In short
A mandatory notification is one the law requires certain people to make: registered practitioners, employers and education providers, when they form a reasonable belief about defined serious concerns. A voluntary notification can be made by anyone about a broader range of concerns. Whichever way a concern arrives, Ahpra manages it through the same risk-based process, and notifiers acting in good faith are protected by law.
What is the difference between mandatory and voluntary notifications?
A mandatory notification is one the law requires certain people to make, while a voluntary notification is one anyone may choose to make.
The label describes who was obliged to raise the concern, not how seriously it is treated. Both kinds enter the same process, and Ahpra assesses each against the risk to the public in the same way. If you want the full picture of how a concern is handled once raised, see our guide to what an AHPRA notification is.
Who must make a mandatory notification?
Registered health practitioners, employers of practitioners, and education providers must make a mandatory notification in defined circumstances.
Practitioners, both those treating a colleague and those who become aware of a concern in another way, have obligations, as do employers and education providers. The duty arises only when the person forms a reasonable belief about specific, serious concerns known as notifiable conduct. It is not a duty to report every worry, but a defined legal obligation triggered by particular situations.
What is notifiable conduct?
Notifiable conduct is a defined set of serious concerns that trigger the mandatory duty.
- Practising while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
- Sexual misconduct in connection with practice.
- Placing the public at risk of substantial harm because of an impairment.
- Placing the public at risk because of a significant departure from accepted professional standards.
These four categories set a high threshold. Everyday clinical disagreements or minor concerns do not meet it. The bar is deliberately set at serious risk to the public.
Do treating practitioners have a different threshold?
Yes, in some situations, and the rules can vary by state and territory.
The mandatory notification framework recognises the importance of practitioners seeking their own health care, and the thresholds and exemptions for treating practitioners can differ between jurisdictions. Because these details vary, a practitioner who is unsure whether a duty has arisen should take advice rather than assume. The safest course when in doubt is to check the current guidance and seek advice.
What is a voluntary notification?
A voluntary notification can be made by anyone, about a broader range of concerns than the mandatory categories.
Patients, family members, colleagues and members of the public can all make voluntary notifications. They cover concerns about conduct, performance or health that fall outside the strict mandatory categories but still suggest a risk worth reviewing. Once made, a voluntary notification is assessed on the same risk basis as any other.
Are notifiers protected?
Yes. People who make a notification in good faith are protected from legal liability, and reprisals against them are prohibited.
The National Law protects those who notify in good faith from civil, criminal and administrative liability, and separate protections make it an offence to threaten or victimise someone involved in a notification. These protections exist so that genuine concerns are raised, and they do not prevent you from responding fully and fairly to a concern made about you.
What should you do if a notification is made about you?
Treat it the same way regardless of whether it was mandatory or voluntary: get advice and prepare a considered response.
How the concern arrived does not change how you should respond. Read it carefully, contact your indemnity insurer, and prepare an honest, evidenced response. Our guide to the first steps to take walks through exactly what to do, and evidenced remediation strengthens your position whatever the source of the concern.
Insight · Reflection · Remediation
Courses to support your response
Independent, structured CPD you can use as evidence of remediation, whatever the source of the concern. The three IRR pillar modules come first.
Module on Insight
- Recognise what happened and why it mattered
- Understand the standard that applies to you
- Build the foundation a Board looks for
Module on Reflection
- Structure an honest written reflective account
- Show your thinking, not just your intentions
- Prepare a statement you can submit with confidence
Module on Remediation
- Turn reflection into concrete, evidenced action
- Plan changes that reduce future risk
- Document remediation for your response
How to Deal With a Notification or Investigation
- Understand each stage of the process
- Know what to do, and what to avoid, early
- Approach your response calmly and well prepared
How to Avoid a Complaint or Notification
- Spot the situations that commonly lead to concerns
- Strengthen everyday practice and communication
- Reduce the risk of a future notification
Fitness to Practise for Healthcare Professionals
- Understand how fitness to practise is assessed
- Link conduct, performance and health to standards
- Frame your remediation around what matters
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between mandatory and voluntary notifications?
A mandatory notification is one the law requires certain people to make about defined serious concerns. A voluntary notification can be made by anyone about a broader range of concerns. Both are assessed on the same risk basis.
Who must make a mandatory notification?
Registered health practitioners, employers of practitioners, and education providers must notify in defined circumstances. The duty arises only when they form a reasonable belief about notifiable conduct, not about every minor concern.
What counts as notifiable conduct?
Four categories: practising while intoxicated, sexual misconduct connected to practice, placing the public at risk of substantial harm through an impairment, and a significant departure from accepted professional standards.
Is the threshold different for treating practitioners?
It can be, and the rules vary by state and territory. Because the thresholds and exemptions differ, a treating practitioner who is unsure whether a duty has arisen should check current guidance and seek advice.
Can anyone make a voluntary notification?
Yes. Patients, colleagues, family members and members of the public can all make a voluntary notification about conduct, performance or health concerns, even where those concerns fall outside the strict mandatory categories.
Are people who make notifications protected?
Yes. Those who notify in good faith are protected from civil, criminal and administrative liability, and it is an offence to threaten or victimise someone involved in a notification made in good faith.
Does it matter whether the notification was mandatory or voluntary?
Not for how it is handled. Ahpra assesses every notification on the same risk basis. The label describes who was obliged to raise the concern, not how seriously the matter is treated.
What should I do if a mandatory notification is made about me?
Respond the same way as any notification. Read it carefully, contact your indemnity insurer, and prepare a considered, evidenced response. Evidenced remediation strengthens your position whatever the source.
Dr Richard
Course Facilitator
A practising clinician with over 21 years of experience and postgraduate training in healthcare law and ethics, so every course reflects both clinical reality and Australian regulatory standards.
Written and reviewed by Dr Richard. Last reviewed . Read full profile
AHPRA Courses is an independent training provider. Our courses are structured CPD that practitioners can use as evidence of remediation. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of Ahpra, any National Board, or any other regulator. Courses provide evidence of remediation and do not determine the outcome of any matter. This article is general information, not legal advice. If you have received a notification, seek advice from your professional indemnity insurer or a health law solicitor.