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Policy and Advocacy Workforce Update January 2025
Kruk Review Update
The Government has been steadily implementing recommendations from the Kruk review to expedite the registration process for overseas-trained health professionals. An implementation update has been released and is available here.
In September 2024, AHPRA and national boards launched expedited pathway projects for several professions, including occupational therapy. These initiatives aim to streamline recognition and registration processes, with expected outcomes such as:
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Publication of recognised qualifications
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Development of new or expanded policy frameworks for recognising qualifications as substantially equivalent or based on similar competencies
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Creation of new or expanded pathways recognising comparable regulators and/or professional experience
In 2025, the Government will conduct detailed modelling of the occupational therapy profession to better understand workforce supply and demand.
AHPRA Vexatious Complaints Review
The National Health Practitioner Ombudsman has released the Review of AHPRA’s Framework for Identifying and Managing Vexatious Notifications. Read the report here.
The review assessed AHPRA’s approach to managing vexatious complaints, particularly in cases involving domestic and family violence allegations or unreasonably persistent notifiers. It made 17 recommendations to strengthen processes, improve internal documentation, and ensure allegations of vexatiousness are recorded in line with the framework.
Key findings include:
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The number of vexatious complaints was low, with no complaints against occupational therapists meeting the threshold for examination under the framework
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AHPRA has not consistently recorded all allegations of vexatiousness as required
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AHPRA has accepted the recommendations and will implement changes to enhance its management of such complaints
OTA is reviewing the report and remains committed to supporting practitioners through our Notification Navigator service.
