A landmark change to Australian health regulation law has pulled back the curtain on more than 100 historical sexual misconduct findings against registered health practitioners across the country, marking a major shift toward greater transparency for patient safety.
Before the new national law reform took effect, public access to professional disciplinary records was heavily restricted. Members of the public could only view active disciplinary sanctions against medical workers, meaning any completed or expired disciplinary action for sexual misconduct was hidden from view, leaving patients unaware of past violations by practitioners they might see for care. Under the updated rules, any proven finding of sexual misconduct against a registered health worker will remain permanently listed on the practitioner’s public record, eliminating the secrecy around historical offenses.
This week, an initial record review completed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) identified 107 practitioners with past sexual misconduct findings that have now been added to the public searchable register. Breakdowns by region show New South Wales has the highest number of newly disclosed cases at 35. Of the 107 practitioners whose records have been updated, 21 are still actively practicing in Australia, while the remaining 86 hold cancelled or lapsed registrations.
The disclosure of these first 107 cases is only the first step in a broader retrospective review. AHPRA confirmed it is currently processing roughly 5,000 additional historical records to identify and publish other unreported sexual misconduct findings. The new transparency rules apply to every health profession regulated by the agency, covering not just doctors, but also nurses, dentists, psychologists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and other registered health care workers.
In a statement on the reform, AHPRA Chief Executive Justin Untersteiner emphasized that the new policy puts decision-making power directly in the hands of patients, allowing them to make fully informed choices about their own health care. “Sexual misconduct by registered health practitioners is an unacceptable breach of trust that undermines public health and safety,” Untersteiner said. He noted that the patient-practitioner relationship is uniquely built on trust, as patients often seek care when they are at their most vulnerable. A breach of that trust does not just harm the individual patient, he explained – it causes lasting damage to the entire health care system.
Untersteiner added that sexual misconduct violations leave permanent, deep harm for survivors. To support patients who wish to report concerning behavior by a practitioner, AHPRA has assigned dedicated staff and specific resources to handle concerns, and he encouraged anyone with information to come forward.