A/Prof. Simon Sawyer1, Mr Stephen Gough, Mr Paul Fisher
1Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, Australia
Biography:
Bio to come
Abstract:
Background: This presentation examines trends in notifications about paramedics reported to the AHPRA since the introduction of national registration under the Paramedicine Board of Australia in 2018.
Methods: A descriptive analysis was conducted using publicly available regulatory data from AHPRA and Paramedicine Board annual reports. Notification counts, practitioner involvement, complaint sources, and categories of concern were extracted for the period 2018–2025.
Results: The total number of notifications about paramedics has increased steadily since national registration commenced, with 364 total notifications received about 240 unique paramedics in 2024-25. When adjusted for workforce size, the proportion of paramedics subject to a notification has remained relatively stable, with a three-year moving average of 0.78% – 0.84% between 2018-19 and 2024-25. This is approximately half the average rate for all registered practitioners with AHPRA. The most common sources of notifications are patients or members of the public, followed by employers and other practitioners. The leading categories of concern relate to clinical care, professional behaviour, and communication. As with other regulated health professions, the majority of notifications are closed with no regulatory action.
Conclusions: Although the number of notifications involving paramedics has increased over time, the rate of notifications relative to workforce size appears relatively stable. These findings suggest that rising notification numbers may be associated with workforce expansion and increased reporting awareness, rather than worsening professional performance. Regulatory data provide a valuable but underused resource for understanding professional risk patterns in paramedicine and informing workforce education, governance, and quality improvement initiatives.