What is the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra)?

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) is the organisation responsible for the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme across Australia.

It works with the 15 National Boards to regulate Australia’s registered health practitioners and protect the public. It ensures the community can rely on a safe health workforce registered under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra):

• registers 800,000 health practitioners
• provides accreditation, training and education
• sets national standards that all health practitioners must meet
• protects the public
• oversees audits and compliance
• manages complaints (notifications about health practitioners) except in:
  • NSW: Health Professions Councils Authority and the 15 health professional councils
  • QLD: Office of the Health Ombudsman
• publishes the online register
• encourages a mobile health workforce.

Each health profession that is part of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme is represented by a National Board.

The 15 National Boards are:

1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia
2. Chinese Medicine Board of Australia
3. Chiropractic Board of Australia
4. Dental Board of Australia
5. Medical Board of Australia
6. Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia
7. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
8. Occupational Therapy Board of Australia
9. Optometry Board of Australia
10. Osteopathy Board of Australia
11. Paramedicine Board of Australia
12. Pharmacy Board of Australia
13. Physiotherapy Board of Australia
14. Podiatry Board of Australia
15. Psychology Board of Australia.