Fake nurse successfully prosecuted

A Victorian woman who pretended to be a nurse has been fined $15,000 plus costs.

Brittany Fairthorne was convicted in the Frankston Magistrates’ Court of charges laid by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). She was found guilty of holding herself out as a registered nurse and two counts of providing false information to an AHPRA inspector. She pleaded guilty to these offences under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

The charges were laid after an AHPRA investigation into allegations that Fairthorne held herself out as a registered nurse and injected a patient with substances which purported to be cosmetic injectables. AHPRA also alleged that, during its investigation, Fairthorne provided false or misleading information and documents to an AHPRA inspector. Fairthorne has never held registration as a nurse under the National Law with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

She was fined a total of $15,000 and ordered to pay AHPRA’s costs in the amount of $13,495.85.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Chair Associate Professor Lynette Cusack said Fairthorne’s conviction highlights the importance of protecting the trust that people place in registered health professionals.

“Registration demonstrates to employers and the public that nurses have met the high standard set by the NMBA to treat the Australian community,” Assoc Prof Cusack said. “This outcome shows that, in partnership with AHPRA, we take the responsibility of protecting the public’s trust in the profession very seriously.”

Anyone with concerns about whether an individual is registered with a national health profession board can check the register of practitioners maintained by AHPRA or contact AHPRA on 1300 419 495.

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