Public hearings

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) is an independent legal body that hears serious professional disciplinary cases about registered health practitioners brought by the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC). 

NCAT has powers to reprimand a practitioner and impose conditions on, suspend, or cancel their registration. Its hearings and decisions are usually public.  

NCAT also hears appeals from practitioners who want to legally challenge a Council’s decision. 

• Search upcoming NCAT hearingsopen_in_new
• Search NCAT published decisions on the NSW Caselaw websiteopen_in_new

Professional Standards Committees (PSC) are independent decision-making panels that generally consider complaints about ‘unsatisfactory professional conduct’ – a conduct breach that is less serious than ‘professional misconduct’. 

The Committees hear complaints about nurses, midwives and medical practitioners. They can reprimand practitioners and impose conditions on their registration but can’t suspend or cancel registration.

PSC hearings are generally public, and decisions are published on the Australasian Legal Information Institute (Austlii) website.

• Nursing and Midwifery Professional Standards Committee of New South Walesopen_in_new published decisions 
• New South Wales Medical Professional Standards Committeeopen_in_new published decisions

PSCs are convened when matters are referred to them, usually by the HCCC. The Medical Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council convene the committees and appoint their members. However, the committees are legally separate from the Councils – Council members can’t sit on Professional Standards Committees.   

• Professional Standards Committee hearings are open to the media. 
• Hearings are not livestreamed and public recordings are not available. 
• Notes can be taken but photography, audio or visual recordings are not permitted in the hearing room or on HPCA premises.

Journalists can contact the HPCA media team about upcoming hearings.

Decisions made before NCAT was established in 2014 are available on the Austlii website.

• Nursing and Midwifery Tribunal of New South Walesopen_in_new 
• New South Wales Medical Tribunal open_in_new