An investigation by the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman (NHPO) found that some practitioners had experienced “unfair financial outcomes” due to the way Ahpra’s fees are charged.
Those taking or returning from parental leave, applicants registering for the first time and practitioners changing registration types appeared to be more negatively affected by the way fees were charged.
NPHO Richelle McCausland published her findings and suggestions for improvement following an investigation into the charging model.
She found the way registration fees are charged could lead to unfair financial outcomes for practitioners registering outside of their profession’s standard registration cycle.
The investigation was prompted by complaints to the Ombudsman by three health practitioners in 2022, who stated it was unfair they were required to pay a registration fee to Ahpra twice within three months.
Such a situation is possible due to the requirement for practitioners to pay their registration renewal on a set date each year.
For example, a medical practitioner who paid an application fee and a registration fee in July would also be required to pay a registration renewal fee by September 30 of the same year – totalling about $3,600 in fees within a three-month period.
The investigation also highlighted inconsistencies and inaccuracies in publicly available information about how fees were charged.
The Ombudsman found that Ahpra’s website had inaccurately stated that the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law did not allow for fees to be pro-rated or partially refunded.
Ahpra has accepted the Ombudsman’s suggestions for improvement.
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Ms McCausland said health practitioners were facing financial and cost-of-living pressures like many others and they need to have confidence that the registration fees they are charged are fair and reasonable.
“It is necessary for Ahpra and the National Boards to charge registration fees, and this is enabled by the relevant law. But the way fees are charged must be fair,” she said.
Ahpra had begun to take steps to address some of the matters ahead of the release of the Ombudsman’s findings, carrying out a review of its regulatory fees which it plans to implement in 2026.
The regulator has also agreed to implement a pro rata approach to all registration types and professions and waive or reimburse fees in appropriate circumstances.
It introduced a 30% rebate on annual renewal fees for health practitioners who take parental leave and certain other forms of leave this financial year.
In Ahpra’s response to the report, it said it was “committed to ensuring that the charging model is fair, transparent, and responsive to practitioner needs”.
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