The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has issued new resources to help practitioners understand changes to the law about mandatory notification requirements made by Health Ministers. 

“Healthy practitioners are good for patient safety. We want all registered practitioners to know what the changes mean for them and to seek advice and support for their own health and wellbeing, without fear of an unnecessary mandatory notification,” said Ahpra CEO Martin Fletcher. 

The resources explain that there are very specific circumstances when a treating practitioner needs to report: when an impairment, intoxication at work or practice that departs significantly from accepted standards places the public at substantial risk of harm. 

The changes only apply to when a treating practitioner must make a mandatory notification. They do not affect the obligations of other registered practitioners, employers or education providers. 

The new requirements take effect in early 2020. For more information: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Notifications/mandatorynotifications.aspx