If health practitioners or students have a health impairment, conditions may be imposed upon their registration to ensure that they are able to practise safely.
Impairment is defined as a physical or mental impairment, disability, condition or disorder (including substance abuse or dependence), that detrimentally affects or is likely to detrimentally affect a:
- registered health practitioner’s capacity to safely practise the profession
- student’s capacity to undertake clinical training
Members of the public can notify AHPRA if they believe a practitioner or student has, or may have, an impairment.
Practitioners, employers and education providers are all mandated by law to report certain notifiable conduct relating to a practitioner or student. This includes a health impairment that may place the public at risk of substantial harm.
When a health-related notification is received by AHPRA, the health practitioner or student may be subject to a health assessment by a relevant National Board, to ensure appropriate action is taken, if required, to protect the public.