The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) is calling for feedback from medical professionals as it reviews the national standard that sets the bar for criminal history for its registered health practitioners.

All practitioners are required to undergo a criminal history check when they first apply for registration. They must also declare any change when they annually renew their registration. According to an Ahpra & National Boards statement, this work is part of the health practitioner regulator’s blueprint for reform to strengthen public safety in health regulation, which has a focus on sexual misconduct in healthcare.

Ahpra CEO Martin Fletcher explained the review is part of a greater reform of Ahpra’s approach to sexual boundary notifications and is an important opportunity to ensure healthcare is safe for patients and in line with community expectations. “We look forward to hearing from patients, the public, practitioners and anyone who wants to share their feedback on the standard, to inform future proposals for change,” he said.

More information about the review and how to make a submission during this first consultation phase is available on the consultation page of the Ahpra website. Feedback is now open and closes on 14 September 2023.