Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Freedom of Information Disclosure Log
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Freedom of Information Disclosure Log

Ahpra is required by section 11C of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) to publish a disclosure log on its website of all documents released under the FOI Act within 10 working days of the applicant being given access to the documents.

Documents containing the following are exempt from inclusion in the disclosure log:

  • Personal information about any person, if it would be unreasonable to publish the information
  • Information about the business, commercial, financial or professional affairs of any person, if it would be unreasonable to publish the information
  • Other information of a kind determined by the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner, if it would be unreasonable to publish the information
  • Any information if it is not reasonably practicable to publish the information under this section because of modifications necessary to delete information as described above.

Please note:

Most FOI requests to Ahpra are made by individuals in relation to their notifications. These releases do not meet the criteria for public release in this disclosure log.

The FOI Act also requires Ahpra to proactively publish a range of information under the Information Publication Scheme (IPS). If the document you are looking for is not in the disclosure log, it may be available on the IPS page, which will go live on 1 June 2019.

Accessing the information

The information described in the disclosure log table below has been released by Ahpra under the FOI Act and is available for public access.
If you wish to access any information noted in the disclosure log please submit a written request to Ahpra.

Via email: foi@ahpra.gov.au

Via post:
FOI Officer
Ahpra National Office
GPO Box 9958
Melbourne VIC 3001

Charges

Section 3(4) of the FOI Act requires agencies to provide public access to information promptly and at the lowest reasonable cost.

Ahpra will charge printing costs at $0.15 per page for the provision of hardcopy documents. This cost applies even if the documents are available to download from the Ahpra website or a linked website.

Members of the public are to be notified of any printing charge payable and the documents will be provided once payment is received.

Disclosure Log

FOI ref number Date published Summary of FOI request  Description of information Access decision
 42351
27 June 2023  Copies of internal Ahpra procedural guides in relation to registration applications and renewals.
 
Note: The FOI application also included information which is exempt from publication to the disclosure log.

ROPD - About Renewal applications

ROPD - About the application for registration process

ROPD - About the application for renewal process

 Access granted in full
 42521 6 June 2023  The review of the interim policy: spinal manipulation for infants and young children on the Chiropractic Board of Australia (Board) website on 1 September 2022. 1 document - Internal email chain and draft regarding editorial review of interim policy.
Access granted in full

Direct contact details of staff removed with Applicant’s consent.
42089
2 May 2023 A copy of the report of the Ahpra Expert Advisory Group to National Boards regarding identifying and minimising practitioner distress in the regulatory process.  1 report Access granted in part.

1 document released in part.

Exemptions under sections 47F.
41320 2 May 2023 Submissions made to Ahpra between 10 November 2022 and 31 January 2023 in response to the public consultation on Ahpra's draft data strategy. 27 Submissions made to Ahpra which had not already been published to the Ahpra website. Access granted in part.

12 documents released in full. 5 documents part exempt. 10 documents exempt in full.

Exemptions under sections 47C, 47E(d) and 47F
41323 2 May 2023 Aggregated results of the 2021 Ahpra Employee Opinion Survey (EOS), including various emails and the amount paid to contractor. 5 documents identified, being EOS results and a remittance advice. Access granted in part.

4 documents part exempt under section 47F.

1 document released with irrelevant material removed, s22.
41350 2 May 2023 Written correspondence to the CEO with the phrase ‘Voice Project Employee Opinion Survey 2021’ No documents found. Access refused as no documents found.
40358 8 February 2023 Submissions by Ahpra to Attorneys-General and/or Justice ministers regarding tribunal proceedings and delays between 1 January 2020 and 3 November 2022 A letter to Attorney-General of Victoria Access granted in full
40713 8 February 2023 Surveys taken by Ahpra in the last five years measuring public perception of the regulator and staff satisfaction. 6 staff survey documents Access granted in full
 40717 12 January 2023
  • The number of AHPRA employees currently on stress leave.
  • Any record that indicates the number of employees on stress leave over the past five years

 

N/A Access refused as no documents found
40715 12 January 2023
Any internal analysis that measures the number of investigator recommendations approved or denied by AHPRA boards.
N/A Access refused as no documents found
40352 12 January 2023

1. A document showing how many doctors did not renew their registration for each year 2020, 2021and 2022 (due 30/9/22)

2. A document showing how many total doctors were registered for each year 2020,2021 and 2022(due 30/09/22)

3. A document showing how many doctors have taken their own lives (suicide) for each year 2020,2021 and 2022

4. A document showing how many nurses did not renew their registration for each year 2020, 2021and 2022 (due 30/9/22)

5. A document showing how many nurses were registered for each year 2020, 2021 and 2022 (due30/09/22)

6. A document showing how many paramedics did not renew their registration for each year 2020,2021 and 2022 (due 30/9/22)

7. A document showing how many paramedics were registered for each year 2020, 2021 and 2022(due 30/09/22)

Items 2, 5, 7 –

Medical Board Statistics webpage;

Nursing and Midwifery Board Statistics webpage;

Paramedicine Board Statistics webpage

Items 1, 3, 4, 6 - access refused as no documents found

Items 2, 5, 7 - publicly available documents
38794 26 September 2022 1. Preliminary consultation responses from third parties for the Dental Board Consultation: “Helping practitioners with infection prevention and control: public consultation on Guidelines on infection control” that closed 15 November 2021.

2. Correspondence from the Dental Board of Australia to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in relation to the Dental Board’s preliminary consultations and public consultation: “Helping practitioners with infection prevention and control: public consultation on Guidelines on infection control” that closed 15 November 2021.
Preliminary and public feedback documents

Preliminary and public consultation papers
Access granted in part
39344 7 September 2022  Requesting information around the number of nurses qualified for renal dialysis (nephrology) care, renal medicine specialists and renal technicians by state and over the past 5 years (FY17 till FY21/22)
In relation to the FOI request, statistics exist at Ahpra for physicians with specialist registration in nephrology only – Medical Board of Australia Registrant Data reports from 2017 to 2022 released to applicant
Access granted in part
38795 18 August 2022 1. Dental Board of Australia policies and/or guidelines that relate to the involvement of the Australian Dental Association Inc (ADA) and/or Australian Dental Association state branches (e.g. ADA NSW, ADA SA, ADA VIC, ADA TAS, ADA WA, ADA QLD) in Dental Board Notifications and complaint related matters for dental practitioners.

2. Dental Board of Australia policies and guidelines in relation to the use of chaperones and associated notices for registered dental practitioners subject to supervised practice due to a notification.

3. A document or set of documents that show the number of “vexatious” notifications/complaints that the Dental Board/AHPRA has received about registered dental practitioners between 2010 to 2022.

Notice of Board decision to take action template

Notice of Board decision to take immediate action template

Ahpra chaperone protocol

Access granted in part
32466 3 June 2022

Documentation concerning:

  1. the isolation of the SARS COV-2 Delta strain;
  2. the isolated SARS COV-2 Delta virus sample is exposed to healthy humans or animals and shown to cause the disease COVID-19.
Access refused as no documents found
32387 3 June 2022

The following documents:

  1. All emails between Ahpra board members, agency management committee and/or any other members of Ahpra or its affiliates and Brett Simmonds of the Pharmacy Board between 01/02/2021 and 10/03/2021 that referred to, in whole or part, to the statement released on 09/03/2021 titled "Registered health practitioners and students and COVID-19 vaccination - AHPRA position statement”
Internal emails Access refused - some information exempt under section 47C, some information exempt under section 47E(d)
33072 3 June 2022 Any letter sent to general practitioners telling them that if they in anyway interfere with the Covid vaccine rollout they could be investigated, perhaps deregistered. Access refused as no documents found
33445 3 June 2022

The following documents:

  1. Green Papers & White Papers provided to and/or accessed by Ahpra, including drafts, to detail grounds for caution or call for the need for lockdowns and/or other state-wide restrictions on individuals, businesses and/or corporations, due to alleged State of Emergency on grounds of "Pandemic".
  2. Evidence of all scientific reports and studies used in any such Green and White papers.
  3. Other key scientific reports that seek to justify Ahpra’s illegal and improper tortious interference in the professional autonomy and business practices of Health Practitioners deemed to be "anti-vaxxers" and acting against the best interests of Australians who will risk adverse events or death against their informed consent.
Access refused as no documents found
33564 3 June 2022

The following documents:

  1. Statistical data between 1 January 2018 to October 2021 pertaining to the length of time it takes a person to gain medical registration after re-applying for registration following cancellation of medical registration.
  2. Policy documents which explain the process by which a person may re-register following cancellation of medical registration
Access refused as no documents found
33829 3 June 2022

The following documents:

  1. The number of registered nurses in South Australia in the months of May, June and July 2009.
  2. The number of registered nurses in the South Australia in the month of July, August and September 2021.
  3. The number of registered nurses in Australia in the month of July, August and September 2021.
  1. Nursing and Midwifery Board of South Australia’s Annual Report for 2008-2009
  2. Nursing and Midwifery Board of South Australia’s quarterly registrant data report for July-September 2021.
Item 1 - access refused as no documents found Items 2 and 3 - publicly available documents
36111 3 June 2022 Request for documents that show the total number of responses for each answer option in the Dental Board’s feedback survey “Helping practitioners with infection prevention and control: public consultation on Guidelines on infection control” that closed 15 November 2021. Online survey summary of number of responses Access granted in full
35772 3 June 2022 Request for documentation, policies and related information related to Ahpra's obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA)
  1. Chemical-Management-Policy
  2. Clean-Desk-Policy
  3. Code-of-Conduct-policy
  4. COVID-19-Vaccination-Policy
  5. Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy
  6. People-policy
  7. Recruitment-and-selection-policy
  8. Grievance-Resolution-policy
  9. Bullying-harassment-and-discrimination-policy
  10. Discipline-policy
  11. Unsatisfactory-performance-and-conduct-policy
Access granted in full
30441 3 June 2022 Ahpra’s policy for assessing applications made by applicants with dyslexia No document found
33066 3 June 2022

The following documents:

  1. All emails to/from Brett Simmonds from 01/02/2021 to 10/03/2021 containing the words "position statement.
  2. All documents confirming the instructions to circulate the Ahpra position statement dated 09/03/2021 on COVID 19 vaccinations.
  3. Pharmacy and Medical Board Committee Meeting Minutes that include reference to 09/03/2021 position statement on the Covid 19 Vaccination.
  • Internal emails
  • Decisions and Actions Papers
  • Agenda Papers
Access refused
35814 3 June 2022 Any and all meeting papers relating to the communique dated 1 April 2010 released by the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council announcing specialist titles
  • Decisions and Actions Papers
  • Agenda Papers
Access refused
31406 3 June 2022

The following documents:

  1. A document issued to employees, contractors or agency staff which obliges parties receiving, assessing, investigating or making decisions on notifications concerning health practitioners to comply with people’s human rights while having involvement in administering the National Law.
  2. A copy of the 'Unsatisfactory Performance & Conduct Policy" and the "Discipline Policy" as referred to in the Ahpra Code of Conduct.
  3. A document issued by AHPRA, the National Board or Psychology Board of Australia, which confirms psychologists are not legally obliged or required to provide letters or information to Centrelink to assist the agency in determining a person’s correct entitlements under Social Security Law.
  1. Code of Conduct
  2. Unsatisfactory performance and conduct policy
  3. Discipline Policy
Access granted in full
30674 7 July 2021  The Chinese Medicine Board of Australia’s (CMBA) Board approved ‘Framework for Assessing a qualification from an overseas qualified Chinese medicine applicant’ CMBA Overseas Assessment Policy Framework
Full access provided
24135 9 October 2019 Documentation of the Ahpra internal policy regarding the admissibility of audio recordings. Ahpra National Legal Position Paper regarding recording and communicating private conversations. 

Partial access provided

Personal information exempted under section 47F of the FOI Act

23574   Dental Board policies and procedures governing the management of actual and potential conflicts of interest of members of the Dental Board  Guidelines for Board and committee members with respect to conflict of interest (NOTE - applies to all National Boards)  Full access provided 
23350 25 September 2019

Documents outlining:

  1. Documentation of the AHPRA internal policy regarding the admissibility of audio recordings.
  1. AHPRA National Legal Position Paper regarding recording and communicating private conversations

Partial access provided

Personal information exempted under section 47F of the FOI Act

22045 22 February 2019

Documents outlining:

  1. Policies, guidelines, directives, rules, codes of practice, procedures governing the handling of incoming telephone calls by the AHPRA’s call centre (a.k.a. switchboard operators / enquiry officers).
  2. Policies, guidelines, directives, rules, codes of practice, procedures governing the handling of complaints about breaches of the Medical Board of Australia's Code of Conduct for Doctors in Australia.
  3. Policies, guidelines, directives, rules, codes of practice, procedures governing the handling of requests under Part III of the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
  4. Agreed measures or metrics used to define and evaluate the critical success factors in the delivery of services by the AHPRA’s call centre (a.k.a. switchboard operators / enquiry officers).
  1. Policies, protocols, facts sheets, standard operation procedures, and workbooks for the AHPRA National Customer Service Team.
  2. Policies, guidelines, protocols, manuals, and information sheets in relation to AHPRA’s management of notifications

Partial access provided.

Items 3 - 4 refused under section 24A.

22046 22 February 2019 

Documents outlining:

  1. Procedures for determining whether an employee in the agency has breached the Code of Conduct in Section 13 of the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth).
  2. Policies, guidelines, directives, rules, codes of practice, procedures governing the handling of complaints from members of the public about the conduct of employees that is illegal, unreasonable, unjust or oppressive, improperly discriminatory, based on improper or irrelevant grounds, based on a mistake of law or fact, or otherwise wrong.
  3. Policies, guidelines, directives, rules, codes of practice, procedures governing the handling of complaints from members of the public about breaches of the Australian Privacy Principles in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
  1. AHPRA guide to complaint handling for National Law entities; AHPRA public interest disclosure (whistleblower) policy)
  2. AHPRA procedure to respond to a breach of privacy and incident report templates

Full access provided.

Item 1 refused under section 24A of the FOI Act.

22059 22 February 2019

Documents outlining:

  1. Organisational structure of AHPRA’s National Information Release Unit (NIR Unit).
  2. Functions and activities of the NIR Unit.
  3. who (within the senior executive) is responsible for leading the work in the NIR Unit.
  4. Policies, guidelines, directives, rules, codes of practice, procedures governing the handling of requests under Part III of the FOI Act.
  1. AHPRA National Legal Practice organisation chart
  2. National Information Release Unit description and overview of work
  3. Role descriptors of AHPRA employees currently working within the National Information Release Unit

Full access provided (material irrelevant to the request has been deleted under section 22 of the FOI Act).

Item 4 refused under section 24A of the FOI Act.

 
 
Page reviewed 27/06/2023