Discrimination and racism will not be tolerated

21 Feb 2025

Joint statement from Ahpra and the National Boards

More than 900,000 registered health practitioners provide much needed safe healthcare each and every day in Australia. 

Safe healthcare relies on trust between patients and practitioners. Discrimination and racism erode that trust and put lives at risk. 

There is no place for discrimination, racism or intolerance in healthcare.

Ahpra and the National Boards remind registered health practitioners of their obligations under their codes of conduct and ethics to provide care that is free of discrimination and racism. The codes of conduct and ethics set out the legal requirements, professional behaviour and conduct expectations for registered health practitioners in Australia. The codes underpin the requirements for the delivery of safe and respectful practice. 

The Code of Conduct for nurses, for example, states that nurses must:   

• respect diverse cultures, beliefs, gender identities, sexualities and experiences of people, including among team members
• adopt practices that respect diversity, avoid bias, discrimination and racism, and challenge belief based upon assumption. 

The codes for all professions include similar requirements. 

Practitioners must also comply with the standards of their workplace and adopt practices that foster a respectful, inclusive and safe healthcare environment. 

Registered practitioners must be familiar with the Code of Conduct for their profession and to comply with those expectations. Breaches of the code may have consequences for a practitioner’s registration and may be considered as unsatisfactory professional performance, unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct. 

Ahpra and the National Boards have also published information to help registered practitioners understand and meet their obligations when using social media. This guidance recognises the freedom of expression for practitioners and their right to communicate, including advocating for causes via social media, provided their activities do not involve abuse or discrimination against others, or present a risk to the public. 

Regulatory action may be considered if the way a practitioner expresses their views:

• presents a risk to public safety 
• provides false or misleading information 
• breaches privacy or confidentiality 
• risks the public’s confidence in their profession, or 
• requires action to maintain professional standards. 

The guidance includes case examples of social media activities that are likely to warrant investigation and examples of activities that are not likely to warrant investigation. 

Safe healthcare relies on everyone playing their part. From practitioners to the places they work to the regulators that oversee them. 

Recent events

Recent high-profile incidents have underlined the importance of the codes and why it is vital for practitioners to maintain the trust of the entire community, without exception.
The ‘Bankstown nurses’ have been suspended by NSW authorities. This suspension applies nationally. Boards can suspend practitioners where there is an immediate risk to the public. 

While not every matter will meet the threshold for regulatory action, every notification is taken seriously. As statutory authorities, our decisions must be based on thorough examination of all relevant material and satisfy legal thresholds. 

This is a reminder that practitioners must adhere to the codes of conduct and provide all their patients the respect which they deserve.    

Resources

• National Boards codes of conduct and ethics
• Social media guidance

Contact us

• Ahpra media: 03 8708 9200