The regulator is not keeping up, despite promises to reform its complaint process…

Complaints to AHPRA rose 19% in 2024/2025, and nationally, 9087 doctors received notifications, compared with 8418 the previous year, according to APHRA’s annual report.

While the regulator says it closed 8% more complaints this year, it wasn’t enough to keep up with the influx. AHPRA ended the financial year with 5627 open notifications, a 27% increase from last year.

Rise in complaints that have been unresolved for more than a year

Moreover, while AHPRA said 81% of notifications were closed within six months – and the average time to complete is “the lowest recorded since the start of the scheme” – the number of complaints that have been open for 12 months or more increased by 31%.

In a separate annual report, AHPRA’s Regulatory Performance Committee acknowledged that although low risk matters are being completed faster, the number of complaints that have been open for more than 12 months (called aged matters) is growing.

“The increase in workloads and the challenges posed by the growing number of aged matters will require sustained and targeted attention,” Regulatory Performance Committee chair Andrew Brown wrote.

Earlier this year, several key stakeholders spoke out about the disruption and distress caused as health professionals languish for years awaiting a decision.

Increased use of immediate action

Notably, AHPRA took “immediate action” in 554 cases relating to 315 practitioners this year.

“This is up 34.1% from last year, largely due to the increase in notifications received. Of the notifications where immediate action was taken, 10.1% were related to concerns about a professional boundary violation,” the report states.

In April, a Healthed survey of more than 2000 GPs found that 57% of GPs had concerns about whether AHPRA used appropriate restraint and justification when taking action before allegations are proven. Just over half (53%) said safeguards were either mostly or completely inadequate.

The regulator said it has improved its process, reviewing restrictions at least once every 90 days.

“All practitioners with immediate action will have their restrictions reviewed at least once every 90 days and, where required, a recommendation can be made to a National Board to amend the immediate action restrictions.”

“Since January, 65 practitioners had their immediate action restrictions amended or removed following a review by a Board,” the report stated.

“We have reduced the use of immediate action in impairment cases; increased the use of assessments from a practitioner’s own treating practitioner in preference to those from an independent practitioner; and worked on improving staff and Board member understanding of distress and vulnerability and their awareness of the risk of suicide and self harm,” it said.

Low risk notifications processed faster

Half of all complaints were considered “lower risk” – up 35% from last year – and 146 were anonymous. Nationally, 125 notifications were assessed for vexatiousness, with 53 ultimately classed as vexatious – up from 21 last year.

AHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner said the regulator has introduced “a new decision-making process that supports the timely review and completion of low-risk notifications.”

“This process has reduced the timeframe to complete these matters by more than 30 days on average, with 204 matters closed within 30 days of receipt,” Mr Untersteiner said.