Removal of reprimands

Removing reprimands from the national register

A reprimand on a practitioner’s registration can be imposed under the National Law by a performance or professional standards panel (panel), professional standards committee in New South Wales (NSW committee) and a relevant tribunal or court.

A reprimand is a formal and public denunciation of a practitioner’s conduct. A reprimand is imposed where there is a need for general, as well as specific, deterrence. General deterrence is the concept that misconduct followed by adverse consequences for the practitioner who engaged in it will prevent other practitioners and members of the profession from engaging in the same or similar misconduct.

The National Board will consider an application for the removal of the reprimand subject to the practitioner submitting a completed Application to remove reprimand from National Register form with all supporting documentation provided. An application for removal of a reprimand should address why the National Board should be satisfied that it is no longer necessary or appropriate to record the reprimand on the register.

The National Board will consider whether any relevant events have occurred in the period of publication of the reprimand. A relevant event is any health, performance or conduct notification action taken against the registrant in relation to an adverse disclosure on renewal of registration, new information returned on a criminal history check, a confirmed breach of restrictions, or where the practitioner has been the subject of action under Part 8 of the National Law or its equivalent in a co-regulatory jurisdiction. This includes receipt of any new notification irrespective of whether action was taken.

Where a panel, NSW committee, tribunal or court has recommended a publication period or end date, the practitioner may include that recommendation in support of their application.

An application form for removal of a reprimand from the national register is published under Common forms on the Ahpra website.