outcomes of tribunal hearings finalised (excluding HPCA)¹

Outcome	2015/16: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2015/16: All registrants	2014/15: Nursing/midwifery registrants	2014/15: All registrants
No further action2	2	18	6	15
Fine registrant		5	3	12
Caution or reprimand	9	24	2	18
Accept undertaking		2	2	5
Impose conditions	4	28	11	53
Accept surrender of registration	3	3		6
Suspend registration	12	44	4	33
Cancel registration	4	34	6	24
Not permitted to reapply for registration for 12 months or more	3	8	2	9
Proceedings withdrawn	1	9	2	4
Total	38	175	38	179

Table 25: Active monitoring cases at 30 June 2016, by state or territory (excluding HPCA)¹

Profession	ACT	NSW2	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP3	Total 2015/16	Total 2014/15
Midwife	3	30	1	22	4	2	33	37	12	144	108
Nurse	31	142	18	326	178	41	347	154	37	1,274	1,013
Total nursing/midwifery 2015/16	34	172	19	348	182	43	380	191	49	1,418
Total nursing/midwifery 2014/15	63	73	24	293	161	35	258	167	47		1,121
All practitioners (2015/16)	117	1,381	55	1,078	452	105	1,032	635	108	4,963
All practitioners (2014/15)	155	1,412	74	1,186	472	101	948	554	89		4,991
Nursing/midwifery as % of all practitioners (2015/16)	29.10%	12.50%	34.50%	32.30%	40.30%	41.00%	36.80%	30.10%	45.40%	28.60%
Nursing/midwifery as % of all practitioners (2014/15)	40.60%	5.20%	32.40%	24.70%	34.10%	34.70%	27.20%	30.10%	52.80%		22.50%

Table 26: Active monitoring cases at 30 June 2016, by stream (excluding HPCA)^1,2

Profession	Conduct	Health	Performance	Prohibited practitioner/student	Suitability/eligibility3	Total 2015/16	Total 2014/15
Midwife	5	10	14	2	113	144	108
Nurse	111	327	154	129	553	1,274	1,013
Total nursing/midwifery 2015/16	116	337	168	131	666	1,418
Total nursing/midwifery 2014/15	139	420	166		396		1,121
All practitioners (2015/16)	402	663	550	219	3,129	4,963
All practitioners (2014/15)	482	826	600		3,083		4,991
Nursing/midwifery as % of all practitioners (2015/16)	28.90%	50.80%	30.50%	59.80%	21.30%	191.30%
Nursing/midwifery as % of all practitioners (2014/15)	28.80%	50.80%	27.70%		12.80%		22.50%

Table 27: Statutory offence complaints received and closed for nursing and midwifery, by type of offence and jurisdiction¹

Offence	ACT	NSW	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA	No PPP2	Total 2015/16	Total 2014/15
Title protections (s.113-120): Received	2	9	2	2			8	3	47	73	28
Title protections (s.113-120): Closed	3	9	1				2	3	13	31	34
Practice protections (s.121-123): Received					1					1	1
Practice protections (s.121-123): Closed					1				1	2	2
Advertising breach (s.133): Received		2		2	1		4		2	11	9
Advertising breach (s.133): Closed		1		7	1			2	1	12	6
Directing or inciting unprofessional conduct/professional misconduct (s.136): Received										0	0
Directing or inciting unprofessional conduct/professional misconduct (s.136): Closed										0	1
Other offence: Received				1				1		2	0
Other offence: Closed				1						1	0
Total 2015/16 (PPP)3: Received	2	11	2	5	2	0	12	4	49	87
Total 2015/16 (PPP)3: Closed	3	10	1	8	2	0	2	5	15	46
Total 2014/15 (PPP)3: Received	1	10	0	8	2	0	5	3	9		38
Total 2014/15 (PPP)3: Closed	0	6	0	5	3	0	12	4	13		43

Table 28: Statutory offence complaints received and closed, by type of offence and profession and jurisdiction¹

Profession/jurisdiction	Title protections (s.113-120): Received	Title protections (s.113-120): Closed	Practice protections (s.121-123): Received	Practice protections (s.121-123): Closed	Advertising breach (s.133): Received	Advertising breach (s.133): Closed	Directing or inciting unprofessional conduct/professional misconduct (s.136): Received	Directing or inciting unprofessional conduct/professional misconduct (s.136): Closed	Other offence: Received	Other offence: Closed	Total 2015/16 (PPP)2: Received	Total 2015/16 (PPP)2: Closed	Total 2014/15 (PPP): Received	Total 2014/15 (PPP): Closed
Midwife	30	3	0	1	3	2	0	0	0	0	33	6	6	6
Midwife: ACT											0	0	0	0
Midwife: NSW	2	2									2	2	3	2
Midwife: NT											0	0	0	0
Midwife: QLD						1					0	1	2	1
Midwife: SA											0	0	0	0
Midwife: TAS											0	0	0	0
Midwife: VIC	1				1						2	0	0	0
Midwife: WA											0	0	0	0
Midwife: No PPP3	27	1		1	2	1					29	3	1	3
Nurse	43	28	1	1	8	10	0	0	2	1	54	40	32	37
Nurse: ACT	2	3									2	3	1	0
Nurse: NSW	7	7			2	1					9	8	7	4
Nurse: NT	2	1									2	1	0	0
Nurse: QLD	2				2	6			1	1	5	7	6	4
Nurse: SA			1	1	1	1					2	2	2	3
Nurse: TAS											0	0	0	0
Nurse: VIC	7	2			3						10	2	5	12
Nurse: WA	3	3				2			1		4	5	3	4
Nurse: No PPP3	20	12									20	12	8	10
Total 2015/16	73	31	1	2	11	12	0	0	2	1	87	46
Total 2014/15	28	34	1	2	9	6	0	1	0	0			38	43