What's happened
Perth developmental paediatrician Dr Chia Liang Saw has been charged with persistent sexual conduct with a child under 16 and possession of child exploitation material.
Ahpra has suspended his registration. He cannot practise medicine in Australia while these criminal proceedings are before the courts.
My thoughts are with the child and their family, and with every family who has placed their trust in him over the years.
If you have any information about the alleged assault or similar incidents, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at crimestopperswa.com.au.
Why this news has been so confronting and what it raises
This news has been deeply confronting. It has also highlighted a challenge I have grappled with for many years through Perth Kids Hub: how to help families make informed decisions and stay safe, while also ensuring information is shared fairly, accurately, and within the boundaries of the law.
As a parent myself, I understand the vulnerability that comes with seeking support for your child. Families are often making important decisions based on limited information, long waiting lists, and immense pressure to find help.
Naturally, many want to know whether there have been concerns raised about a practitioner before they book an appointment.
This case has prompted an important reminder: every family can check any registered health practitioner’s registration in under two minutes.
This guide explains what happened, why it matters, and exactly how to use the Ahpra register — including what the information actually means and how to use it alongside other tools when choosing a provider for your child.
My own experience trying to share this kind of information
Over the years, I have wrestled with how best to provide that information.
At one point, I included notes on Perth Kids Hub identifying practitioners who had conditions placed on their registration by Ahpra.
This information was already publicly available on the Ahpra register, but I wanted to make it easier for families who may not have realised they could check a practitioner’s registration themselves.
However, even when sharing information that is publicly available, there can be significant legal and personal risks. [And my husband is really keen for us not to lose our house because of my passion project (Perth Kids Hub) and that intrinsic neurodivergent strong sense of social justice.]
Following objections from a practitioner whose registration included conditions, I removed those references.
It was a reminder that there is a fine line between helping families access important information and exposing yourself to allegations of defamation or other legal action.
Why Australian's regulatory system matters
That experience reinforced why Australia’s regulatory processes are so important.
Concerns about health practitioners should be reported through the appropriate channels so they can be independently assessed and investigated.
Not every complaint will be substantiated. Some arise from misunderstandings, disagreements, or highly emotional circumstances.
That is precisely why regulators such as Ahpra exist: to examine the evidence, determine whether concerns are valid, and take action where necessary to protect the public.
This week, that system worked. When serious allegations arose, Ahpra moved quickly to suspend Dr Saw’s registration.
Families can have confidence that the regulatory framework is functioning and that they can access part of it themselves.
The tool every family should know about
For families, one of the most valuable tools available is the Ahpra Register of Practitioners.
In less than two minutes, you can check whether a doctor, psychologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, or other registered health professional is currently registered to practise and whether any conditions or restrictions apply to their registration.
The language used on the register can be technical.
Seeing a “condition” on a practitioner’s registration does not automatically mean they are unsafe or unsuitable. It simply means there are restrictions or requirements attached to their practice that may warrant further understanding.
Conditions can be applied for a range of regulatory reasons, including where a practitioner has completed their qualifications overseas and is required to meet specific registration standards or supervised practice requirements in Australia. These conditions are designed to ensure safe and effective practice and will be published on the practitioner’s registration where applicable.
The register should be viewed as one piece of information alongside referrals, recommendations, qualifications, experience, and your own judgement.
Dr Chia Saw's Ahpra registration
Dr Chia Saw’s Ahpra registration included a condition that had been publicly listed on the Ahpra Register for at least the past two years, based on my own checks.
The register did not provide any publicly available information about why that condition had been imposed. I’m not saying it was related to any allegation of sexual abuse prior to this case.
However, conditions are not placed on a practitioner’s registration lightly. They are the result of a regulatory process undertaken by Ahpra and indicate that restrictions or requirements have been placed on the practitioner’s ability to practise.
The register will not always tell you the full story, but it can provide important information that may prompt further questions or enquiries. Or a good Google search. You’d be surprised what you find. And you’d be surprised how many comments about bad experiences I see or hear and can guess who the practitioner is.
I sincerely hope that any organisation engaging a practitioner has appropriate processes in place to review a practitioner’s registration status and seek any additional information necessary to satisfy themselves that the practitioner is suitable for the role.
This case is a sobering reminder that transparency matters.
It is also a reminder that families have a right to access publicly available information and make informed choices about who provides care to their children.
Who Ahpra registers
Ahpra is the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. It regulates 16 health professions across Australia. If your child sees any of the following practitioners, their registration is searchable on the public register:
- Medical practitioners (GPs, paediatricians, psychiatrists)
- Nurses and midwives
- Psychologists
- Occupational therapists (OTs)
- Physiotherapists
- Dentists and dental practitioners
- Optometrists
- Pharmacists
- Chiropractors and osteopaths
It is worth noting that some allied health professionals — including speech pathologists, counsellors, social workers, and some educators — are not currently regulated by Ahpra. For those practitioners, check whether they hold current membership with their relevant professional association and understand what complaints pathway is available if concerns arise.
How to check a practitioner's Ahpra registration
Step 1 Go to: ahpra.gov.au/registration/registers-of-practitioners
Step 2 Type the practitioner’s first and last name into the search fields and click Search.
Step 3 Click on the practitioner’s name in the results to open their full registration record.
Step 4 Check the following:
Registration status It should say “Registered”. If it says “Suspended”, the practitioner cannot legally practise in Australia.
Registration expiry date This should be a future date. All registered practitioners must renew annually.
Conditions or undertakings This is the most important section. Any conditions or undertakings listed here place restrictions on how and where the practitioner can work. Examples include supervision requirements, restrictions on treating certain patient groups, or restrictions on particular procedures.
If there are conditions listed, read them carefully.
Conditions can be applied for a range of regulatory reasons, including where a practitioner has completed their qualifications overseas and is required to meet specific registration standards or supervised practice requirements in Australia. These conditions are designed to ensure safe and effective practice and will be published on the practitioner’s registration where applicable.
You can also call Ahpra directly on 1300 419 495 if you have questions about what they mean.
What if there is no record? If a practitioner does not appear in the register at all, they are not currently registered to practise in Australia.
When to do this check
I’d suggest doing this any time you start with a new practitioner — whether that’s a paediatrician, an occupational therapist, a psychologist, or a physiotherapist. It takes two minutes and the information is genuinely useful.
It is also worth checking again if you ever feel something is off, if you hear concerning information about a practitioner, or if your child tells you something that worries you. Practitioners can have conditions placed on their registration at any time. The register is updated in real time. Checking once at the start of a relationship is a good habit, knowing you can check at any point gives you ongoing reassurance.
Reputable providers will not blink at a parent who does this. In fact, most will welcome it.
What to do if you have concerns about a practitioner
If you have a concern about a health practitioner — whether it relates to clinical care, professional conduct, or something more serious — you can make a formal notification to Ahpra. This triggers a formal investigation process.
You can do this at: ahpra.gov.au/notifications
You do not need to be certain that something wrong has occurred. Ahpra’s job is to investigate and make that determination.
If your concern involves potential criminal conduct, contact WA Police directly or report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. You can make both a report to police and a notification to Ahpra — they are entirely separate processes, and one does not prevent the other.
For more on complaints processes in Western Australia and for other professions not registered by Ahpra you can read this blog “Have you had a bad experience with a Perth paediatric practitioner?”.
A note on Perth's paediatric community
Perth has an extraordinary community of paediatric and allied health professionals.
The waitlists are long, the demand is high, and the clinicians working in this space are largely doing genuinely remarkable work under significant pressure. This case does not change that picture.
What it does do is remind all of us — parents, providers, and advocates — that robust professional standards are not a bureaucratic inconvenience. They are a protection.
Ahpra’s ability to suspend a practitioner while a criminal matter proceeds exists precisely so families are not left exposed while the courts do their work. That system functioned as it should this week.
And families can access part of that system too, simply by knowing the register exists and how to use it.
I will keep sharing updates on this case
As more information becomes available about Dr Saw and this matter, I will share updates here and on social media.
Perth Kids Hub lists paediatric and allied health providers across WA. I take the safety and wellbeing of children and families seriously. Any listed provider is encouraged to keep their Ahpra registration current and clear of restrictions and families are always encouraged to check.
FAQs
Q: What happens after Ahpra suspends a practitioner's registration?
Answer: Once a suspension is in place, the practitioner cannot legally work in any registered capacity in Australia until the suspension is lifted. Ahpra continues to monitor the matter and can extend, vary, or lift the suspension as circumstances change. If a practitioner is ultimately convicted, Ahpra may take further action including cancellation of registration.
Q: Can I make an anonymous notification to Ahpra?
Answer: Ahpra accepts anonymous notifications. However, providing your contact details allows investigators to follow up with you if they need further information, which can strengthen an investigation. Ahpra treats all notification information confidentially.
Q: If my child has already been treated by a practitioner who is now suspended, what should I do?
Answer: If you have concerns about the care your child received, you can contact your GP for a review, make a notification to Ahpra, or contact WA Police if you believe a crime may have occurred. You do not need to wait for the legal process to conclude before taking any of these steps. Each pathway is independent of the others.
Quick links
- Look up a health practitioner - Ahpra
- Have you had a bad experience with a Perth paediatric practioner?
- e-safe Kids: Protective Behaviours
- Conversation toolkit: Having preventative conversations with kids about sexual abuse
- Crime Stoppers WA
- Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC)
- WA Health and Disability Services Complaints Office
This article is for general information only. Perth Kids Hub is a directory and information platform — not a healthcare provider. If you have concerns about a specific practitioner, contact Ahpra on 1300 419 495 or visit ahpra.gov.au.
