Audiology Australia (AudA) is recommending all audiologists apply for a Healthcare Provider Identifier – Individual (HPI-I) to enable access to digital health records.
The call follows Healthcare Identifier amendments passing the House of Representatives in September 2025, a move which means self-regulating allied health professionals are eligible for an HPI-I.
Ms Leanne Emerson, AudA CEO, said AudA strongly recommended that all audiologists apply.
“Without this identifier, audiologists won’t be able to access My Health Record and gain access to the digitalisation of the health care system,” she told HPA. “This change ensures audiologists are recognised alongside other allied health professionals within Australia’s national digital health infrastructure.”
Audiologists should not wait until regulation, she said.
“Having an HPI-I now ensures audiologists can immediately access My Health Record and participate in national e-health programs,” Emerson said. “Waiting would mean missed opportunities for patient care and professional recognition.”
AudA recently provided an update to members on key changes and how they benefit audiologists. It advised members to wait for guidance on application steps from AudA.
Meanwhile it said audiologists could start to get ready by collating:
- Proof of their profession such as by downloading their AudA membership certificate from the AudA member hub
- Personal identification documents
- And linking details if they work for an organisation with a Healthcare Provider Identifier-Organisation (HPI-O) number.
Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) said the new process for assigning HPI-Is to self-regulating allied health professionals would be simplified. The current manual process meant that fewer than 5% of the self-regulating AH workforce had an HP-I.
“This is significant for the allied health sector because an HPI-I functions like the front door key to key electronic products like My Health Record and e-prescribing,” AHPA said.
Emerson said the government-led program was part of the government’s National Digital Health Strategy and National Allied Health Digital Uplift Plan.
“We have worked with AHPA giving feedback on the plan as part of the Digital Health Working Group which has included direct engagement with the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) and submissions to government consultations on digital health and healthcare identifiers,” she said.
Department explainer
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing uploaded a fact sheet on Healthcare Identifiers on its website on 9 October 2025.
It explained Healthcare Identifiers were unique 16-digit numbers assigned to patients, healthcare providers, and healthcare provider organisations.
They enabled seamless connections across various healthcare settings to make sure that the right information was linked to the right people, wherever they provide or receive healthcare.
“A Healthcare Provider Identifier – Individual (HPI-I) is used to identify an individual healthcare provider such as a general practitioner, specialist, or allied health practitioner,” the fact sheet said.
“A broader range of allied health professionals will now be eligible for HPI-I registration.
“This includes practitioners with the minimum tertiary qualification recognised by their professional bodies, which must also oversee their practice.
“This change aims to better reflect the needs of allied health professionals, allowing roles such as speech pathologists, dietitians, and sonographers to qualify for HPI-Is.”
Additionally, there would be a streamlined process for non-Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Aphra) registered allied health professionals.
“While those registered with Ahpra automatically receive an HPI-I, others must apply individually,” the fact sheet said. “The new legislation will enable professional bodies to apply for HPI-Is on behalf of their members with their consent, simplifying the process.”
The three types of Healthcare Identifiers are:
- An Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) is used to identify an individual healthcare recipient. This identifier is automatically assigned to individuals who are eligible for Medicare and Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) benefits. It can also be obtained upon request by other individuals, such as visitors and new migrants.
- A Healthcare Provider Identifier – Individual (HPI-I) is used to identify an individual healthcare provider, such as a GP, specialist, or allied health practitioner.
- A Healthcare Provider Identifier – Organisation (HPI-O) is used to identify a healthcare provider organisation, such as a hospital or general practice.
