The Australasian Council of Health Complaint Entities (ACHCE) met in Canberra on 7–8 May 2026, bringing together the independent statutory health complaint bodies from each Australian state and territory as well as New Zealand to discuss emerging issues, collaboration opportunities and regulatory improvements in the health sector.

Key discussions focused on the increasing volume and complexity of health complaints, and the importance of delivering a positive experience for complainants, practitioners and notifiers engaging with health complaint management systems. Over the two days, members received presentations from, and interacted with, representatives from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) to strengthen cooperation and share insights on current regulatory challenges and priorities.

The meeting also highlighted the AHRC’s recent report on ageism in healthcare, with ACHCE members discussing the importance of being alert to and addressing both overt discrimination and unconscious bias that may have been experienced by complainants, and may also be present in complaints and notifications processes.

Learn more about the Australasian Council of Health Complaint Entities