[8] The AHPRA is responsible for hearing and investigating complaints (which are legally termed "notifications"[6]) of "performance, health and conduct" by those registered.
[10] According to a 2011 publication, "Australia is [sic] the first country in the world to have a national registration and accreditation scheme regulating health practitioners.
[1] As of June 2022[update], the following professions are not regulated by, and do not have "protected titles", under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme:[12] As of June 2022[update], although there exists guidelines under the AHPRA for "medical practitioners who perform cosmetic medical and surgical procedures",[13] the term "surgeon" and related terms like "cosmetic surgeon" are not "protected titles".
[19] The registration process includes a criminal history check, where individuals must inform the national board under application jurisdiction if they have been "charged with an offence punishable by 12 months imprisonment or more, or convicted or found guilty of an offence punishable by imprisonment in Australia and/or overseas".
There is also a whistleblower policy governed under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 where anonymous complaints can be made for serious misconduct.
[24] The AHPRA has been subject to criticism, including for medical right to privacy and informed consent of those registered,[25][26][27] and the long amount of time taken to resolve complaints.
[31][32] The 2021 public submission of support from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners identified the main issues with the AHPRA as being "communication, transparency and timeliness of the complaints mechanism, and the importance of appropriate recognition of the impacts of assessment and investigation on a practitioner’s mental health".