AHPRA Reports Rise in Misconduct Referrals Despite Fewer Notifications
29 Oct 2026
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) received 4.7% fewer notifications in 2025–26 than in the previous year.Its latest annual report also showed a sharp increase in referrals to tribunals over suspected professional misconduct.
The number of practitioners referred to tribunals reached 295, marking a 53.6% rise from the previous year and the highest level since 2013–14.
The agency received 12,698 notifications and closed 13,171 cases during the year. When figures from the Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) and the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) were included, the total number of notifications rose by 3% to 23,327.
Around 46% of notifications received by AHPRA were considered lower risk and handled through an early assessment process.
The report found that 64% of notifications were closed within six months. Cases that stayed open for 12 months or longer decreased by 21.2%.
Of the notifications closed, 1.2% resulted in practitioners losing their registration or being disqualified from applying for registration.
Patients, family members, representatives and members of the public lodged 71.7% of notifications, similar to the proportion reported last year.
Concerns about clinical care made up the largest share of notifications, accounting for 36.3% of issues reported. Inadequate or inappropriate treatment represented 8.8%, while concerns about procedures accounted for 3.8%.
AHPRA Chief Executive Justin Untersteiner said the regulator had focused on keeping the National Scheme effective, trusted and suitable for changing healthcare needs.
He said AHPRA had resolved more notifications than ever before and reduced the backlog of long-running cases. This helped patients and practitioners receive answers sooner and allowed the regulator to focus on risks that could cause serious harm.
Mr Untersteiner said healthcare regulation should place greater emphasis on preventing harm, improving transparency and spotting risks early.
The report also recorded 7,039 notifications about 4,873 medical practitioners received by AHPRA. When HPCA and OHO figures were included, there were 12,994 notifications involving 9,241 medical practitioners, representing 6% of the medical workforce.
Clinical care made up nearly half of the notifications. Other reported concerns included communication (10.1%), medication management (9.8%) and practitioner behaviour (9.2%).
Mr Untersteiner said public trust depended on regulation being fair, effective and transparent. He added that AHPRA would continue working to improve transparency, respond appropriately to serious risks and prevent harm earlier.
AHPRA’s registered health workforce grew by 4.1%, reaching 999,105 practitioners in 2025–26. This included 23,046 internationally qualified practitioners and 185,741 students.
The report also highlighted concerns about workplace experiences among medical trainees. Around 30% reported bullying, discrimination, harassment or racism, with the rate twice as high among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees.
One in 10 trainees said they were considering leaving medicine within the next 12 months.Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees, the proportion increased to one in six.
AHPRA Reports Rise in Misconduct Referrals Despite Fewer Notifications
Source: AHPRA Annual Report 2025–26