A significant change to the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (the Award) takes effect from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 October 2026.

For healthcare and allied health practice owners, this is not simply another increase to minimum Award rates. A new classification structure will also apply to health professional employees covered by the Award.

From 1 October 2026, bank card surcharging will change significantly for Australian businesses, including medical and allied health practices. Following its review of merchant card payment costs, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has removed restrictions that previously prevented designated card networks from imposing “no-surcharge” rules. EFTPOS, Mastercard and Visa have announced that card surcharges will no longer be permitted on their networks from

Healthcare practices hold some of the most sensitive information about Australians. When that information is accessed in a cyber incident, the consequences for patients can extend well beyond simply replacing a password or cancelling a bank card.

Most healthcare practice owners believe they are broadly compliant.  

They have practitioner agreements in place, privacy documentation and employment contracts. They have been operating successfully for years and assume that if nothing has gone wrong, their compliance framework must still be fit for purpose. 

Increasingly, that assumption is proving to be incorrect.

AI tools such as ChatGPT can produce employment agreements that look polished and professional. But polished is not the same as compliant. Here is why healthcare practices should be cautious.