Ethics and professionalism CPD for health practitioners in Australia [email protected]
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Online course · Australia

Responding to an Ahpra Notification or Investigation

Your First Steps, Your Response and What Happens Next

  • About 2 hours
  • 15 scenario questions
  • Reflective account
  • Certificate of completion
  • Online, self-paced

About this course

Receiving a notice from Ahpra is stressful, and the first few days often shape how the matter goes. This course explains what happens, what to do and what not to do, and how to prepare a response that is factual, respectful and shows genuine insight.

The course explains what a notification is and who makes one, who decides, what usually happens and recent changes you should know about. It then covers the first days: reading the notice, getting advice early, what not to do, looking after yourself and telling your employer and others.

Preparing your response covers gathering facts and records, structuring the response, showing insight without overstating, tone, references and common pitfalls, with an example outline. A section on process explains assessment, investigation, health and performance assessments and immediate action.

Later sections deal with possible outcomes, the public register, complying with conditions and undertakings, reviews and appeals, concurrent processes, confidentiality and the notifier, mistaken or vexatious notifications and moving forward after the matter closes.

What you will learn

  • Explain what a notification is, who makes one and who decides, including in NSW and Queensland
  • Use Ahpra's published data to put a notification in context
  • Take sensible first steps and avoid actions that make things worse, including anything that could harm a notifier
  • Write a response that sticks to the facts, stays respectful and shows what you have understood and changed
  • Follow what happens at assessment and investigation, and when a health or performance assessment or immediate action is used
  • Understand possible outcomes, publication and how to comply with conditions
  • Know your review, appeal and process complaint options
  • Look after your wellbeing and use support services

Who this course is for

  • Practitioners who have just received a notice of notification
  • Practitioners with an ongoing notification
  • Practitioners in NSW or Queensland dealing with a co-regulatory body
  • Supervisors and employers supporting a practitioner
  • Practitioners who want to be prepared in advance

How the course works

  1. Once you enrol, open the course from My Courses whenever it suits you. It runs in your browser on desktop or mobile, with nothing to install.

  2. Read 26 lessons grouped into 6 sections. Each lesson unlocks when you finish the one before, and your progress is kept in your browser between visits.

  3. Pause on the worked scenarios and reflection prompts. Anything you type is kept in your course pack, which you can download in Word format or print to PDF.

  4. Complete the final assessment of 15 scenario-based questions with a pass mark of 80% (12 of 15). Retakes are allowed.

  5. After the reflective account and feedback, the course is marked complete in your account and your certificate of completion becomes available. It states the estimated learning time (about 2 hours); log the time you actually spend.

Course content

7 sections · About 2 hours · 15-question final assessment

1Understanding the Notification System4 lessons
  • What a Notification Is and Who Makes One
  • Who Decides: Ahpra, Boards and Co-Regulatory Jurisdictions
  • What Usually Happens
  • Recent Changes You Should Know About
2The First Days: What to Do and What Not to Do5 lessons
  • Reading the Notice Carefully
  • Get Advice Early
  • What Not to Do
  • Looking After Yourself
  • Telling Your Employer and Others
3Preparing Your Response5 lessons
  • Gathering the Facts and Records
  • Structuring the Response
  • Showing Insight Without Overstating
  • Tone, References and Common Pitfalls
  • Putting It Together: An Example Outline
4Assessment, Investigation and Immediate Action4 lessons
  • The Assessment Stage
  • Investigation
  • Health and Performance Assessments
  • Immediate Action
5Outcomes and What Follows4 lessons
  • Possible Outcomes
  • The Public Register and Publication
  • Complying With Conditions and Undertakings
  • Reviews, Appeals and Complaints About the Process
6Practical Complications and Moving Forward4 lessons
  • Concurrent Processes
  • Confidentiality and the Notifier
  • Mistaken or Vexatious Notifications
  • After the Matter Closes
7Conclusion, Final Assessment and Reflection4 lessons
  • Conclusion and key points
  • References and quick-reference guide
  • Final assessment (15 questions, 80% pass mark)
  • Your reflective account

Assessment and certificate

  • Certificate of completion stating the estimated learning time (about 2 hours); record the time you actually spend.
  • A written reflective account you can keep with your CPD records.

Questions about this course

Ahpra has written to me. Should I reply today?

Not before getting advice. Read the letter twice, diarise any deadline and call your professional indemnity insurer or defence organisation before you write anything. The course explains the first steps in detail.

Do most notifications end with no action?

Ahpra's published data shows that a large proportion of notifications close with no further regulatory action. The course explains how to read that data.

Can I find out who made the notification?

Not always. Notifiers may be identified or anonymous, and you must never take action against a notifier. The course explains confidentiality and the protections for notifiers.

Who handles a notification in NSW or Queensland?

Both states have co-regulatory arrangements, so a body other than Ahpra may manage your matter. The course explains who decides where.

How should I record this course in my CPD log?

Log the date, the course name and the time you actually spend; the certificate shows only the estimated learning time. Add two or three lines on what you will do differently, and file the certificate next to your reflective account.

Who runs this course?

Probity Courses, an education provider with no affiliation to Ahpra, the National Boards or any regulator. Your Board's own codes and guidelines always take precedence over course material.

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