No nurse or midwife wants to go through notification. Being notified to the regulator is one of the most stressful professional events that can occur for a nurse or midwife. A notification to the regulator can cause stigma, shame, distress, anxiety, fear and even effect patient care and ongoing professional development. A complaint made against you may impact your professional reputation, personal life, and the lives of your family members. Understanding nurse notification and your professional obligation can help you navigate the process.
Understanding the notification process
While the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) must respond to concerns raised about health practitioners, it's important to remember that the majority of notifications are closed without further action. Once Ahpra recieves a concern about a practitioner, they will speak to the notifier and review relevant information (including regulatory history) before speaking directly to the practitioner. After validating any steps taken by the practitioner and their workplace, they will either take regulatory action when practitioner risk is not sufficiently managed or close the notification with no further action.
For more information about the what to expect when facing notification, you can visit the Ahpra notification information page.
What are mandatory notifications?
National legislation and regulation require certain groups to make mandatory notifications about practitioners when their health, conduct or performance poses a risk to the public. Learn more about the four key concerns that can trigger a mandatory notification here.
Appealing a notification decision about registration regulation
Only a health practitioner who has been the subject of a decision can appeal that decision and there are limitations on the type of decisions that can be appealed.
Appealing a notification by a national board
It's possible to appeal a notification by a national board to:
- Impose or change a condition on a practitioner's registration requirements
- Refuse to change or remove a condition imposed on the practitioner's registration
- Refuse to change or revoke an undertaking given by the practitioner to the National Board
- Suspend the practitioner's registration
Appealing a notification by a panel
It's possible to appeal a notification by a panel to:
- Impose a condition on the person's registration
- Suspend the person’s registration (health panel only), or
- Reprimand the person (performance and professional standards panel only).
Notification Navigator
Notification Navigator is our free support service for nurses and midwives who are the subject of a notification.
The service provides nurses and midwives with accessible, professional, confidential, compassionate and individualised assistance throughout the notification process. Run by nurses and midwives, you will be cared for by an experienced nurse and midwife counsellor.
As an opt-in service, if you’re subject to notification, we’re here for you if you need support from someone who understands your situation. Interested in speaking with a Notification Navigator? Call us at 1800 667 877.