National Health Practitioner Ombudsman

14/10/2026

Organisations in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme often hold personal and health information which they are expected to keep safe and secure. Cyber security and protecting privacy go hand in hand.

One way to take action during this October is to check and manage your privacy settings.

Got a concern about how your personal information has been handled by a body in the National Scheme? We may be able to help. Learn more at: www.nhpo.gov.au/commissioner-complaints

08/10/2026

It’s World Ombudsman Day!

Across the planet, Ombudsman offices work to keep governments and organisations accountable and decisions and processes fair.

Complaints are often symptoms of deeper problems, and addressing one person’s concern can often bring about positive changes for others as well.

Contact us if you would like to make a complaint www.nhpo.gov.au

30/09/2026

You may have heard that our office is independent and impartial. But what does that mean in practice?

It means that we make decisions without taking sides. We’re advocates for fairness, not an organisation or an individual.

It means our budget is determined by the Health Chief Executives Forum, not the bodies we oversee.

It means our purpose, as stated by law, is to investigate whether a decision or action was lawful, fair and reasonable based on the available information and evidence.

Watch our short explainer video about our role: www.nhpo.gov.au/about-us

24/09/2026

What makes a decision fair?

When we consider decision-making in a complaint, we generally look at whether a decision-maker:
- took all relevant information into account
- disregarded irrelevant factors
- clearly explained how and why the decision was made.

Learn more about how we managed Rose’s complaint about the fairness of a National Board’s decision to caution her
www.nhpo.gov.au/roses-story

15/09/2026

We commonly receive complaints about the notification process. This includes concerns raised by individuals that a decision not to take action against a practitioner was unfair. In July 2026, complaints to the Ombudsman about a notification more than doubled when compared with the same time last year.

We often find that people feel able to accept a decision, even if they are still disappointed by it, if they understand:
• why the decision was made
• that their concerns were properly considered.

Clear reasons for decisions and good communication are central to people having trust in the notifications process.

Learn more about how we manage notification-related complaints: www.nhpo.gov.au/notification-complaints

10/09/2026

Ahpra has announced a fee deferral pilot for medical graduates applying for provisional registration for the first time from 9 October 2026 to 4 January 2027.

Graduates who participate will have until 31 March 2027 to pay the registration fee.

More information is available on Ahpra’s website: www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2026-09-09-Fee-deferral-pilot

In 2025, the Ombudsman identified first-time registrants as one group particularly affected by the way registration fees were charged, and suggested improvements to the process.

Read the Ombudsman's report: www.nhpo.gov.au/investigation-into-the-charging-model-for-health-practitioner-registration-fees

We are monitoring Ahpra's implementation of the Ombudsman's suggestions, including initiatives that address issues identified through her investigation.

Learn more about our own motion investigation into Ahpra’s charging model for health practitioner registration fees.

03/09/2026

The Medical Training Survey is now open. The survey gives medical trainees the opportunity to share feedback about their training experiences. Its results help identify what's working well and where improvements may be needed.

Medical trainees can access the survey through their Ahpra portal.

Learn more: www.medicaltrainingsurvey.gov.au/

Have concerns about an approved training program delivered by a specialist medical college? We may be able to help.

Find out more: www.nhpo.gov.au/program-of-study-accreditation-complaints

28/08/2026

Our office can assist with complaints about how specialist medical colleges deliver training programs that have been approved by the Medical Board of Australia.

This can include concerns about selection processes or how a college has managed a complaint or concerns about a training issue.

Read more about how Sophia's complaint will help bring about greater transparency for future applicants:

Sophia applied to a specialist medical college to enter its training program. Find out more about how we managed Sophia's complaint.

20/08/2026

We may be able to help if you have a concern about how your registration matter with Ahpra has been handled.

Learn more about the common types of registration complaints practitioners make to us: www.nhpo.gov.au/registration-complaints

12/08/2026

The medical registration renewal window is now open. Medical practitioners need to renew their registration by 30 September each year.

We may be able to help if things don't go to plan with the renewal process. For example, we can assist with complaints if you don't think you've been treated fairly or the way your application has been processed doesn't seem to follow policy or legislative requirements.

Learn more about common registration-related complaints we receive here: www.nhpo.gov.au/registration-complaints

Find out more about how to make a complaint here: www.nhpo.gov.au/make-a-complaint