What evidence does an auditor or the regulator ask for under Ahpra shared Code of conduct 8.5?

Advertising review record for the website, social media and printed material against the Boards' advertising guidelines; Written terms and conditions for any offer or discount advertised; Evidence file supporting each claim of benefit made in advertising

Rules / Ahpra shared Code of conduct

Ahpra CodeAhpra shared Code of conductahpra-code-of-conduct--8-5-advertising

Requirement

Advertising

Ahpra shared Code of conduct 8.5, stated plainly and cited to the edition held, with the evidence an auditor or the regulator asks for, the common gaps, and a free worksheet to fill in.

Clause

Ahpra shared Code of conduct 8.5

Regulator

Ahpra and the National Boards

Edition held

Shared Code of conduct, June 2022, in effect from 29 June 2022

Checked current

30 September 2026, Ahpra code page read 30 September 2026: a review of the codes is under way, no revised version published

Who it applies to

Registered occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Not psychologists (the Psychology Board has its own code from 1 December 2025) and not speech pathologists (not registered under the National Law).

Every clause in the standards library

Ahpra shared Code of conduct on the standards library

Under review, not in force

A review of the shared code is under way; the June 2022 code stays in effect until a revised one is published.

8.5Advertisingsource

Requirement, our statement of the clause

Advertising must not be false, misleading or deceptive, must not use testimonials about the clinical aspects of a regulated health service, must not create unreasonable expectations of benefit or encourage indiscriminate or unnecessary use of services, and any gift, discount or other inducement must state its terms and conditions in plain language. The practitioner complies with the National Law's advertising requirements (explained in the Boards' Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service), with the consumer protection, fair trading and therapeutic goods advertising laws of the Commonwealth, states and territories, and keeps any promotion of therapeutic products ethical.

Evidence that typically shows this

Advertising review record for the website, social media and printed material against the Boards' advertising guidelines
Written terms and conditions for any offer or discount advertised
Evidence file supporting each claim of benefit made in advertising

Common gap to check

Patient testimonials about clinical outcomes on the website or social media
Before-and-after images implying guaranteed results
Discount offers with no stated conditions

Worksheet: what your practice holds, and where

Ref	Held (yes, partly, no, not applicable)	Where it is kept	Owner	Last reviewed	Next review
8.5

Download the worksheet (CSV)Print the worksheet (A4)

Completing this worksheet records what your practice holds and where. It does not make a practice compliant or ready for audit, and it is not legal advice.

Related requirements

Ahpra shared Code of conduct

The same topic in other instruments (advertising)

National Law s 113Protected titles only for persons registered in the profession
National Law s 115Specialist titles only for specialist registrants
National Law s 116No claims to be a registered health practitioner by unregistered persons
National Law s 117No claims of registration in a profession or division not held
Psychology Board Code of conduct 8.7Advertising
Advertising guidelines Who advertisesIdentify who controls the advertising and take responsibility for it

See every requirement for your practice See the specimen practice