We take professional concerns seriously
Anyone may raise a concern regarding the professional conduct of an individual registered with the International Professional Registrar.
This may include:
- a client;
- former client;
- parent or guardian;
- family member;
- employer;
- colleague;
- another professional;
- education or training provider;
- professional organisation;
- statutory regulator; or
- member of the public.
The IPR may also consider information brought to its attention through another legitimate source.
Before making a complaint
Where appropriate and safe to do so, individuals may first consider raising their concern directly with the practitioner or organisation concerned.
Many misunderstandings or service-related concerns can be resolved through communication.
However, you are not required to contact the practitioner first where the concern involves serious misconduct, abuse, exploitation, safeguarding, intimidation, discrimination, serious boundary violations or circumstances in which direct communication would be inappropriate or unsafe.
What can IPR consider?
Concerns may include allegations relating to:
- unethical professional conduct;
- practising outside professional competence;
- serious or repeated professional negligence;
- inappropriate professional boundaries;
- exploitation of clients;
- inappropriate sexual or romantic relationships;
- harassment or discrimination;
- confidentiality breaches;
- misuse of client information;
- dishonesty or fraud;
- misleading professional claims;
- misrepresentation of qualifications;
- misrepresentation of IPR registration;
- falsification of certificates or records;
- inappropriate advertising;
- financial exploitation;
- safeguarding failures;
- inappropriate conduct involving children or vulnerable persons;
- substance impairment affecting professional practice;
- criminal conduct relevant to professional practice;
- failure to obtain informed consent;
- serious conflicts of interest;
- failure to maintain appropriate professional records;
- failure to comply with supervision requirements;
- failure to cooperate with an IPR investigation;
- breaches of the IPR Code of Ethics;
- breaches of professional standards; or
- conduct that may bring the profession or Register into serious disrepute.
What IPR cannot do
The IPR is a professional registrar and is not a court, law-enforcement agency or statutory healthcare regulator.
IPR generally cannot:
- award financial compensation;
- order refunds or damages;
- determine criminal guilt;
- provide legal representation;
- resolve ordinary commercial disputes;
- investigate professionals who are not registered with IPR;
- overturn decisions of courts or statutory regulators; or
- replace emergency, safeguarding or law-enforcement authorities.
Where allegations potentially involve criminal activity, abuse or immediate danger, the appropriate authorities should be contacted.
Making a complaint to IPR does not replace reporting a matter to police, safeguarding authorities, healthcare regulators or other appropriate statutory bodies.
Raise a concern or make a complaint
After you submit a concern, the IPR will carry out a Preliminary Inquiry to determine whether the matter falls within its jurisdiction.