Help the process! AMA is collecting insights to inform its submission to the Ombudsman."
13 Mar 2025
The AMA understands how intensely distressing receiving a notification from Ahpra can be. Improving the notification process is one of the AMA’s key priorities, which we do by working directly with Ahpra and by calling on reforms to the National Law support the wellbeing of all health professionals.
The National Health Practitioner Ombudsman is investigating how matters involving health practitioners subject to immediate action are handled by the Ahpra and National Health Practitioner boards. This includes considering whether existing policies and procedures enable timely and procedurally fair outcomes.
Immediate action refers to a “National Board’s decision to take action regarding a health practitioner’s registration if it reasonably believes that a health practitioner poses a serious risk to the public, and/or it is in the public interest to do so.” According to Ahpra’s 2023/24 annual report, 445 immediate actions were taken against medical practitioners.
Further information relating to immediate action can be found here.
The submission is inviting practitioners to share their thoughts and perspectives on how immediate action-related processes are working in practice, and personal experience or knowledge about:
- Timeliness in the management of matters following immediate action being taken
- Safeguards to ensure practitioners are treated fairly when immediate action is in place.
Public consultation is open until 31 March. We invite you to confidentially share your experiences with us if you have been subject to an immediate action to consultations@ama.com.au. Your experiences will inform our submission.
You may also wish to make your own submission. A consultation paper and submission form are available on the Ombudsman’s website.
If you require support, Drs4Drs connects you to free, confidential, 24/7 health advisory services over the phone, supported by GPs, psychologists and other specialists trained in doctors’ health.
