Ethics and professionalism CPD for health practitioners in Australia [email protected]
Sign in Choose courses

Online course · Australia

Preparing for a Panel or Tribunal Hearing

What Happens at Health, Performance and Professional Standards Panels and Tribunals

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

About this course

A referral to a panel or tribunal puts a practitioner's livelihood and reputation in question, often for months. This course explains how hearings work across Australia and how to prepare truthful, specific evidence and look after yourself through the process.

The course explains why a matter is referred to a hearing, health and performance and professional standards panels, tribunals and where your matter is heard, and the different pathways in NSW and Queensland. It then covers first steps: reading the notice and allegations, legal advice and representation, the timetable and organising your material and your life.

Preparing evidence covers your own statement, references that help, remediation and insight evidence, expert and health evidence, and building a clear bundle. Panel hearings are explained from the day itself to answering questions, support persons and health panels. Tribunal hearings cover preliminary steps, giving evidence and cross-examination, public hearings and media, and submissions on sanction.

The final sections deal with decisions panels and tribunals can make, appeals and time limits, publication, looking after yourself, telling the right people, life after the decision and supporting a colleague through a hearing.

What you will learn

  • Explain what sends a matter to a panel or to a tribunal and how the two settings differ
  • Find which tribunal hears matters in your state or territory and how NSW and Queensland differ
  • Break the allegations down, get advice early and keep track of documents and deadlines
  • Write a statement that is truthful and specific, and brief your referees properly
  • Gather remediation evidence that targets the concerns actually alleged
  • Give evidence and handle cross-examination calmly and consistently
  • Understand possible outcomes, costs, publication and the right to appeal
  • Decide who needs to know and look after your wellbeing during and after the hearing

Who this course is for

  • Practitioners referred to a health, performance or professional standards panel
  • Practitioners referred to a state or territory tribunal
  • Practitioners in NSW and Queensland co-regulatory processes
  • Family members, colleagues and referees supporting a practitioner
  • Supervisors and employers asked to give evidence

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 29 lessons grouped into 7 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

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

1Panels and Tribunals: The Big Picture4 lessons
  • Why a Matter Is Referred to a Hearing
  • Panels: Health and Performance and Professional Standards
  • Tribunals and Where Your Matter Is Heard
  • New South Wales and Queensland: Different Pathways
2Before the Hearing: First Steps and Getting Organised4 lessons
  • Reading the Notice and the Allegations
  • Legal Advice, Indemnity and Representation
  • Understanding the Timetable
  • Organising Your Material and Your Life
3Preparing Your Evidence5 lessons
  • Your Own Statement
  • References That Help
  • Evidence of Remediation and Insight
  • Expert, Health and Other Evidence
  • Building a Clear Bundle
4At a Panel Hearing4 lessons
  • What the Day Looks Like
  • Answering Questions Well
  • Support Persons and Representatives
  • Health Panels
5At a Tribunal Hearing4 lessons
  • Steps Before the Final Hearing
  • Giving Evidence and Being Cross-Examined
  • Public Hearings, Media and Confidentiality
  • Submissions on Sanction
6Decisions, Outcomes and Appeals4 lessons
  • What Panels Can Decide
  • What Tribunals Can Decide
  • Appeals and Time Limits
  • Publication and the Register
7Wellbeing, Disclosure and Life After the Hearing4 lessons
  • Looking After Yourself Through the Process
  • Telling the Right People
  • After the Decision
  • Supporting a Colleague Through a Hearing
8Conclusion, 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

Do I need a lawyer for a tribunal hearing?

Legal representation is strongly recommended for tribunal hearings. Contact your professional indemnity insurer or defence organisation as early as possible. The course is not a substitute for legal advice.

What should a reference letter include?

Referees should know about the allegations, describe your practice from direct observation and avoid overstatement. The course explains what makes references useful.

Are tribunal hearings public?

Many tribunal hearings and decisions are public, although orders can limit publication of some information. The course explains the position in each jurisdiction.

What are the time limits for appealing a decision?

They are short and differ between jurisdictions and types of decision. Seek legal advice immediately after a decision.

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.

Related courses

A$189About 2 hours
Enrol