Ahpra outlines plans to strengthen healthcare regulation and patient safety
10 Nov 2026
Speaking at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Surgical Leaders Forum on 10 November 2026, Mr Untersteiner said Ahpra now regulates almost one million registered health practitioners, with more than 30,000 new graduate registrations expected this year.
He said the growth of the health workforce, along with changes in healthcare delivery and the increasing use of artificial intelligence, means regulation must continue to adapt to emerging risks.
Mr Untersteiner highlighted three key areas of focus: early action on emerging risks, improved regulatory performance and building a sustainable health workforce.
Managing conflicts of interest
Ahpra and the National Boards have released interim guidance reminding health practitioners to identify, disclose and manage conflicts of interest.
The guidance addresses concerns about commercial arrangements that could influence clinical decisions and affect patient care.
Mr Untersteiner said patients must be confident that treatment decisions are based on their best interests rather than financial benefits.
He also highlighted the importance of strong clinical governance and workplace culture in preventing conflicts of interest from affecting patient safety.
Ahpra is also working with other regulators and agencies to identify risks and share information. Its work with the Australian Taxation Office is one example of this cooperation, helping strengthen protections for vulnerable consumers and reduce inappropriate applications for early access to superannuation.
Improving regulatory processes
Ahpra is working to resolve complaints more efficiently and provide clearer outcomes for both patients and practitioners.
Its annual report, released at the end of October, showed that 13,171 notifications were completed during the year, the highest number since the National Scheme began.
Almost two-thirds of notifications were finalised within six months, while the number of matters remaining open for more than a year also decreased.
The organisation is reviewing its notification, compliance and governance processes to improve performance and address risks earlier. This work also builds on recommendations from the Kruk and Dawson reviews.
Supporting a sustainable health workforce
Ahpra is also looking at ways to make registration easier for new health professionals while maintaining public safety.
One initiative is a fee deferral pilot for newly graduated medical practitioners. The pilot aims to reduce the financial pressure of upfront registration costs as graduates move from university into professional practice.
Ahpra plans to explore expanding this approach to other early-career health professionals.
Strengthening partnerships and leadership
Mr Untersteiner said healthcare regulation must keep pace with changes in the health system without creating unnecessary administrative pressure.
He also stressed that strong professional leadership and positive workplace cultures are essential to maintaining public trust.
While regulators can set professional standards, healthcare leaders play an important role in ensuring those standards are followed in hospitals, clinics and operating theatres.
He said improving patient safety requires ongoing cooperation between regulators, healthcare professionals and organisations, with shared responsibility for building trust and delivering safe, high-quality care.
Ahpra outlines plans to strengthen healthcare regulation and patient safety
Source: Ahpra – CEO update to the RACS Surgical Leaders Forum, 10 November 2026.