NSW Annual Report Summary 2015/16

Part 2: The National Scheme at work in NSW

NSW: data snapshot

Five insights for 2015/16

  • As at 30 June 2016, there were 190,986 registered health practitioners with a principal place of practice in NSW.
  • NSW has 29% of all registered health practitioners in Australia, and almost a third of all registered health practitioners with a recognised specialty.
  • NSW is the principal place of practice for 41% of all registered Chinese medicine practitioners in Australia.
  • 18,224 new applications were received for registration in NSW, an increase of 6% from the previous year.
  • 18,096 criminal history checks were carried out for new applicants this year, with none resulting in conditions being imposed on their registration.

Background

Data in the NSW annual report summary are drawn from the 2015/16 annual report of AHPRA and the National Boards. NSW data have been extracted from national source data to highlight the work we’ve undertaken in this jurisdiction to keep the public safe over the past 12 months. All data were correct as at 30 June 2016.

Throughout, national figures are also provided to show how NSW compares with the national average. Where possible, we have included the previous year’s data for comparison.

Note that in NSW, AHPRA manages the registration process of health practitioners with a principal place of practice in NSW – we do not manage notifications in this jurisdiction. Therefore, this report contains data that relate primarily to registration information.

This NSW snapshot provides information about the number of practitioners in each profession in NSW, including a breakdown by registration type, registration division (for professions with divisions), information about specialist registration types (for dental, podiatry and medical practitioners), and endorsements or notations held.

Complaints about the health, performance or conduct of NSW health practitioners are managed under co-regulatory arrangements by the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) and the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC).

Data about complaints, hearings and outcomes involving registered health practitioners in NSW in 2015/16 can be found in the combined annual reports of the NSW health professions councils on the HPCA website.

Information about the complaints and concerns (notifications) process in NSW is available on the HCCC website.

To view the 2015/16 annual report by AHPRA and the National Boards in full, along with national, profession-specific data and other state and territories’ data, visit the 2015/16 annual report by AHPRA and the National Boards website.

In early 2017, each of the 14 National Boards will also publish a summary report outlining their profession’s performance in 2015/16.


Registration in NSW

Tables 1–8 provide details of registered health practitioners with a principal place of practice in NSW. At 30 June 2016, the number of registered health practitioners in NSW was 190,986, an increase of 5,739 (3.1%) from 2014/15. This jurisdiction represents 29% of all registered health practitioners in Australia.

At a profession level, the proportion of registrants in NSW ranged from 41% of Chinese medicine practitioners to 18.1% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners nationally. See Table 1.

Data also showed that in 2015/16 NSW had:

  • 31.1% of registered health practitioners with a recognised specialty nationally, and
  • 26.3% 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 NSW increased by 6%, with 18,224 new applications. This equates to 27.9% of new applications received nationally during the year. Details of registration applications received, with a breakdown of profession and registration type, are provided in Table 7.

Table 1: Registered practitioners with NSW as the principal place of practice, by profession1
ProfessionNSWNational total4% of national total
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner10658718.1%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner1,9534,76241.0%
Chiropractor1,7365,16733.6%
Dental Practitioner6,58021,74130.3%
Medical Practitioner33,236107,17931.0%
Medical Radiation Practitioner5,08915,30333.3%
Midwife9034,12221.9%
Nurse95,076346,38727.4%
Nurse and Midwife28,74229,69929.4%
Occupational Therapist5,16718,30428.2%
Optometrist1,7435,14233.9%
Osteopath5722,09427.3%
Pharmacist9,17129,71730.9%
Physiotherapist8,40828,85529.1%
Podiatry Practitioner1,2684,65527.2%
Psychologist11,23633,90733.1%
Total 2015/16190,986657,62129.0%
Total 2014/15185,247637,21829.1%
Population as a proportion of national population37,670,70023,940,30032.0%

Note:

  1. Data are based on registered practitioners as at 30 June 2016.
  2. Practitioners who hold dual registration as both a nurse and a midwife.
  3. Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics demographics statistics as at 30 December 2015.
  4. National total also includes registrants who have no specified principal place of practice.
Table 2: Registered practitioners with NSW as the principal place of practice, by registration type
Profession/registration typeNSWNational total% of national total
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Total10658718.1%
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner General10658518.1%
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Non-practising020.0%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Total1,9534,76241.0%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner General1,8994,53541.9%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Non-practising5422723.8%
Chiropractor Total1,7365,16733.6%
Chiropractor General1,6694,87534.2%
Chiropractor Non-practising6729222.9%
Dental Practitioner Total6,58021,74130.3%
Dental Practitioner General5,94319,45830.5%
Dental Practitioner General and Non-practising1010.0%
Dental Practitioner General and Specialist4771,63229.2%
Dental Practitioner Limited167421.6%
Dental Practitioner Non-practising14054625.6%
Dental Practitioner Specialist43013.3%
Medical Practitioner Total33,236107,17931.0%
Medical Practitioner General11,86836,95332.1%
Medical Practitioner General (Teaching and Assessing)113630.6%
Medical Practitioner General (Teaching and Assessing) and Specialist22100.0%
Medical Practitioner General and Specialist16,57650,62232.7%
Medical Practitioner Limited6822,70525.2%
Medical Practitioner Non-practising6582,65524.8%
Medical Practitioner Provisional1,4475,40826.8%
Medical Practitioner Specialist1,9928,79822.6%
Medical Radiation Practitioner Total5,08915,30333.3%
Medical Radiation Practitioner General4,74014,54132.6%
Medical Radiation Practitioner Limited1616.7%
Medical Radiation Practitioner Non-practising6023425.6%
Medical Radiation Practitioner Provisional28852255.2%
Midwife Total9034,12221.9%
Midwife General8844,05021.8%
Midwife Non-practising197226.4%
Nurse Total95,076346,38727.4%
Nurse General93,200341,07127.3%
Nurse General and Non-practising1112544.0%
Nurse Non-practising1,8415,16135.7%
Nurse Provisional2413018.5%
Nurse and Midwife Total8,74229,69929.4%
Nurse and Midwife General7,64727,68027.6%
Nurse and Midwife General and Non-practising27621,33757.0%
Nurse and Midwife General and Provisional060.0%
Nurse and Midwife Non-practising33367149.6%
Nurse and Midwife Provisional050.0%
Occupational Therapist Total5,16718,30428.2%
Occupational Therapist General5,00417,55228.5%
Occupational Therapist Limited166923.2%
Occupational Therapist Non-practising13264320.5%
Occupational Therapist Provisional154037.5%
Optometrist Total1,7435,14233.9%
Optometrist General1,6994,97734.1%
Optometrist Limited3560.0%
Optometrist Non-practising4116025.6%
Osteopath Total5722,09427.3%
Osteopath General5512,02027.3%
Osteopath Non-practising166624.2%
Osteopath Provisional35862.5%
Pharmacist Total9,17129,71730.9%
Pharmacist General8,31626,94830.9%
Pharmacist Limited2728.6%
Pharmacist Non-practising2551,03524.6%
Pharmacist Provisional5981,72734.6%
Physiotherapist Total8,40828,85529.1%
Physiotherapist General8,09927,66729.3%
Physiotherapist Limited6434618.5%
Physiotherapist Non-practising24584229.1%
Podiatry Practitioner Total1,2684,65527.2%
Podiatry Practitioner General1,2514,52427.7%
Podiatry Practitioner General and Specialist43013.3%
Podiatry Practitioner Non-practising1310112.9%
Psychologist Total11,23633,90733.1%
Psychologist General9,22027,62733.4%
Psychologist Non-practising5661,65834.1%
Psychologist Provisional1,4504,62231.4%
Total190,986657,62129.0%

Note:

  1. Practitioners holding general registration in one division and non-practising registration in another division.
  2. Practitioners holding general registration in one profession and non-practising registration in the other profession.
  3. The Osteopathy Board introduced a category of provisional registration in 2013/14.
Table 3: Table 3. Registered practitioners who hold an endorsement or notation with NSW as the principal place of practice
Profession/endorsement or notationNSWNational total% of national total
Chiropractor0320.0%
Chiropractor: Acupuncture0320.0%
Dental Practitioner499551.6%
Dental Practitioner: Area of Practice499551.6%
Medical Practitioner16057327.9%
Medical Practitioner: Acupuncture16057327.9%
Midwife15434215.8%
Midwife: Eligible Midwife2139114.3%
Midwife: Midwife Practitioner11100.0%
Midwife: Scheduled Medicines4025016.0%
Nurse14072,80414.5%
Nurse: Eligible Midwife35128917.6%
Nurse: Nurse Practitioner3171,41822.4%
Nurse: Scheduled Medicines391,0973.6%
Optometrist5962,38725.0%
Optometrist: Scheduled Medicines5962,38725.0%
Osteopath020.0%
Osteopath: Acupuncture020.0%
Physiotherapist080.0%
Physiotherapist: Acupuncture080.0%
Podiatry Practitioner4745.4%
Podiatry Practitioner: Scheduled Medicines4745.4%
Psychologist3,32811,16729.8%
Psychologist: Area of Practice3,32811,16729.8%
Total4,59817,48426.3%

Note:

  1. 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.
  2. Holds notation of Eligible Midwife.
  3. Holds dual registration as a nurse and a midwife, and holds notation of Eligible Midwife.
Table 4: Registered practitioners with NSW as the principal place of practice, by profession and gender
Profession/genderNSWNational total% of national total
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Total10658718.1%
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner: Female8545218.8%
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner: Male2113515.6%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Total1,9534,76241.0%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner: Female1,0482,60240.3%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner: Male9052,16041.9%
Chiropractor Total1,7365,16733.6%
Chiropractor: Female6341,98931.9%
Chiropractor: Male1,1023,17834.7%
Dental Practitioner Total6,58021,74130.3%
Dental Practitioner: Female2,98910,73727.8%
Dental Practitioner: Male3,59111,00432.6%
Medical Practitioner Total33,236107,17931.0%
Medical Practitioner: Female13,76244,49230.9%
Medical Practitioner: Male19,47462,68731.1%
Medical Radiation Practitioner Total5,08915,30333.3%
Medical Radiation Practitioner: Female3,41510,36932.9%
Medical Radiation Practitioner: Male1,6744,93433.9%
Midwife Total9034,12221.9%
Midwife: Female8974,10721.8%
Midwife: Male61540.0%
Nurse Total95,076346,38727.4%
Nurse: Female82,726306,45027.0%
Nurse: Male12,35039,93730.9%
Nurse and Midwife Total8,74229,69929.4%
Nurse and Midwife: Female8,55129,17729.3%
Nurse and Midwife: Male19152236.6%
Occupational Therapist Total5,16718,30428.2%
Occupational Therapist: Female4,71016,74928.1%
Occupational Therapist: Male4571,55529.4%
Optometrist Total1,7435,14233.9%
Optometrist: Female9492,65835.7%
Optometrist: Male7942,48432.0%
Osteopath Total5722,09427.3%
Osteopath: Female2481,13721.8%
Osteopath: Male32495733.9%
Pharmacist Total9,17129,71730.9%
Pharmacist: Female5,58918,24330.6%
Pharmacist: Male3,58211,47431.2%
Physiotherapist Total8,40828,85529.1%
Physiotherapist: Female5,68419,63928.9%
Physiotherapist: Male2,7249,21629.6%
Podiatry Practitioner Total1,2684,65527.2%
Podiatry Practitioner: Female7312,82225.9%
Podiatry Practitioner: Male5371,83329.3%
Psychologist Total11,23633,90733.1%
Psychologist: Female8,86126,90932.9%
Psychologist: Male2,3756,99833.9%
Total 190,986657,62129.0%
Table 5:Registered Chinese medicine, dental and medical radiation practitioners, and nurses and midwives with NSW as the principal place of practice, by division
Profession/divisionNSWNational total% of national total
Chinese Medicine Practitioner1,9534,76241.0%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner: Acupuncturist4401,72225.6%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner: Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Dispenser1020.0%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner: Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Dispenser and Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner149777963.8%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner: Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner119522,14744.3%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner: Chinese Herbal Dispenser354577.8%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner: Chinese Herbal Dispenser and Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner1121770.6%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner: Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner175034.0%
Dental Practitioner6,58021,74130.3%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Hygienist4241,41430.0%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Hygienist and Dental Prosthetist12366.7%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Hygienist and Dental Prosthetist and Dental Therapist11250.0%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist16548013.5%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist and Dentist020.0%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist and Oral Health Therapist010.0%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Hygienist and Dentist12366.7%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Hygienist and Oral Health Therapist12633.3%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Prosthetist4091,25032.7%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Prosthetist and Dental Therapist1010.0%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Prosthetist and Dentist11010.0%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Therapist2121,01620.9%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Therapist and Dentist010.0%
Dental Practitioner: Dental Therapist and Oral Health Therapist1040.0%
Dental Practitioner: Dentist5,13516,26431.6%
Dental Practitioner: Dentist and Oral Health Therapist11250.0%
Dental Practitioner: Oral Health Therapist3271,29125.3%
Medical Radiation Practitioner5,08915,30333.3%
Medical Radiation Practitioner: Diagnostic Radiographer3,91611,84033.1%
Medical Radiation Practitioner: Diagnostic Radiographer and Nuclear Medicine Technologist11147.1%
Medical Radiation Practitioner: Diagnostic Radiographer and Radiation Therapist1020.0%
Medical Radiation Practitioner: Nuclear Medicine Technologist4221,09538.5%
Medical Radiation Practitioner: Radiation Therapist7502,35231.9%
Nurse95,076346,38727.4%
Nurse: Enrolled Nurse (Division 2)13,84062,99422.0%
Nurse: Enrolled Nurse (Division 2) and Registered Nurse (Division 1)11,2696,46519.6%
Nurse: Registered Nurse (Division 1)79,967276,92828.9%
Nurse and Midwife8,74229,69929.4%
Nurse and Midwife: Enrolled Nurse and Midwife14646.3%
Nurse and Midwife: Enrolled Nurse and Registered Nurse and Midwife1136619.7%
Nurse and Midwife: Registered Nurse and Midwife18,72529,56929.5%
Total117,440417,89228.1%

Note:

  1. Practitioners who hold dual or multiple registration.
Table 6: Health practitioners with specialties at 30 June 20161
Profession/area of specialty practiceNSWNational total% of national total
Dental Practitioner5081,71429.6%
Dental Practitioner: Dento-maxillofacial radiology0100.0%
Dental Practitioner: Endodontics4916330.1%
Dental Practitioner: Forensic odontology62623.1%
Dental Practitioner: Oral and maxillofacial surgery5120225.2%
Dental Practitioner: Oral medicine73520.0%
Dental Practitioner: Oral pathology72429.2%
Dental Practitioner: Oral surgery385174.5%
Dental Practitioner: Orthodontics18560530.6%
Dental Practitioner: Paediatric dentistry3613027.7%
Dental Practitioner: Periodontics5922326.5%
Dental Practitioner: Prosthodontics6521330.5%
Dental Practitioner: Public health dentistry (Community dentistry)31618.8%
Dental Practitioner: Special needs dentistry21612.5%
Medical Practitioner20,04664,46331.1%
Medical Practitioner: Addiction medicine6516838.7%
Medical Practitioner: Anaesthesia1,4504,78230.3%
Medical Practitioner: Dermatology19052836.0%
Medical Practitioner: Emergency medicine4671,90424.5%
Medical Practitioner: General practice7,59324,47131.0%
Medical Practitioner: Intensive care medicine25185629.3%
Medical Practitioner: Intensive care medicine: Paediatric intensive care medicine2728.6%
Medical Practitioner: Intensive care medicine: No subspecialty declared24984929.3%
Medical Practitioner: Medical administration10533131.7%
Medical Practitioner: Obstetrics and gynaecology5671,93229.3%
Medical Practitioner: Obstetrics and gynaecology: Gynaecological oncology164634.8%
Medical Practitioner: Obstetrics and gynaecology: Maternal-fetal medicine124030.0%
Medical Practitioner: Obstetrics and gynaecology: Obstetrics and gynaecological ultrasound137617.1%
Medical Practitioner: Obstetrics and gynaecology: Reproductive endocrinology and infertility275450.0%
Medical Practitioner: Obstetrics and gynaecology: Urogynaecology103132.3%
Medical Practitioner: Obstetrics and gynaecology: No subspecialty declared4891,68529.0%
Medical Practitioner: Occupational and environmental medicine8930828.9%
Medical Practitioner: Ophthalmology37199137.4%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health8382,55532.8%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric intensive care medicine3650.0%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Clinical genetics162661.5%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Community child health215240.4%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: General paediatrics6161,82533.8%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Neonatal and perinatal medicine4917428.2%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric cardiology83622.2%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric clinical pharmacology11100.0%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric emergency medicine125123.5%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: 133240.6%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: 52420.8%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: 51145.5%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric immunology and allergy62030.0%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric infectious diseases51926.3%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: 62722.2%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric nephrology51145.5%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric neurology173548.6%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric palliative medicine1250.0%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric rehabilitation medicine5862.5%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric respiratory and sleep medicine92733.3%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: Paediatric rheumatology31225.0%
Medical Practitioner: Paediatrics and child health: 3215620.5%
Medical Practitioner: Pain medicine8827631.9%
Medical Practitioner: Palliative medicine10831234.6%
Medical Practitioner: Pathology7152,07334.5%
Medical Practitioner: Pathology: Anatomical pathology (including cytopathology)30589234.2%
Medical Practitioner: Pathology: Chemical pathology269527.4%
Medical Practitioner: Pathology: Forensic pathology104820.8%
Medical Practitioner: Pathology: General pathology5612345.5%
Medical Practitioner: Pathology: Haematology17251333.5%
Medical Practitioner: Pathology: Immunology4811840.7%
Medical Practitioner: Pathology: Microbiology8023134.6%
Medical Practitioner: Pathology: No subspecialty declared185334.0%
Medical Practitioner: Physician2,9779,77930.4%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Cardiology4141,31331.5%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Clinical genetics317243.1%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Clinical pharmacology145525.5%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Endocrinology21765833.0%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Gastroenterology and hepatology25283630.1%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: General medicine3931,78522.0%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Geriatric medicine21666132.7%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Haematology17553232.9%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Immunology and allergy6015937.7%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Infectious diseases9540823.3%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Medical oncology18162628.9%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Nephrology16252231.0%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Neurology21256737.4%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Nuclear medicine10526140.2%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Respiratory and sleep medicine20265131.0%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: Rheumatology11636531.8%
Medical Practitioner: Physician: No subspecialty declared13230842.9%
Medical Practitioner: Psychiatry1,0783,56530.2%
Medical Practitioner: Public health medicine13443430.9%
Medical Practitioner: Radiation oncology13038034.2%
Medical Practitioner: Radiology6812,36828.8%
Medical Practitioner: Radiology: Diagnostic radiology5982,02329.6%
Medical Practitioner: Radiology: Diagnostic ultrasound1425.0%
Medical Practitioner: Radiology: Nuclear medicine3818620.4%
Medical Practitioner: Radiology: No subspecialty declared4415528.4%
Medical Practitioner: Rehabilitation medicine22549745.3%
Medical Practitioner: Sexual health medicine5812347.2%
Medical Practitioner: Sport and exercise medicine4111934.5%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery1,8255,71132.0%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery: Cardio-thoracic surgery5720128.4%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery: General surgery6501,97432.9%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery: Neurosurgery7924732.0%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery: Oral and maxillofacial surgery2812322.8%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery: Orthopaedic surgery4441,39431.9%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery: Otolaryngology - head and neck surgery15849831.7%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery: Paediatric surgery3610335.0%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery: Plastic surgery12845028.4%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery: Urology13543431.1%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery: Vascular surgery7222931.4%
Medical Practitioner: Surgery: No subspecialty declared385865.5%
Podiatry Practitioner43013.3%
Podiatry Practitioner: Podiatric surgeon43013.3%
Grand Total20,55866,20731.1%

Note:

  1. 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 typeNSWNational total% of national total
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner Total7826929.0%
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner: General7826829.1%
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner: Non-practising010.0%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner Total28174237.9%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner: General20954638.3%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner: Non-practising7219636.7%
Chiropractor Total14539436.8%
Chiropractor: General12734037.4%
Chiropractor: Limited030.0%
Chiropractor: Non-practising185135.3%
Dental Practitioner Total4081,53626.6%
Dental Practitioner: General3431,28026.8%
Dental Practitioner: Limited144630.4%
Dental Practitioner: Non-practising3714325.9%
Dental Practitioner: Specialist146720.9%
Medical Practitioner Total4,54816,20328.1%
Medical Practitioner: General1,5935,28030.2%
Medical Practitioner: Limited5061,72029.4%
Medical Practitioner: Non-practising9939325.2%
Medical Practitioner: Provisional1,4405,45326.4%
Medical Practitioner: 9103,35727.1%
Medical Radiation Practitioner Total6801,72239.5%
Medical Radiation Practitioner: General3961,16034.1%
Medical Radiation Practitioner: Limited1616.7%
Medical Radiation Practitioner: Non-practising338240.2%
Medical Radiation Practitioner: Provisional25047452.7%
Midwife Total4191,71524.4%
Midwife: General3151,40122.5%
Midwife: Non-practising10129734.0%
Midwife: Provisional31717.6%
Nurse Total7,40128,85425.6%
Nurse: General6,91827,03125.6%
Nurse: Non-practising3971,51326.2%
Nurse: Provisional8631027.7%
Occupational Therapist Total6282,20028.5%
Occupational Therapist: General5221,79929.0%
Occupational Therapist: Limited238128.4%
Occupational Therapist: Non-practising7228725.1%
Occupational Therapist: Provisional113333.3%
Optometrist Total12539931.3%
Optometrist: General11836532.3%
Optometrist: Limited2633.3%
Optometrist: Non-practising52817.9%
Osteopath Total4120719.8%
Osteopath: General3316320.2%
Osteopath: Non-practising32810.7%
Osteopath: Provisional51631.3%
Pharmacist Total1,0453,32431.4%
Pharmacist: General5011,62230.9%
Pharmacist: Limited62920.7%
Pharmacist: Non-practising3715124.5%
Pharmacist: Provisional5011,52232.9%
Physiotherapist Total7662,50530.6%
Physiotherapist: General6822,10132.5%
Physiotherapist: Limited4924420.1%
Physiotherapist: Non-practising3516021.9%
Podiatry Practitioner Total15444534.6%
Podiatry Practitioner: General14840836.3%
Podiatry Practitioner: Non-practising63616.7%
Podiatry Practitioner: Specialist010.0%
Psychologist Total1,5054,75931.6%
Psychologist: General5361,77330.2%
Psychologist: Non-practising17152932.3%
Psychologist: Provisional7982,45732.5%
Total 2015/1618,22465,27427.9%
Total 2014/1517,19961,51728.0%
Table 8: Outcomes of applications for registration finalised in 2015/16
OutcomeNSWNational Total2% of National Total
Register16,16657,26028.2%
Register with conditions6091,71635.5%
Register in a type other than applied for6715044.7%
Register in a type other than applied for with conditions3513026.9%
Refuse application6352,70623.5%
Withdrawn9933,82326.0%
Other4319122.5%
Total 2015/16 (PPP)118,54865,97628.1%

Note:

  1. Based on state and territory of the applicant’s principal place of practice (PPP).
  2. 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 18,096 criminal history checks carried out for applicants with a PPP in NSW. Of those, 868 resulted in disclosable court outcomes. None (0) resulted in the imposition of conditions or undertakings. See Table 9.

Table 9: Domestic and international criminal history checks in NSW and nationally, by profession, and cases where a criminal history check resulted in, or contributed to, imposition of conditions or undertakings (State/territory1)
ProfessionNSW Number of CHCs2NSW Number of DCOs3NSW % of DCOs resulting from CHCsNSW Conditions/undertakings resulting from CHCsNSW % of total national CHCs that resulted in conditions/undertakingsNational 2015/16 Number of CHCs2National 2015/16 Number of DCOs3National 2015/16 % of DCOs resulting from CHCsNational 2015/16 Conditions/undertakings resulting from CHCs
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner952930.5%00.0%39619348.7%1
Chinese Medicine Practitioner361256.9%00.0%933606.4%0
Chiropractor268259.3%00.0%787668.4%0
Dental Practitioner511265.1%00.0%1,992964.8%1
Medical Practitioner2,774863.1%00.0%11,8912672.2%0
Medical Radiation Practitioner615203.3%00.0%1,728613.5%0
Midwife179158.4%00.0%859526.1%0
Nurse9,4914905.2%00.0%36,1401,9775.5%6
Occupational Therapist672152.2%00.0%2,288662.9%0
Optometrist12210.8%00.0%40851.2%0
Osteopath51917.6%00.0%185158.1%0
Pharmacist776233.0%00.0%2,516863.4%1
Physiotherapist884283.2%00.0%2,702943.5%0
Podiatry Practitioner260207.7%00.0%814546.6%0
Psychologist1,037565.4%00.0%3,0591836.0%1
Total 2015/1618,0968684.8%00.0%66,6983,2754.9%10
Total 2014/1514,3028876.2%821.6%51,9473,1006.0%37

Note:

  1. 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.
  2. Criminal history checks. Refers to both domestic and international criminal history checks submitted. International criminal history checks started in 2014/15.
  3. Disclosable court outcomes.

Complaints about practitioners in NSW

AHPRA does not manage notifications (complaints or concerns) about registered health practitioners or students where the issue giving rise to the notification occurred in NSW. Any concerns relating to health, performance or conduct occurring in NSW are managed by the HPCA, in consultation with the HCCC.

However, AHPRA managed 94 notifications where a registrant’s principal place of practice was listed as NSW due to the issue occurring in a jurisdiction other than NSW. Please refer to Table N2 in the 2015/16 annual report by AHPRA and the National Boards.

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 chiropractic services, 16% were about dental services and 13.1% were about medical services.

In 2015/16, 345 new statutory offence complaints were made about NSW-based practitioners, an increase of 348% from 2014/15, which is reflective of the sharp increase in statutory offence complaints received nationally. NSW received 25.6% of all offence complaints received nationally. See Table 10.

One hundred and seventy-seven statutory offences were closed in 2015/16, which was 142.5% more than in 2014/15.

AHPRA continues to work with the National Boards to proactively target strategies to best manage the increase in volume to ensure fast and efficient processes for the coming year.

Almost all new matters in NSW related to title protection or advertising concerns.

Table 10: Offences received and closed by profession and jurisdiction1
ProfessionNSW ReceivedNSW ClosedNational Total2 ReceivedNational Total2 Closed% of National Total Received% of National Total Closed
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner00000.0%0.0%
Chinese Medicine Practitioner73261226.9%25.0%
Chiropractor183406016830.4%58.8%
Dental Practitioner434819615721.9%30.6%
Medical Practitioner503620212824.8%28.1%
Medical Radiation Practitioner638775.0%42.9%
Midwife223366.1%33.3%
Nurse98544016.7%20.0%
Occupational Therapist516583.3%20.0%
Optometrist339933.3%33.3%
Osteopath1212258.3%8.0%
Pharmacist0113130.0%7.7%
Physiotherapist1012664015.2%30.0%
Podiatry Practitioner1226173.8%11.8%
Psychologist2516836430.1%25.0%
Unknown4001390.0%0.0%
Total 2015/16 (PPP)33451771,34860025.6%29.5%
Total 2014/15 (PPP)3777350651815.2%14.1%

Note:

  1. Profession of registrant is not always identifiable in the early stages of a notification.
  2. Notifications are based on the state or territory of the practitioner’s principal place of practice (PPP).