In short
New South Wales and Queensland are co-regulatory, so your first contact may not be with Ahpra. In NSW, the Health Care Complaints Commission and the health professional Councils manage concerns, supported by the HPCA. In Queensland, the Office of the Health Ombudsman receives all notifications and decides, jointly with Ahpra, who manages each one. The expectations of insight, reflection and remediation are the same across every state and territory.
Why are NSW and Queensland different?
Both are co-regulatory jurisdictions, which means bodies other than the National Boards receive and manage notifications there.
Most of Australia runs a single national process through Ahpra and the National Boards. New South Wales and Queensland kept their own complaints bodies when the national scheme began, so concerns in those states are handled differently at the front end. The underlying law and professional standards still apply. For the national process, see our guide to what an AHPRA notification is.
How do notifications work in NSW?
In New South Wales, the Health Care Complaints Commission and the relevant health professional Council manage the concern, not the National Boards.
Concerns are handled jointly by the Health Care Complaints Commission and the professional Council for your profession, with administrative support from the Health Professional Councils Authority. Ahpra records outcomes nationally so information is shared across the country, but the National Boards do not manage these matters. Your first contact will usually be with the Commission or the Council rather than Ahpra.
How do notifications work in Queensland?
In Queensland, the Office of the Health Ombudsman receives all notifications and decides, together with Ahpra, who manages each matter.
The Office of the Health Ombudsman is the single entry point for concerns in Queensland. It and Ahpra jointly consider new matters and decide who will handle each one. More serious matters may stay with the Ombudsman, while others are referred to Ahpra and the relevant National Board, after which they follow the national process.
What does co-regulation mean for you?
It mainly changes who contacts you first; what a Board or body expects of your response does not change.
Practically, the difference is the body on the letterhead and the initial pathway. The substance of a good response is the same everywhere: understand the concern, respond honestly, and show that any risk has been addressed. The three pillars of insight, reflection and remediation apply in every state and territory.
Are the outcomes the same?
The range of outcomes is broadly similar, from no further action to conditions, and referral to a tribunal for the most serious matters.
Whether your matter is handled nationally or co-regulated, it can end in no further action, a caution, conditions or undertakings, or referral to a tribunal such as NCAT in New South Wales or QCAT in Queensland for the most serious cases. Our guide to notification outcomes explains the full ladder, which applies in substance across jurisdictions.
What should you do if you receive one in NSW or Queensland?
Take the same first steps as for any notification, regardless of which body contacts you.
Read the concern carefully, note any deadline, and contact your indemnity insurer before responding. The body may differ, but the approach does not. Our guide to the first steps to take applies whether your matter is with the Commission, the Ombudsman, or a National Board.
How can CPD and remediation help across states?
Evidenced remediation carries weight in every jurisdiction, because each is focused on whether the risk has been addressed.
No matter which body manages your matter, structured CPD aligned with your CPD registration standard gives you dated evidence of the reflection and change that every regulator is looking for. You can browse the full CPD course range for Australian health professionals to match a course to your concern.
Insight · Reflection · Remediation
Courses to support your response
Independent, structured CPD you can use as evidence of remediation in any state or territory. 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
Frequently asked questions
Who handles AHPRA notifications in NSW?
In New South Wales, the Health Care Complaints Commission and the relevant health professional Council manage concerns, supported by the Health Professional Councils Authority. The National Boards do not manage these matters, though outcomes are recorded nationally.
Who handles notifications in Queensland?
In Queensland, the Office of the Health Ombudsman receives all notifications. It and Ahpra jointly consider each matter and decide who manages it, with some matters staying with the Ombudsman and others referred to Ahpra.
Why are NSW and Queensland different?
Both are co-regulatory jurisdictions that kept their own complaints bodies when the national scheme began. Concerns there are handled differently at the front end, although the same law and professional standards still apply.
Does co-regulation change how I should respond?
No. The body that contacts you may differ, but a good response is the same everywhere: understand the concern, respond honestly, and show the risk has been addressed through insight, reflection and remediation.
Are the outcomes different in NSW and Queensland?
The range is broadly similar, from no further action to conditions or referral to a tribunal such as NCAT or QCAT for the most serious matters. The substance of the outcomes ladder applies across jurisdictions.
Which tribunal hears serious matters in NSW and Queensland?
Serious matters are referred to a tribunal, typically NCAT in New South Wales and QCAT in Queensland. These handle the most serious cases where suspension or cancellation of registration may be considered.
Should I still contact my indemnity insurer in NSW or Queensland?
Yes. Whatever body contacts you, contact your indemnity insurer before responding. Take the same first steps as for any notification, and seek legal advice for serious or conduct matters.
Does CPD help if my matter is co-regulated?
Yes. Every jurisdiction is focused on whether the risk has been addressed. Structured CPD aligned with your CPD registration standard gives dated evidence of remediation that carries weight wherever your matter is managed.
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.