Does the AHPRA guidance prohibit using AI in clinical practice?

No - AHPRA explicitly supports the appropriate use of AI. The guidance establishes principles for responsible use, not a ban. Practitioners can use AI tools provided they maintain clinical responsibility and do not mislead patients.

Does this apply to administrative AI use (scheduling, billing)?

The guidance primarily addresses clinical practice. Administrative AI use is less directly addressed, but general professional conduct obligations still apply - including avoiding misleading communication and maintaining patient privacy.

What are the privacy implications of using AI with patient data?

Using patient data in AI tools - particularly cloud-based or third-party AI services - may constitute a disclosure of personal health information. Practitioners should check whether the AI tool's data processing is consistent with their privacy policy and whether the data leaves Australia.

Active 2025–26

AHPRA - AI use by registered health practitioners

AHPRA's guidance on AI tools (including scribes and decision-support) requires practitioners to retain clinical judgment, disclose use to patients in some contexts, and ensure patient data isn't fed into training pipelines. Active enforcement focus through 2026.

What this means for your business

AHPRA and the National Boards published AI use guidance for registered health practitioners effective from January 2025. The guidance applies across all 16 regulated health professions including medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, psychology, pharmacy, dental, and more.

Key principles include: practitioners remain responsible for AI-generated clinical content and must not delegate clinical judgement to AI; AI-generated content presented as original work without disclosure may constitute unprofessional conduct; practitioners must understand the limitations of AI tools they use; and patient consent considerations apply when using AI in consultations.

The guidance is not a ban on AI - it is a framework for responsible use. AHPRA has indicated it will consider AI-related conduct complaints under existing professional standards frameworks.

What your business needs to do

Read the AHPRA/National Board joint statement on AI use for your specific profession.
Review any AI tools used in your practice (clinical decision support, documentation, imaging analysis) against the guidance principles.
Establish a practice policy on AI tool use: what tools are approved, what disclosures must be made to patients, who reviews AI-generated content.
Ensure all practitioners are aware of the guidance and understand they remain personally responsible for AI-assisted clinical decisions.
Document your AI governance approach - evidence of thoughtful oversight will be important if a complaint arises.

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Written by Tim Jones, Founder & Principal Consultant, Nifty Computing

Published 4 May 2026 · Last reviewed 5 May 2026

Applies to: Australia (all states and territories)

Sources: AHPRA, National Registration and Accreditation Scheme

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