ACT Annual Report Summary 2015/16
Part 2: The National Scheme at work in the ACT
ACT: data snapshot
Five insights for 2015/16
- As at 30 June 2016, there were 11,362 registered health practitioners with a principal place of practice in the ACT.
- The ACT is the principal place of practice for 2.9% of all registered midwives in Australia.
- 1,134 new applications were received for registration in the ACT, an increase of 20.5% from the previous year.
- Complaints about practitioners in the ACT increased by 15.7% year on year, to 206 new notifications received.
- Of the 1,348 new statutory offence complaints received nationally, 20 were made about practitioners in the ACT.
Background
Data in the ACT jurisdiction summary are drawn from the 2015/16 annual report published by AHPRA and the National Boards. ACT data have been extracted from national source data to highlight the work we’ve undertaken over the past year to keep the public safe. All data were correct as at 30 June 2016.
Throughout, national figures are also provided to show how the ACT compares with the national average. Where possible, we have included the previous year’s data for comparison.
In the following pages, you’ll find registration
data, such as the number of practitioners in each profession whose principal place of practice (PPP) is the ACT, including a breakdown by registration type, registration division (for professions with divisions), information about specialties (for dental, medical and podiatry practitioners), and endorsements or notations held. A gender breakdown of practitioners by profession is also included.
Notifications data1 (about complaints lodged) are also included, with details of notifications received and closed during the year, as well as those
that remained open at the end of the reporting year. Details of mandatory reports received and immediate actions taken are included, as well
as information on the rate of notifications and mandatory notifications in the jurisdiction.
Information on statutory offence matters, tribunal and panel hearings, active monitoring cases and criminal history checks is also included.
To view the 2015/16 annual report in full, along with national, profession-specific data and other state and territories’ data, visit www.ahpra.gov.au/ annualreport/2016.
In early 2017, each of the 14 National Boards will publish a summary report outlining their profession’s performance in 2015/16.
Registration in the ACT
Tables 1–8 provide details of registered health practitioners with a principal place of practice in the ACT. At 30 June 2016, the number of registered health practitioners in the ACT was 11,362,
an increase of 384 (3.5%) from 2014/15. This jurisdiction represents 1.7% of all registered health practitioners in Australia.
At a profession level, ACT practitioners account for 2.9% of registered midwives nationally (the largest groups of registrants) to 0.7% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitoners nationally.
Data also showed that in 2015/16 the ACT had:
- 1.9% of registered health practitioners with a recognised specialty nationally, and
- 2.1% of health practitioners with a recognised endorsement or notation nationally, which permits an expanded scope of practice within their profession.
In 2015/16, applications received for registration in the ACT increased by 20.5%, with 1,134
new applications. This equates to 1.7% of new applications received nationally during the year. Details of new registration applications received, with a breakdown of profession and registration type, are provided in Table 7.
Note:
- In general, national data about notifications include data from the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) in NSW, except when categories used differ between NSW and the other states and territories.
Table 1: Registered practitioners with ACT as the principal place of practice, by profession1
Profession | ACT | National total4 | % of national total |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner | 4 | 587 | 0.7% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner | 66 | 4,762 | 1.4% |
Chiropractor | 67 | 5,167 | 1.3% |
Dental Practitioner | 402 | 21,741 | 1.8% |
Medical Practitioner | 2,042 | 107,179 | 1.9% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner | 264 | 15,303 | 1.7% |
Midwife | 120 | 4,122 | 2.9% |
Nurse | 5,382 | 346,387 | 1.6% |
Nurse and Midwife2 | 579 | 29,699 | 1.9% |
Occupational Therapist | 335 | 18,304 | 1.8% |
Optometrist | 75 | 5,142 | 1.5% |
Osteopath | 34 | 2,094 | 1.6% |
Pharmacist | 516 | 29,717 | 1.7% |
Physiotherapist | 539 | 28,855 | 1.9% |
Podiatry Practitioner | 61 | 4,655 | 1.3% |
Psychologist | 876 | 33,907 | 2.6% |
Total 2015/16 | 11,362 | 657,621 | 1.7% |
Total 2014/15 | 10,978 | 637,218 | 1.7% |
Population as a proportion of national population3 | 393,000 | 23,940,300 | 1.6% |
Note:
- Data are based on registered practitioners as at 30 June 2016.
- Practitioners who hold dual registration as both a nurse and a midwife.
- Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics demographics statistics as at 30 December 2015.
- National total also includes registrants who have no specified principal place of practice.
Table 2: Registered practitioners with ACT as the principal place of practice, by registration type
Profession/registration type | ACT | National total | % of national total |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Total | 4 | 587 | 0.7% |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner General | 4 | 585 | 0.7% |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Non-practising | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Total | 66 | 4,762 | 1.4% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner General | 64 | 4,535 | 1.4% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Non-practising | 2 | 227 | 0.9% |
Chiropractor Total | 67 | 5,167 | 1.3% |
Chiropractor General | 64 | 4,875 | 1.3% |
Chiropractor Non-practising | 3 | 292 | 1.0% |
Dental Practitioner Total | 402 | 21,741 | 1.8% |
Dental Practitioner General | 357 | 19,458 | 1.8% |
Dental Practitioner General and Non-practising1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Dental Practitioner General and Specialist | 38 | 1,632 | 2.3% |
Dental Practitioner Limited | 1 | 74 | 1.4% |
Dental Practitioner Non-practising | 5 | 546 | 0.9% |
Dental Practitioner Specialist | 1 | 30 | 3.3% |
Medical Practitioner Total | 2,042 | 107,179 | 1.9% |
Medical Practitioner General | 764 | 36,953 | 2.1% |
Medical Practitioner General (Teaching and Assessing) | 0 | 36 | 0.0% |
Medical Practitioner General (Teaching and Assessing) and Specialist | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Medical Practitioner General and Specialist | 923 | 50,622 | 1.8% |
Medical Practitioner Limited | 40 | 2,705 | 1.5% |
Medical Practitioner Non-practising | 32 | 2,655 | 1.2% |
Medical Practitioner Provisional | 112 | 5,408 | 2.1% |
Medical Practitioner Specialist | 171 | 8,798 | 1.9% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner Total | 264 | 15,303 | 1.7% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner General | 248 | 14,541 | 1.7% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner Limited | 0 | 6 | 0.0% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner Non-practising | 5 | 234 | 2.1% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner Provisional | 11 | 522 | 2.1% |
Midwife Total | 120 | 4,122 | 2.9% |
Midwife General | 120 | 4,050 | 3.0% |
Midwife Non-practising | 0 | 72 | 0.0% |
Nurse Total | 5,382 | 346,387 | 1.6% |
Nurse General | 5,293 | 341,071 | 1.6% |
Nurse General and Non-practising1 | 0 | 25 | 0.0% |
Nurse Non-practising | 88 | 5,161 | 1.7% |
Nurse Provisional | 1 | 130 | 0.8% |
Nurse and Midwife Total | 579 | 29,699 | 1.9% |
Nurse and Midwife General | 536 | 27,680 | 1.9% |
Nurse and Midwife General and Non-practising2 | 27 | 1,337 | 2.0% |
Nurse and Midwife General and Provisional | 0 | 6 | 0.0% |
Nurse and Midwife Non-practising | 16 | 671 | 2.4% |
Nurse and Midwife Provisional | 0 | 5 | 0.0% |
Nurse and Midwife Occupational Therapist | 335 | 18,304 | 1.8% |
Nurse and Midwife General | 325 | 17,552 | 1.9% |
Nurse and Midwife Limited | 2 | 69 | 2.9% |
Nurse and Midwife Non-practising | 5 | 643 | 0.8% |
Nurse and Midwife Provisional | 3 | 40 | 7.5% |
Optometrist Total | 75 | 5,142 | 1.5% |
Optometrist General | 74 | 4,977 | 1.5% |
Optometrist Limited | 0 | 5 | 0.0% |
Optometrist Non-practising | 1 | 160 | 0.6% |
Optometrist Osteopath | 34 | 2,094 | 1.6% |
Optometrist General | 33 | 2,020 | 1.6% |
Optometrist Non-practising | 1 | 66 | 1.5% |
Optometrist Provisional3 | 0 | 8 | 0.0% |
Pharmacist Total | 516 | 29,717 | 1.7% |
Pharmacist General | 465 | 26,948 | 1.7% |
Pharmacist Limited | 0 | 7 | 0.0% |
Pharmacist Non-practising | 15 | 1,035 | 1.4% |
Pharmacist Provisional | 36 | 1,727 | 2.1% |
Physiotherapist Total | 539 | 28,855 | 1.9% |
Physiotherapist General | 528 | 27,667 | 1.9% |
Physiotherapist Limited | 2 | 346 | 0.6% |
Physiotherapist Non-practising | 9 | 842 | 1.1% |
Podiatry Practitioner Total | 61 | 4,655 | 1.3% |
Podiatry Practitioner General | 59 | 4,524 | 1.3% |
Podiatry Practitioner General and Specialist | 1 | 30 | 3.3% |
Podiatry Practitioner Non-practising | 1 | 101 | 1.0% |
Psychologist Total | 876 | 33,907 | 2.6% |
Psychologist General | 741 | 27,627 | 2.7% |
Psychologist Non-practising | 37 | 1,658 | 2.2% |
Psychologist Provisional | 98 | 4,622 | 2.1% |
Note:
- Practitioners holding general registration in one division and non-practising registration in another division.
- Practitioners holding general registration in one profession and non-practising registration in the other profession.
- The Osteopathy Board introduced a category of provisional registration in 2013/14.
Table 3: Registered practitioners who hold an endorsement or notation with ACT as the principal place of practice
Profession/endorsement or notation | ACT | National total | % of national total |
Chiropractor | 0 | 32 | 0.0% |
Acupuncture | 0 | 32 | 0.0% |
Dental Practitioner | 4 | 95 | 4.2% |
Area of Practice | 4 | 95 | 4.2% |
Medical Practitioner | 5 | 573 | 0.9% |
Acupuncture | 5 | 573 | 0.9% |
Midwife1 | 3 | 342 | 0.9% |
Eligible Midwife2 | 1 | 91 | 1.1% |
Midwife Practitioner | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Scheduled Medicines | 2 | 250 | 0.8% |
Nurse1 | 47 | 2,804 | 1.7% |
Eligible Midwife3 | 3 | 289 | 1.0% |
Nurse Practitioner | 38 | 1,418 | 2.7% |
Scheduled Medicines | 6 | 1097 | 0.5% |
Optometrist | 32 | 2,387 | 1.3% |
Scheduled Medicines | 32 | 2,387 | 1.3% |
Osteopath | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Acupuncture | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Physiotherapist | 0 | 8 | 0.0% |
Acupuncture | 0 | 8 | 0.0% |
Podiatry Practitioner | 1 | 74 | 1.4% |
Scheduled Medicines | 1 | 74 | 1.4% |
Psychologist | 278 | 11,167 | 2.5% |
Area of Practice | 278 | 11,167 | 2.5% |
Total | 370 | 17,484 | 2.1% |
Note:
- Nursing and midwifery registrants may hold dual nursing and midwifery registration and may have endorsements against each registration. Nursing and midwifery registrants may hold one or more endorsement/notation in each profession.
- Holds notation of Eligible Midwife.
- Holds dual registration as a nurse and a midwife, and holds notation of Eligible Midwife.
Table 4:Registered practitioners with ACT as the principal place of practice, by profession and gender
Profession/gender | ACT | National total | % of national total |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Total | 4 | 587 | 0.7% |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Female | 2 | 452 | 0.4% |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Male | 2 | 135 | 1.5% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Total | 66 | 4,762 | 1.4% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Female | 36 | 2,602 | 1.4% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Male | 30 | 2,160 | 1.4% |
Chiropractor Total | 67 | 5,167 | 1.3% |
Chiropractor Female | 33 | 1,989 | 1.7% |
Chiropractor Male | 34 | 3,178 | 1.1% |
Dental Practitioner Total | 402 | 21,741 | 1.8% |
Dental Practitioner Female | 229 | 10,737 | 2.1% |
Dental Practitioner Male | 173 | 11,004 | 1.6% |
Medical Practitioner Total | 2,042 | 107,179 | 1.9% |
Medical Practitioner Female | 925 | 44,492 | 2.1% |
Medical Practitioner Male | 1,117 | 62,687 | 1.8% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner Total | 264 | 15,303 | 1.7% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner Female | 176 | 10,369 | 1.7% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner Male | 88 | 4,934 | 1.8% |
Midwife Total | 120 | 4,122 | 2.9% |
Midwife Female | 119 | 4,107 | 2.9% |
Midwife Male | 1 | 15 | 6.7% |
Nurse Total | 5,382 | 346,387 | 1.6% |
Nurse Female | 4,722 | 306,450 | 1.5% |
Nurse Male | 660 | 39,937 | 1.7% |
Nurse and Midwife Total | 579 | 29,699 | 1.9% |
Nurse and Midwife Female | 567 | 29,177 | 1.9% |
Nurse and Midwife Male | 12 | 522 | 2.3% |
Occupational Therapist Total | 335 | 18,304 | 1.8% |
Occupational Therapist Female | 296 | 16,749 | 1.8% |
Occupational Therapist Male | 39 | 1,555 | 2.5% |
Optometrist Total | 75 | 5,142 | 1.5% |
Optometrist Female | 42 | 2,658 | 1.6% |
Optometrist Male | 33 | 2,484 | 1.3% |
Osteopath Total | 34 | 2,094 | 1.6% |
Osteopath Female | 16 | 1,137 | 1.4% |
Osteopath Male | 18 | 957 | 1.9% |
Pharmacist Total | 516 | 29,717 | 1.7% |
Pharmacist Female | 337 | 18,243 | 1.8% |
Pharmacist Male | 179 | 11,474 | 1.6% |
Physiotherapist Total | 539 | 28,855 | 1.9% |
Physiotherapist Female | 368 | 19,639 | 1.9% |
Physiotherapist Male | 171 | 9,216 | 1.9% |
Podiatry Practitioner Total | 61 | 4,655 | 1.3% |
Podiatry Practitioner Female | 33 | 2,822 | 1.2% |
Podiatry Practitioner Male | 28 | 1,833 | 1.5% |
Psychologist Total | 876 | 33,907 | 2.6% |
Psychologist Female | 705 | 26,909 | 2.6% |
Psychologist Male | 171 | 6,998 | 2.4% |
Total | 11,362 | 657,621 | 1.7% |
Table 5: Registered Chinese medicine, dental and medical radiation practitioners, and nurses and midwives with ACT as the principal place of practice, by division
Profession/division | ACT | National total | % of national total |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner | 66 | 4,762 | 1.4% |
Acupuncturist | 25 | 1,722 | 1.5% |
Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Dispenser1 | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Dispenser and Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner1 | 7 | 779 | 0.9% |
Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner1 | 34 | 2,147 | 1.6% |
Chinese Herbal Dispenser | 0 | 45 | 0.0% |
Chinese Herbal Dispenser and Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner1 | 0 | 17 | 0.0% |
Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner | 0 | 50 | 0.0% |
Dental Practitioner | 402 | 21,741 | 1.8% |
Dental Hygienist | 42 | 1,414 | 3.0% |
Dental Hygienist and Dental Prosthetist1 | 0 | 3 | 0.0% |
Dental Hygienist and Dental Prosthetist and Dental Therapist1 | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist1 | 11 | 480 | 2.3% |
Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist and Dentist | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist and Oral Health Therapist | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Dental Hygienist and Dentist1 | 0 | 3 | 0.0% |
Dental Hygienist and Oral Health Therapist1 | 0 | 6 | 0.0% |
Dental Prosthetist | 16 | 1,250 | 1.3% |
Dental Prosthetist and Dental Therapist1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Dental Prosthetist and Dentist1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Dental Therapist | 18 | 1,016 | 1.8% |
Dental Therapist and Dentist | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Dental Therapist and Oral Health Therapist1 | 0 | 4 | 0.0% |
Dentist | 294 | 16,264 | 1.8% |
Dentist and Oral Health Therapist1 | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Oral Health Therapist | 21 | 1,291 | 1.6% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner | 264 | 15,303 | 1.7% |
Diagnostic Radiographer | 175 | 11,840 | 1.5% |
Diagnostic Radiographer and Nuclear Medicine Technologist1 | 0 | 14 | 0.0% |
Diagnostic Radiographer and Radiation Therapist1 | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Nuclear Medicine Technologist | 25 | 1,095 | 2.3% |
Radiation Therapist | 64 | 2,352 | 2.7% |
Nurse | 5,382 | 346,387 | 1.6% |
Enrolled Nurse (Division 2) | 703 | 62,994 | 1.1% |
Enrolled Nurse (Division 2) and Registered Nurse (Division 1)1 | 67 | 6,465 | 1.0% |
Registered Nurse (Division 1) | 4,612 | 276,928 | 1.7% |
Nurse and Midwife | 579 | 29,699 | 1.9% |
Enrolled Nurse and Midwife1 | 2 | 64 | 3.1% |
Enrolled Nurse and Registered Nurse and Midwife1 | 1 | 66 | 1.5% |
Registered Nurse and Midwife1 | 576 | 29,569 | 1.9% |
Total | 6,693 | 417,892 | 1.6% |
Note:
- Practitioners who hold dual or multiple registration.
Table 6: Health practitioners with specialties at 30 June 20161
Profession/area of specialty practice | ACT | National total | % of national total |
Dental Practitioner | 39 | 1,714 | 2.3% |
Dento-maxillofacial radiology | 0 | 10 | 0.0% |
Endodontics | 7 | 163 | 4.3% |
Forensic odontology | 2 | 26 | 7.7% |
Oral and maxillofacial surgery | 4 | 202 | 2.0% |
Oral medicine | 0 | 35 | 0.0% |
Oral pathology | 0 | 24 | 0.0% |
Oral surgery | 0 | 51 | 0.0% |
Orthodontics | 11 | 605 | 1.8% |
Paediatric dentistry | 2 | 130 | 1.5% |
Periodontics | 8 | 223 | 3.6% |
Prosthodontics | 5 | 213 | 2.3% |
Public health dentistry (Community dentistry) | 0 | 16 | 0.0% |
Special needs dentistry | 0 | 16 | 0.0% |
Medical Practitioner | 1,208 | 64,463 | 1.9% |
Addiction medicine | 4 | 168 | 2.4% |
Anaesthesia | 79 | 4,782 | 1.7% |
Dermatology | 6 | 528 | 1.1% |
Emergency medicine | 37 | 1,904 | 1.9% |
General practice | 426 | 24,471 | 1.7% |
Intensive care medicine | 22 | 856 | 2.6% |
Paediatric intensive care medicine | 0 | 7 | 0.0% |
No subspecialty declared | 22 | 849 | 2.6% |
Medical administration | 12 | 331 | 3.6% |
Obstetrics and gynaecology | 31 | 1,932 | 1.6% |
Gynaecological oncology | 0 | 46 | 0.0% |
Maternal-fetal medicine | 1 | 40 | 2.5% |
Obstetrics and gynaecological ultrasound | 0 | 76 | 0.0% |
Reproductive endocrinology and infertility | 0 | 54 | 0.0% |
Urogynaecology | 1 | 31 | 3.2% |
No subspecialty declared | 29 | 1,685 | 1.7% |
Occupational and environmental medicine | 15 | 308 | 4.9% |
Ophthalmology | 15 | 991 | 1.5% |
Paediatrics and child health | 39 | 2,555 | 1.5% |
Paediatric intensive care medicine | 0 | 6 | 0.0% |
Clinical genetics | 0 | 26 | 0.0% |
Community child health | 2 | 52 | 3.8% |
General paediatrics | 26 | 1,825 | 1.4% |
Neonatal and perinatal medicine | 5 | 174 | 2.9% |
Paediatric cardiology | 0 | 36 | 0.0% |
Paediatric clinical pharmacology | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Paediatric emergency medicine | 0 | 51 | 0.0% |
Paediatric endocrinology | 1 | 32 | 3.1% |
Paediatric gastroenterology and hepatology | 0 | 24 | 0.0% |
Paediatric haematology | 0 | 11 | 0.0% |
Paediatric immunology and allergy | 1 | 20 | 5.0% |
Paediatric infectious diseases | 0 | 19 | 0.0% |
Paediatric medical oncology | 0 | 27 | 0.0% |
Paediatric nephrology | 0 | 11 | 0.0% |
Paediatric neurology | 0 | 35 | 0.0% |
Paediatric palliative medicine | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Paediatric rehabilitation medicine | 0 | 8 | 0.0% |
Paediatric respiratory and sleep medicine | 1 | 27 | 3.7% |
Paediatric rheumatology | 0 | 12 | 0.0% |
No sub-specialty declared | 3 | 156 | 1.9% |
Pain medicine | 3 | 276 | 1.1% |
Palliative medicine | 6 | 312 | 1.9% |
Pathology | 51 | 2,073 | 2.5% |
Anatomical pathology (including cytopathology) | 19 | 892 | 2.1% |
Chemical pathology | 4 | 95 | 4.2% |
Forensic pathology | 0 | 48 | 0.0% |
General pathology | 2 | 123 | 1.6% |
Haematology | 11 | 513 | 2.1% |
Immunology | 6 | 118 | 5.1% |
Microbiology | 6 | 231 | 2.6% |
No subspecialty declared | 3 | 53 | 5.7% |
Physician | 193 | 9,779 | 2.0% |
Cardiology | 19 | 1,313 | 1.4% |
Clinical genetics | 0 | 72 | 0.0% |
Clinical pharmacology | 1 | 55 | 1.8% |
Endocrinology | 13 | 658 | 2.0% |
Gastroenterology and hepatology | 25 | 836 | 3.0% |
General medicine | 33 | 1,785 | 1.8% |
Geriatric medicine | 12 | 661 | 1.8% |
Haematology | 9 | 532 | 1.7% |
Immunology and allergy | 7 | 159 | 4.4% |
Infectious diseases | 9 | 408 | 2.2% |
Medical oncology | 10 | 626 | 1.6% |
Nephrology | 13 | 522 | 2.5% |
Neurology | 9 | 567 | 1.6% |
Nuclear medicine | 9 | 261 | 3.4% |
Respiratory and sleep medicine | 10 | 651 | 1.5% |
Rheumatology | 8 | 365 | 2.2% |
No subspecialty declared | 6 | 308 | 1.9% |
Psychiatry | 58 | 3,565 | 1.6% |
Public health medicine | 28 | 434 | 6.5% |
Radiation oncology | 13 | 380 | 3.4% |
Radiology | 50 | 2,368 | 2.1% |
Diagnostic radiology | 40 | 2,023 | 2.0% |
Diagnostic ultrasound | 0 | 4 | 0.0% |
Nuclear medicine | 5 | 186 | 2.7% |
No subspecialty declared | 5 | 155 | 3.2% |
Rehabilitation medicine | 6 | 497 | 1.2% |
Sexual health medicine | 4 | 123 | 3.3% |
Sport and exercise medicine | 11 | 119 | 9.2% |
Surgery | 99 | 5,711 | 1.7% |
Cardio-thoracic surgery | 6 | 201 | 3.0% |
General surgery | 27 | 1,974 | 1.4% |
Neurosurgery | 7 | 247 | 2.8% |
Oral and maxillofacial surgery | 4 | 123 | 3.3% |
Orthopaedic surgery | 26 | 1,394 | 1.9% |
Otolaryngology - head and neck surgery | 9 | 498 | 1.8% |
Paediatric surgery | 4 | 103 | 3.9% |
Plastic surgery | 6 | 450 | 1.3% |
Urology | 6 | 434 | 1.4% |
Vascular surgery | 4 | 229 | 1.7% |
No subspecialty declared | 0 | 58 | 0.0% |
Podiatry Practitioner | 1 | 30 | 3.3% |
Podiatric surgeon | 1 | 30 | 3.3% |
Total | 1,248 | 66,207 | 1.9% |
Note:
- The data above record the number of practitioners with registration in the specialist fields listed. Individual practitioners may be registered to practise in more than one specialist field.
Table 7: Applications received, by profession and registration type
Profession/registration type | ACT | National total | % of national total |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Total | 1 | 269 | 0.4% |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner General | 1 | 268 | 0.4% |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Non-practising | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Total | 6 | 742 | 0.8% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner General | 4 | 546 | 0.7% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Non-practising | 2 | 196 | 1.0% |
Chiropractor Total | 3 | 394 | 0.8% |
Chiropractor General | 3 | 340 | 0.9% |
Chiropractor Limited | 0 | 3 | 0.0% |
Chiropractor Non-practising | 0 | 51 | 0.0% |
Dental Practitioner Total | 25 | 1,536 | 1.6% |
Dental Practitioner General | 21 | 1,280 | 1.6% |
Dental Practitioner Limited | 0 | 46 | 0.0% |
Dental Practitioner Non-practising | 4 | 143 | 2.8% |
Dental Practitioner Specialist | 0 | 67 | 0.0% |
Dental Practitioner Medical Practitioner | 310 | 16,203 | 1.9% |
Dental Practitioner General | 109 | 5,280 | 2.1% |
Dental Practitioner Limited | 31 | 1,720 | 1.8% |
Dental Practitioner Non-practising | 4 | 393 | 1.0% |
Dental Practitioner Provisional | 121 | 5,453 | 2.2% |
Dental Practitioner Specialist | 45 | 3,357 | 1.3% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner Total | 29 | 1,722 | 1.7% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner General | 17 | 1,160 | 1.5% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner Limited | 0 | 6 | 0.0% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner Non-practising | 1 | 82 | 1.2% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner Provisional | 11 | 474 | 2.3% |
Midwife Total | 40 | 1,715 | 2.3% |
Midwife General | 32 | 1,401 | 2.3% |
Midwife Non-practising | 8 | 297 | 2.7% |
Midwife Provisional | 0 | 17 | 0.0% |
Nurse Total | 426 | 28,854 | 1.5% |
Nurse General | 387 | 27,031 | 1.4% |
Nurse Non-practising | 33 | 1,513 | 2.2% |
Nurse Provisional | 6 | 310 | 1.9% |
Occupational Therapist Total | 48 | 2,200 | 2.2% |
Occupational Therapist General | 38 | 1,799 | 2.1% |
Occupational Therapist Limited | 3 | 81 | 3.7% |
Occupational Therapist Non-practising | 5 | 287 | 1.7% |
Occupational Therapist Provisional | 2 | 33 | 6.1% |
Optometrist Total | 8 | 399 | 2.0% |
Optometrist General | 8 | 365 | 2.2% |
Optometrist Limited | 0 | 6 | 0.0% |
Optometrist Non-practising | 0 | 28 | 0.0% |
Osteopath Total | 4 | 207 | 1.9% |
Osteopath General | 4 | 163 | 2.5% |
Osteopath Non-practising | 0 | 28 | 0.0% |
Osteopath Provisional | 0 | 16 | 0.0% |
Pharmacist Total | 60 | 3,324 | 1.8% |
Pharmacist General | 22 | 1,622 | 1.4% |
Pharmacist Limited | 2 | 29 | 6.9% |
Pharmacist Non-practising | 3 | 151 | 2.0% |
Pharmacist Provisional | 33 | 1,522 | 2.2% |
Physiotherapist Total | 46 | 2,505 | 1.8% |
Physiotherapist General | 45 | 2,101 | 2.1% |
Physiotherapist Limited | 0 | 244 | 0.0% |
Physiotherapist Non-practising | 1 | 160 | 0.6% |
Podiatry Practitioner Total | 5 | 445 | 1.1% |
Podiatry Practitioner General | 4 | 408 | 1.0% |
Podiatry Practitioner Non-practising | 1 | 36 | 2.8% |
Podiatry Practitioner Specialist | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Psychologist Total | 123 | 4,759 | 2.6% |
Psychologist General | 59 | 1,773 | 3.3% |
Psychologist Non-practising | 14 | 529 | 2.6% |
Psychologist Provisional | 50 | 2,457 | 2.0% |
Total 2015/16 | 1,134 | 65,274 | 1.7% |
Total 2014/15 | 941 | 61,517 | 1.5% |
Table 8: Outcomes of applications for registration finalised in 2015/16
Outcome | ACT | National Total2 | % of National Total |
Register | 958 | 57,260 | 1.7% |
Register with conditions | 27 | 1,716 | 1.6% |
Register in a type other than applied for | 3 | 150 | 2.0% |
Register in a type other than applied for with conditions | 2 | 130 | 1.5% |
Refuse application | 31 | 2,706 | 1.1% |
Withdrawn | 65 | 3,823 | 1.7% |
Other | 7 | 191 | 3.7% |
Total 2015/16 (PPP)1 | 1,093 | 65,976 | 1.7% |
Note:
- Based on state and territory of the applicant’s principal place of practice (PPP).
- National total figure includes overseas applicants and applicants who did not indicate their PPP.
Criminal history checks
Under the National Law, applicants for initial registration must undergo criminal history checks. A common criminal history standard is used across all 14 National Boards.
Nationally, AHPRA undertook 66,698 domestic and international criminal record checks of registrants in 2015/16, an increase of 28.4% from the previous year. The increase is largely due to a new approach to checking international criminal history, which was introduced in 2014/15.
In 2015/16, there were 1,083 criminal history checks undertaken for applicants with a principal place
of practice in the ACT. Of those, 41 resulted in disclosable court outcomes. See Table 9.
Table 10 provides an overview of national cases where a criminal history check resulted in, or contributed to, the imposition of conditions by a Board or undertakings given by a practitioner. There were no such cases (0) in the ACT in 2015/16.
Table 9: Domestic and international criminal history checks in the ACT and nationally, by profession, and cases where a criminal history check resulted in, or contributed to, imposition of conditions or undertakings1
Profession | ACT - Number of CHCs2 | ACT - Number of DCOs3 | ACT - % of DCOs resulting from CHCs | ACT - Conditions/undertakings resulting from CHCs | ACT - % of total national CHCs resulted in conditions/undertakings | National 2015/16 - Number of CHCs2 | National 2015/16 - Number of DCOs3 | National 2015/16 - % of DCOs resulting from CHCs | National 2015/16 - Conditions/undertakings resulting from CHCs |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner | 1 | 1 | 100.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 396 | 193 | 48.7% | 1 |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner | 6 | 1 | 16.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 933 | 60 | 6.4% | 0 |
Chiropractor | 10 | 1 | 10.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 787 | 66 | 8.4% | 0 |
Dental Practitioner | 22 | 2 | 9.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 1,992 | 96 | 4.8% | 1 |
Medical Practitioner | 217 | 1 | 0.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 11,891 | 267 | 2.2% | 0 |
Medical Radiation Practitioner | 26 | 1 | 3.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 1,728 | 61 | 3.5% | 0 |
Midwife | 32 | 3 | 9.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 859 | 52 | 6.1% | 0 |
Nurse | 557 | 23 | 4.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 36,140 | 1,977 | 5.5% | 6 |
Occupational Therapist | 43 | 1 | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 2,288 | 66 | 2.9% | 0 |
Optometrist | 5 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 408 | 5 | 1.2% | 0 |
Osteopath | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 185 | 15 | 8.1% | 0 |
Pharmacist | 48 | 1 | 2.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 2,516 | 86 | 3.4% | 1 |
Physiotherapist | 52 | 2 | 3.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 2,702 | 94 | 3.5% | 0 |
Podiatry Practitioner | 8 | 2 | 25.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 814 | 54 | 6.6% | 0 |
Psychologist | 56 | 2 | 3.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 3,059 | 183 | 6.0% | 1 |
Total 2015/16 | 1,083 | 41 | 3.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 66,698 | 3,275 | 4.9% | 10 |
Total 2014/15 | 723 | 58 | 8.0% | 3 | 8.1% | 51,947 | 3,100 | 6.0% | 37 |
Note:
- For 2015/16, figures are reported by principal place of practice. For 2014/15, figures are reported by the state/territory location of the preferred address as advised by the applicant/registrant. Where this can’t be identified, the location of the office assessing the application is used.
- Criminal history checks. Refers to both domestic and international criminal history checks submitted. International criminal history checks started in 2014/15.
- Disclosable court outcomes.
Table 10: Cases in 2015/16 where a criminal history check resulted in, or contributed to, imposition of conditions or undertakings, by profession
Profession | ACT | Total | % of national total |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Chiropractor | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Dental Practitioner | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Medical Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Midwife | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Nurse | 0 | 6 | 0.0% |
Occupational Therapist | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Optometrist | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Osteopath | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Pharmacist | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Physiotherapist | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Podiatry Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Psychologist | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Total 2015/16 | 0 | 10 | 0.0% |
Total 2014/15 | 3 | 37 | 8.1% |
Notifications in the ACT
Notifications are complaints or concerns that
are raised with AHPRA about registered health practitioners or students practising in Australia, excluding in NSW, where complaints are handled by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA), and in Queensland, where complaints may be referred to AHPRA by the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO).
Tables 11–23 contain data relating to notifications about registered health practitioners with a principal place of practice (PPP) in the ACT. Some tables do not contain data from the HPCA in NSW, as indicated in the table headings.
Nationally, notifications received in 2015/16 increased by 19.7% (including those managed by the HPCA). Notifications received about practitioners with a PPP in the ACT increased by 15.7%, to 206 complaints, compared with 178 in the previous year. This represents 2% of all notifications received nationally.
Of the new notifications received, mandatory notifications in the ACT increased from 17 in 2014/15 to 44 in 2015/16; this represents 4.5% of mandatory notifications nationally in 2015/16.
There were four fewer open notifications in the ACT as at 30 June 2016 than the previous year (110, compared with 114 in 2014/15). This represents 1.9% of open matters nationally.
The percentage of the ACT registrant base with notifications received in 2015/16 was 1.8%, which was 0.3% higher than the national percentage.
The majority of notifications (87) were about clinical care. See Table 14.
Most complaints came directly from a patient (72) or via a health complaints entity (53).
There were 19 cases where immediate action was initiated against practitioners in the ACT. In 12
of these the registration of the practitioner was suspended or restricted in order to protect the public. In the remaining seven cases the Board determined that no further action was required1. See Table 16.
There were no open notifications in the ACT in 2015/16 that had been received before the National Law took effect in 2010. See Table 17.
Tables 18–22 detail the outcomes of key stages in the notifications process during 2015/16; note the national data in these tables do not include data for NSW, because complaints in that jurisdiction are managed by the HPCA.
The majority of the 247 enquiries received about ACT registrants in 2015/16 were considered to meet the criteria for a notification (202) and an assessment commenced.
On completion of assessment of cases in 2015/16, 127 were closed and 68 were taken to a further stage. See Table 19.
Six cases were closed following a panel hearing and 14 were closed following a tribunal hearing. See Tables 21 and 22.
In total, 206 matters were closed in the ACT in 2015/16. See Table 23.
Note:
- No further action is usually taken when, based on the available information, the Board determines there is no risk to the public that meets the threshold for regulatory action or because a practitioner has taken steps to voluntarily address issues of concern.
Table 11: Notifications received or closed in 2015/16 or remaining open at 30 June 2016, by profession1
Profession | All received - ACT | All received - National total | All received - % of national total | Mandatory received - ACT | Mandatory received - National total | Mandatory received - % of national total | Closed - ACT | Closed - National total | Closed - % of national total | Open at 30 June - ACT | Open at 30 June - National total | Open at 30 June - % of national total |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner | 0 | 5 | 0.0% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | 9 | 0.0% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner | 1 | 54 | 1.9% | 0 | 4 | 0.0% | 1 | 36 | 2.8% | 0 | 33 | 0.0% |
Chiropractor | 1 | 146 | 0.7% | 0 | 10 | 0.0% | 0 | 101 | 0.0% | 2 | 126 | 1.6% |
Dental Practitioner | 16 | 1,025 | 1.6% | 3 | 27 | 11.1% | 24 | 794 | 3.0% | 7 | 621 | 1.1% |
Medical Practitioner | 105 | 5,371 | 2.0% | 12 | 272 | 4.4% | 109 | 4,714 | 2.3% | 52 | 2,882 | 1.8% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner | 0 | 48 | 0.0% | 0 | 7 | 0.0% | 0 | 38 | 0.0% | 0 | 27 | 0.0% |
Midwife | 5 | 103 | 4.9% | 3 | 16 | 18.8% | 2 | 83 | 2.4% | 5 | 82 | 6.1% |
Nurse | 35 | 1,942 | 1.8% | 16 | 519 | 3.1% | 32 | 1,762 | 1.8% | 23 | 1,226 | 1.9% |
Occupational Therapist | 0 | 59 | 0.0% | 0 | 2 | 0.0% | 0 | 56 | 0.0% | 0 | 25 | 0.0% |
Optometrist | 1 | 39 | 2.6% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 44 | 2.3% | 0 | 15 | 0.0% |
Osteopath | 2 | 23 | 8.7% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 2 | 27 | 7.4% | 0 | 9 | 0.0% |
Pharmacist | 20 | 570 | 3.5% | 9 | 38 | 23.7% | 16 | 537 | 3.0% | 14 | 330 | 4.2% |
Physiotherapist | 2 | 102 | 2.0% | 0 | 5 | 0.0% | 1 | 93 | 1.1% | 0 | 67 | 0.0% |
Podiatry Practitioner | 0 | 57 | 0.0% | 0 | 5 | 0.0% | 0 | 49 | 0.0% | 0 | 28 | 0.0% |
Psychologist | 18 | 528 | 3.4% | 1 | 72 | 1.4% | 18 | 484 | 3.7% | 7 | 316 | 2.2% |
Not identified2 | 0 | 10 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 12 | 0.0% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Total 2015/16 (PPP)3 | 206 | 10,082 | 2.0% | 44 | 980 | 4.5% | 206 | 8,839 | 2.3% | 110 | 5,789 | 1.9% |
Total 2014/15 (PPP)3 | 178 | 8,426 | 2.1% | 17 | 833 | 2.0% | 236 | 9,003 | 2.6% | 114 | 4,531 | 2.5% |
Total 2014/15 (Responsible Office)1 | 194 | 8,426 | 2.3% | 20 | 833 | 2.4% | 267 | 9,003 | 3.0% | 121 | 4,531 | 2.7% |
Note:
- Profession of registrant is not always identifiable in the early stages of a notification.
- For 2015/16, notifications are based on the state or territory of the practitioner’s principal place of practice (PPP).
- Prior to the above, notifications were based on the location of the AHPRA state or territory office that handled the notification (Responsible Office).
Table 12: Percentage of registrant base with notifications received in 2015/16, by profession1
Profession | ACT | National total |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner | 0.0% | 0.9% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner | 1.5% | 1.1% |
Chiropractor | 1.5% | 2.8% |
Dental Practitioner | 4.0% | 4.7% |
Medical Practitioner | 5.1% | 5.0% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner | 0.0% | 0.3% |
Midwife2 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
Nurse3 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
Occupational Therapist | 0.0% | 0.3% |
Optometrist | 1.3% | 0.8% |
Osteopath | 5.9% | 1.1% |
Pharmacist | 3.9% | 1.9% |
Physiotherapist | 0.4% | 0.4% |
Podiatry Practitioner | 0.0% | 1.2% |
Psychologist | 2.1% | 1.6% |
Total 2015/16 (PPP)4 | 1.8% | 1.5% |
Total 2014/15 (PPP)4 | 1.6% | 1.3% |
Total 2014/15 (Responsible Office)4 | 1.8% | 1.3% |
Note:
- Percentages are based on registrants whose profession and principal place of practice (PPP) have been identified.
- The registrant base for midwives includes registrants with midwifery or with nursing and midwifery registration.
- The registrant base used for nurses includes registrants with midwifery or with nursing and midwifery registration.
- For 2015/16, notifications are based on the practitioner’s PPP. Prior to this, notifications were based on the
state or territory where the notification was handled (Responsible Office).
Table 13: Registrants involved in mandatory notifications, by jurisdiction
Jurisdiction | 2015/16 (PPP)1 - No. practitioners3 | 2015/16 (PPP)1 - Rate / 10,000 practitioners4 | 2014/15 (PPP)1 - No. practitioners3 | 2014/15 (PPP)1 - Rate / 10,000 practitioners4 | 2014/15 (Responsible Office)2 - No. practitioners3 | 2014/15 (Responsible Office)2 - Rate / 10,000 practitioners4 |
ACT | 39 | 34.3 | 16 | 14.6 | 19 | 17.3 |
Total Australia | 920 | 14.0 | 789 | 12.4 | 789 | 12.4 |
Note:
- Principal place of practice (PPP).
- State or territory where the notification is handled for registrants, including those registrants who do not reside in Australia.
- Figures represent the number of practitioners involved in the mandatory reports received.
- Practitioners with no PPP are not represented in the calculation of a rate for each state, but are included in the calculation of the Total Australia rate.
Table 14: Issues in notifications received in 2015/16
Issue | ACT | National total | % of national total |
Behaviour | 3 | 374 | 0.8% |
Billing | 3 | 178 | 1.7% |
Boundary violation | 5 | 344 | 1.5% |
Clinical care | 87 | 4,208 | 2.1% |
Communication | 18 | 668 | 2.7% |
Confidentiality | 7 | 248 | 2.8% |
Conflict of interest | 0 | 20 | 0.0% |
Discrimination | 4 | 27 | 14.8% |
Documentation | 7 | 436 | 1.6% |
Health impairment | 16 | 932 | 1.7% |
Infection/hygiene | 0 | 87 | 0.0% |
Informed consent | 6 | 116 | 5.2% |
Medico-legal conduct | 0 | 146 | 0.0% |
National Law breach | 3 | 299 | 1.0% |
National Law offence | 0 | 277 | 0.0% |
Offence | 4 | 329 | 1.2% |
Offence by student | 0 | 9 | 0.0% |
Other | 1 | 170 | 0.6% |
Pharmacy/medication | 35 | 1,062 | 3.3% |
Research/teaching/assessment | 1 | 20 | 5.0% |
Response to adverse event | 0 | 43 | 0.0% |
Teamwork/supervision | 6 | 65 | 9.2% |
Not recorded | 0 | 24 | 0.0% |
Total | 206 | 10,082 | 2.0% |
Table 15: Source of notifications received in 2015/16
Source | ACT | National total (excluding HPCA)1 | % of national total (excluding HPCA) |
Anonymous | 2 | 112 | 1.8% |
Drugs and poisons | 0 | 24 | 0.0% |
Education provider | 0 | 21 | 0.0% |
Employer | 19 | 568 | 3.3% |
Government department | 11 | 155 | 7.1% |
HCE | 53 | 434 | 12.2% |
Health advisory service | 1 | 28 | 3.6% |
Hospital | 0 | 71 | 0.0% |
Insurance company | 0 | 14 | 0.0% |
Lawyer | 0 | 44 | 0.0% |
Member of Parliament | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Member of the public | 8 | 340 | 2.4% |
Ombudsman | 0 | 35 | 0.0% |
Other Board | 0 | 39 | 0.0% |
Other practitioner | 24 | 741 | 3.2% |
Own motion | 9 | 329 | 2.7% |
Patient | 72 | 2,022 | 3.6% |
Police | 0 | 93 | 0.0% |
Relative | 3 | 596 | 0.5% |
Self | 3 | 182 | 1.6% |
Treating practitioner | 0 | 58 | 0.0% |
Unclassified | 1 | 148 | 0.7% |
Total | 206 | 6,056 | 3.4% |
Note:
- The national total excludes Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) data as the categorisation of ‘source’ differs between the HPCA and AHPRA.
Table 16: Immediate action cases about notifications received in 2015/16
Outcome | ACT | National total | % of national total |
Not take immediate action | 7 | 139 | 5.0% |
Accept undertaking | 5 | 67 | 7.5% |
Impose conditions | 6 | 405 | 1.5% |
Accept surrender of registration | 0 | 13 | 0.0% |
Suspend registration | 1 | 106 | 0.9% |
Decision pending | 0 | 19 | 0.0% |
Total | 19 | 749 | 2.5% |
Table 17: Notifications under previous legislation open at 30 June 2016, by profession (excluding HPCA)
Profession | ACT | National total1 | % of national total |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Chiropractor | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Dental Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Medical Practitioner | 0 | 7 | 0.0% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Midwife | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Nurse | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Occupational Therapist | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Optometrist | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Osteopath | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Pharmacist | 0 | 3 | 0.0% |
Physiotherapist | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Podiatry Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Psychologist | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Total 2015/16 | 0 | 14 | 0.0% |
Total 2014/15 | 0 | 38 | 0.0% |
Note:
- Of the 14 open matters in the national total for 2015/16, 13 are lodged with a tribunal.
Table 18: Outcome of enquiries received in 2015/16 (excluding HPCA)
Outcome | ACT | National total | % of national total |
Moved to notification, complaint or offence | 202 | 6,214 | 3.3% |
Closed at lodgement | 34 | 1,576 | 2.2% |
Yet to be determined | 11 | 374 | 2.9% |
Total | 247 | 8,164 | 3.0% |
Table 19a: Outcome of assessments finalised in 2015/16 (excluding HPCA)
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further | ACT | National total (excluding HPCA) | % of national total |
Health or performance assessment | 7 | 295 | 2.4% |
Investigation | 61 | 1,975 | 3.1% |
Panel hearing | 0 | 16 | 0.0% |
Tribunal hearing | 0 | 3 | 0.0% |
Total | 68 | 2,289 | 3.0% |
Table 19b: Outcome of assessments finalised in 2015/16 (excluding HPCA)
Outcome of notifications closed following assessment | ACT | National total (excluding HPCA) | % of national total |
No further action | 100 | 2,358 | 4.2% |
HCE to retain | 9 | 109 | 8.3% |
Refer all or part of the notification to another body | 0 | 33 | 0.0% |
Dealt with as enquiry | 2 | 47 | 4.3% |
Managed as a complaint by a co-regulator | 0 | 5 | 0.0% |
Managed as an offence under Part 7 of the National Law | 0 | 7 | 0.0% |
Caution | 9 | 367 | 2.5% |
Accept undertaking | 3 | 46 | 6.5% |
Impose conditions | 4 | 164 | 2.4% |
Practitioner surrenders registration | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Total | 127 | 3,138 | 4.0% |
Table 20a: Outcome of investigations finalised in 2015/16 (excluding HPCA)
Outcome of decisions to take the notification further | ACT | National total (excluding HPCA) | % of national total |
Assessment | 7 | 16 | 43.8% |
Health or performance assessment | 2 | 116 | 1.7% |
Panel hearing | 2 | 79 | 2.5% |
Tribunal hearing | 5 | 100 | 5.0% |
Total | 16 | 311 | 5.1% |
Table 20b: Outcome of investigations finalised in 2015/16 (excluding HPCA)
Outcome of notifications closed following investigation | ACT | National total (excluding HPCA) | % of national total |
No further action | 26 | 838 | 3.1% |
HCE to retain | 6 | 8 | 75.0% |
Refer all or part of the notification to another body | 1 | 11 | 9.1% |
Dealt with as enquiry | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Managed as a complaint by a co-regulator | 0 | 5 | 0.0% |
Caution | 10 | 272 | 3.7% |
Accept undertaking | 0 | 72 | 0.0% |
Impose conditions | 5 | 189 | 2.6% |
Suspend registration | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Total | 48 | 1,397 | 3.4% |
Table 21: Outcome of panel hearings finalised in 2015/16 (excluding HPCA)
Outcome | ACT | National total (excluding HPCA) | % of national total |
No further action | 1 | 32 | 3.1% |
Accept undertaking | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Caution | 0 | 39 | 0.0% |
Reprimand | 0 | 11 | 0.0% |
Impose conditions | 5 | 88 | 5.7% |
Practitioner surrender | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Suspend registration | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
Total | 6 | 173 | 3.5% |
Table 22: Outcome of tribunal hearings finalised in 2015/16 (excluding HPCA)
Outcome | ACT | National total (excluding HPCA) | % of national total |
No further action | 0 | 18 | 0.0% |
Caution | 1 | 3 | 33.3% |
Reprimand | 0 | 21 | 0.0% |
Fine registrant | 0 | 5 | 0.0% |
Accept undertaking | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
Impose conditions | 3 | 28 | 10.7% |
Practitioner surrenders registration | 0 | 3 | 0.0% |
Suspend registration | 7 | 44 | 15.9% |
Cancel registration | 3 | 34 | 8.8% |
Not permitted to reapply for registration for a period of 12 months | 0 | 8 | 0.0% |
Withdrawn | 0 | 9 | 0.0% |
Total | 14 | 175 | 8.0% |
Table 23: Notifications closed in 2015/16, by profession and stage at closure in the ACT
Profession | Assessment | Investigation | Health or performance assessment | Panel hearing | Tribunal hearing | Total 2015/16 |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Chiropractor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dental Practitioner | 14 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
Medical Practitioner | 68 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 109 |
Medical Radiation Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Midwife | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Nurse | 14 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 32 |
Occupational Therapist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Optometrist | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Osteopath | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Pharmacist | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
Physiotherapist | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Podiatry Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Psychologist | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
Not identified1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total 2015/16 | 128 | 48 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 206 |
Note:
- Practitioner profession may not have been identified in notifications closed at an early stage.
Monitoring and compliance
AHPRA’s monitoring and compliance team monitors health practitioners and students with restrictions on their registration, or whose registration has been suspended or cancelled.
Monitoring ensures practitioners are complying with restrictions placed on their registration. Each case is assigned to one of five streams, where the below affects a practitioner or student’s ability or performance:
- health: physical or mental impairment, disability, condition or disorder (including substance abuse or dependence)
- performance: deficiencies in knowledge, skill, judgement or care
- conduct: where they have a criminal history or have demonstrated a lesser standard of professional care than expected
- suitability/eligibility: they do not hold an approved or equivalent qualification; lack English-language skills; do not meet the requirements for recency of practice or do not meet approved registration standards, or
- prohibited practitioner/student: they are subject to a cancellation order, surrender of registration or change to non-practising registration or suspension.
At 30 June 2016, there were 117 cases under active compliance monitoring in the ACT.
The ACT accounted for 2.4% of all cases nationally under active monitoring. The majority of these registrants were medical practitioners (34), nurses (31) and Chinese medicine practitioners (24). See Tables 24 and 25.
Table 24: Active monitoring cases at 30 June 2016, by profession (excluding HPCA)
Profession | ACT | National total (excluding HPCA) | % of national total |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner | 0 | 73 | 0.0% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner | 24 | 954 | 2.5% |
Chiropractor | 0 | 46 | 0.0% |
Dental Practitioner | 7 | 141 | 5.0% |
Medical Practitioner | 34 | 1,767 | 1.9% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner | 3 | 109 | 2.8% |
Midwife | 3 | 144 | 2.1% |
Nurse | 31 | 1,274 | 2.4% |
Occupational Therapist | 0 | 36 | 0.0% |
Optometrist | 1 | 17 | 5.9% |
Osteopath | 0 | 9 | 0.0% |
Pharmacist | 6 | 178 | 3.4% |
Physiotherapist | 2 | 60 | 3.3% |
Podiatry Practitioner | 0 | 21 | 0.0% |
Psychologist | 6 | 134 | 4.5% |
Total | 117 | 4,963 | 2.4% |
Table 25: Active monitoring cases at 30 June 2016 in the ACT and nationally, by stream
Jurisdiction | Conduct1 | Health1 | Performance1 | Prohibited practitioner/student | Suitability/eligibility2 | Total 2015/16 |
ACT | 10 | 25 | 24 | 8 | 50 | 117 |
National 2015/163 | 709 | 1,000 | 677 | 219 | 3,129 | 5,734 |
% of national total | 1.4% | 2.5% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 1.6% | 2.0% |
Note:
- Includes cases to be transitioned from AHPRA to HPCA for Conduct, Health and Performance streams.
- AHPRA performs monitoring of compliance cases in ‘suitability/eligibility’ matters for NSW registrations.
- Includes cases monitored by the HPCA.
Statutory offence complaints
In order to protect the public, the National Law sets out the following types of statutory offences:
- unlawful use of protected titles
- performing restricted acts
- holding out (unlawful claims by individuals or organisations as to registration), and
- unlawful advertising.
These offences are prosecuted in the Magistrates’ Court (or equivalent) of the relevant state or territory, and carry penalties or fines that may be imposed on a finding of guilt.
Nationally, AHPRA received 1,348 statutory offence complaints in 2015/16 (166% more than in 2014/15). This increase was largely due to a series of complaints made by organisations about
alleged advertising breaches, which made up
75% of all complaints. Of these, 57.3% were about chiropractors, 16% were about dental services and 13.1% were about medical services.
Twenty new statutory offence complaints were made about ACT practitioners. Noting that the total numbers are relatively small, this represents an increase of 100% from 2014/15. The ACT received 1.5% of all offence complaints nationally. See
Table 26.
Fifteen statutory offences were closed in 2015/16, eight more than were closed in 2014/15.
Almost all new matters in the ACT related to title protection or advertising concerns.
Table 26: Offences received and closed by profession and jurisdiction1
Profession | ACT - Received | ACT - Closed | National Total2 - Received | National Total2 - Closed | % of National Total - Received | % of National Total - Closed |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Chinese Medicine Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 26 | 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Chiropractor | 10 | 1 | 601 | 68 | 1.7% | 1.5% |
Dental Practitioner | 2 | 2 | 196 | 157 | 1.0% | 1.3% |
Medical Practitioner | 1 | 1 | 202 | 128 | 0.5% | 0.8% |
Medical Radiation Practitioner | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Midwife | 0 | 0 | 33 | 6 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Nurse | 2 | 3 | 54 | 40 | 3.7% | 7.5% |
Occupational Therapist | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0.0% | 20.0% |
Optometrist | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Osteopath | 0 | 0 | 12 | 25 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Pharmacist | 2 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 15.4% | 15.4% |
Physiotherapist | 0 | 1 | 66 | 40 | 0.0% | 2.5% |
Podiatry Practitioner | 3 | 3 | 26 | 17 | 11.5% | 17.6% |
Psychologist | 0 | 1 | 83 | 64 | 0.0% | 1.6% |
Unknown3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Total 2015/16 (PPP)4 | 20 | 15 | 1,348 | 600 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
Total 2014/15 (PPP)4 | 10 | 7 | 506 | 518 | 2.0% | 1.4% |
Note:
- This table captures offence complaints by principal place of practice (PPP) and includes all offences from sections 113–116 of the National Law, not only offences about advertising, title and practice protection.
- The national total includes offences managed about unregistered persons where there is no PPP recorded.
- AHPRA also receives offence complaints about unregistered persons where there is no PPP recorded. Only registered practitioners have a designated PPP.
- Based on state and territory of the practitioner’s PPP.