For most medical practices in Australia, the ongoing success of the medical practice depends heavily on its key people. These key people can be doctors, senior partners or practice managers. However, once a key person exits the practice, this can have devastating effects. An exit may be voluntary, such as retirement, or involuntary, such as death or total and permanent disability.

If you are a doctor or manage a medical practice in Australia, chances are that you are laser focused on delivering exceptional care to your patients. But there may be a digital time bomb ticking right under your nose when you are looking at your medical practice website. While your website can build patient trust, communicate your services, and even process sensitive data, it may also be exposing your medical practice to significant legal

September 2025 = new AHPRA guidelines which means doctors offering cosmetic procedures are facing a wave of regulatory change; stricter advertising rules, enhanced consent requirements, and cooling-off periods that demand more than just good clinical judgement. For many practitioners, it’s not just about compliance, it’s about safeguarding trust, professionalism, and patient care. At times like these, having the right legal support isn’t optional — it’s essential.

In Australia’s dynamic medical and healthcare sector, organisational restructures, changes in funding, or shifting service demands can lead to the difficult but sometimes necessary decision to make a role or roles redundant. Whether you are a healthcare employer navigating structural change, or an owner feeling the uncertainty, understanding your legal rights and obligations is key.

A shareholders agreement is the cornerstone of governance for any medical practice. This document sets out how decisions are made, how profits are distributed, and how disputes are managed. But it is not just a legal document, it is a rulebook for your medical practice. Despite it’s vital importance, all too often we see medical practices overlook their shareholder agreement