We know that today’s graduates must develop competence in legal reasoning in areas such as disciplinary law: managing complaints made about them to AHPRA and, to allocations of negligence about their clinical practice in tort law. Anecdotal evidence suggests these areas are inconsistently addressed in curricula, leaving graduates who receive allegations or complaints vulnerable to stress, stigma, and career disruption, with catastrophic personal and professional consequences in some cases. We have an obligation to assist them to navigate such events: to help them prepare their defense.

Led by ANZAHPE Fellow Keri Moore, PhD, who is a registered health professional, clinical education specialist and academic lawyer, the SIG will formally commence with a March meeting to discuss Phase-One aims and deliverables culminating in a presentation at the 2027 Conference.

Aim

Through bi-monthly online discussions over an 18-month period, the SIG will engage ANZAHPE health law academics in a Community of Practice to:

Enable current and future health and medical graduates from AQF 7-9 level programs to describe and apply their legal responsibilities in health care practice.

This will be achieved by:

1. Undertake scholarly research to identify current approaches, and to develop a best-practice, programmatic framework for embedding Health Law: Core Concepts and Principles, in allied health and medical programs.

2. Establish dedicated scholarly research hubs to support collaboration in this area.

3. Provide networking and collaborative practice opportunities for educators and practitioners.

4. Supporting applications for ANZAHPE Research Grants

5. Preparing and submitting presentations for the ANZAHPE Conference 2027

6. Preparing and submitting manuscripts for submission to FOHPE and other relevant journals

Deliverable

Develop best-practice recommendations for a programmatic approach to embed legal reasoning about disciplinary law and tort law within the clinical practicum.

Dissemination of Results

• Presentation of intent at ANZAHPE 2026 and of outputs at the 2027 Conference
• A Special Edition of the Focus on Health Professional Education Journal around developing professionalism
• Ongoing dialogue via ANZAHPE networks

SIG lead: Keri Moore

The SIG lead, Keri Moore can be contacted via drkerimoore@outlook.com (please cc to the anzahpe office).

Deputy Chairs: Jane Duffy and Shayne Chau

Please note: SIGs are open to members of ANZAHPE; if non-ANZAHPE members decide to join a SIG, they must become a member of ANZAHPE  to take part in the group.