Ahpra Welcomes Justin Untersteiner as Chief Executive Officer
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has appointed Justin Untersteiner as its new Chief Executive Officer. Justin joined Ahpra in April and brings more than 20 years’ experience in regulation and compliance, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer at the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). To read more about Justin Untersteiner and his appointment, click here.
As CEO, Justin will lead Ahpra through the next phase of its development, with a strong focus on maintaining public safety while supporting a professional and evolving health workforce. He recognises the growing complexity of healthcare delivery, shaped by emerging models of care, advancements in technology, and new treatments. Ensuring practitioners are supported to deliver safe and professional care in this changing environment will be a key focus under his leadership.
Improving practitioners’ experiences with Ahpra, particularly in relation to the notifications process, has also been identified as a priority. This follows the recent Shaping Better Regulatory Experiences forum held in April, which brought attention to the need for better support for practitioners involved in notifications and a commitment to reducing associated distress.
Progress has also been made in enhancing digital services. In March, Ahpra launched a new portal and digital smart forms to streamline the registration process. This was the agency’s largest IT upgrade since its inception in 2010. Continued improvements to online services are planned throughout 2025.
Looking ahead, Ahpra under Justin’s leadership aims to become a more open and adaptive regulator—one that listens, learns, and evolves in response to stakeholder needs. Engagement with health professionals and community groups will be a key part of this vision, with further conversations planned in the coming months.