The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has reminded those who employ health practitioners of their obligation to ensure that the practitioners are registered. Employers should check the status of the practitioners before employing them, and note the following points:

• Practitioners who are registered and whose registration expiration date may have passed will be appear on the list
• Those who are not registered will not appear in the list

According to AHPRA, the online register or practitioners is the only accurate and up-to-date source of information on a practitioner’s registration as there is no gap between being granted registration and appearing on the online register.

AHPRA also has a list of cancelled health practitioners and a list of practitioners who have given an undertaking not to practise.

There are also restrictions on the registration of a practitioner to protect the public. Information about any restrictions are published on the online register and can be accessed via specific tools.

In addition, employers are reminded that if they believe a practitioner might pose a risk to the public because of their behaviour or health, they have a legal obligation to report it. This is true in the case when preventative steps have already taken or the practitioner leaves the job.

According to AHPRA, Notifiable conduct is when a practitioner has:

• practised the profession while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
• engaged in sexual misconduct in connection with their profession
• placed the public at risk of substantial harm because they have an impairment, or
• placed the public at risk of harm because of a significant departure from professional standards

If you fail to make a mandatory notification about notifiable conduct, AHPRA has a legal obligation to advise your state or territory health minister.

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