Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Care Workers

The Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Care Workers (Tasmania) (Code of Conduct) sets the minimum standards of conduct, behaviour and practice for unregistered health care workers when they provide health services in and into Tasmania. The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to protect the public.

The Code of Conduct started on 24 June 2026 and is not retrospectively applied.

What does the Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Care Workers say?

The Code of Conduct sets out the minimum standards unregistered health care workers must follow. It informs the public about what they can expect from unregistered health care workers.

For example, the Code of Conduct says that unregistered health care workers must:

provide safe and ethical health care, including by making sure clients have the right qualifications, training and experience to provide the care
understand their limitations and refer clients to other competent providers when appropriate
accept the right of clients to make informed choices and obtain the consent of clients for any treatment they provide
minimise harm to clients, including by taking precautions to control infections
take appropriate actions if something goes wrong
cooperate and communicate with other health service providers in the best interests of their clients
report to the Health Complaints Commissioner any concerns they have about services being provided by other health care workers
keep appropriate records about their consultations with clients, give their clients access to those records and transfer them when requested to do so
comply with privacy laws
have the appropriate insurance
display information about the code of conduct and about how to make complaints.

The Code of Conduct also says that unregistered health care workers must not:

mislead the public about their products, services or qualifications
make false claims about curing serious illnesses such as cancer
discourage clients from seeking or continuing medical treatment
put people using their services at risk due to their own physical or mental health issues or medical conditions
practise under the influence of drugs or alcohol
exploit people financially
engage in sexual misconduct, including by having a sexual or close physical or emotional relationship with a client.

The full Code of Conduct can be found in Schedule 1 of the Health Complaints (Code of Conduct) Regulations 2026 (Tasmania) (PDF, 200.7 KB).

Who does the code of conduct apply to?

The Code of Conduct applies to unregistered health care workers. An unregistered health care worker is someone who provides a health service and who is not required to be registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (external link) (the National Law).

This includes anyone who works in a registered health profession but is providing a different, unrelated health service. It also includes anyone who was previously registered under the National Law who has been de-registered.

The Code of Conduct applies to students of unregistered health professions and also to students of registered health professions who provide a health service that is unrelated to their area of study.

Examples of unregistered health care worker positions include but are not limited to:

massage therapists
nutritionists
naturopaths
doulas
counsellors
alternative therapists
cosmetic technicians

If you are unsure if the Code of Conduct applies to a certain role or profession, please contact us to enquire.

Displaying the Code of Conduct

Unregistered health care workers must display or make available information relating to the Code of Conduct and complaints processes at their place of practice. This information must be easily visible or accessible.

Resources will be made available on this webpage soon to assist with this requirement.

Powers of the Health Complaints Commissioner

Anyone can make a complaint to the Health Complaints Commissioner (the Commissioner) about an unregistered health care worker breaching the Code of Conduct. Learn more about what happens during the Complaints process on our Complaints page.

The Commissioner will assess complaints and can facilitate early resolution of complaints between health consumers and health care workers, if the health care worker does not present a serious risk of harm to the public.

The Commissioner may also investigate complaints and if there is a serious risk to public health and safety may issue an interim prohibition order, temporarily:

placing restrictions on a health care worker’s provision of health service, or
prohibiting a health care worker from providing a health service in full or in part.

At the end of an investigation the Commissioner has the power to issue a prohibition order prohibiting a health care worker from providing a health service indefinitely. The Commissioner may also put out a public warning statement.

Orders and public warnings are published on our website.