• Overview
• Seed and Network Structure
• Roles and Responsibilities
• How to Register Your Seed/Network Organisation 
• Search for an HPI-I
• Non-AHPRA Registered Providers

Overview

The Healthcare Identifiers (HI) Service is the foundation of digital health. It is a consistent set of identifiers for individuals, healthcare providers and healthcare organisations, so that we know for whom care was provided, who provided it, and where it was provided.

There are four types of identifiers: 

• Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) - the person who received care. 

• Healthcare Provider Identifier - Individual (HPI-I) - the person who provided the care. 

• Healthcare Provider Identifier - Organisation (HPI-O) - the organisation where the care was provided. 

• Healthcare Support Service Provider – Organisation (HSP-O) - an organisation that provides healthcare support services (e.g. to older Australians or individuals with a disability) 

More information on Healthcare Identifiers can be found on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and the Services Australia websites.  

Seed and Network Structure

To access the HI Service, an organisation (known to the Service as a Seed or Network organisation) needs to have its own unique HPI-O. Once an HPI-O is obtained, your organisation will automatically be registered for the My Health Record system as well.  

The difference between a Seed organisation and a Network organisation is outlined by Services Australia.

Roles and Responsibilities

A Seed organisation must have people assigned to certain roles: Responsible Officer (RO) and Organisation Maintenance Officer (OMO). These roles authorise them to carry out certain actions. 

A description of these roles can be found on the Services Australia website. 

How to Register Your Seed/Network Organisation

Before you start, the requirements for registration is outlined here. 

You will also need your ABN, and at least one document of evidence of authority to act on behalf of the organisation. This document must be certified by anyone (except the applicant) who is authorised to certify documents. Valid documents are listed below.  

• Certificate of registration of the organisation with Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) 

• Australian Business Registrar (ABR) notice 

• Organisation trustee appointment (where applicant is listed as a stakeholder) 

• Contract for sale or purchase of business 

• Financial institution statement which is less than 1 year old 

• Lease agreement 

• Rates notice 

• Certificate of change of name from ASIC 

• ATO document 

Once ready, the steps to register your seed/network organisation are here. 

Search for an HPI-I

Search in HPOS for the HPI-I of your AHPRA-registered staff

To search for the HPI-I of your AHPRA-registered staff, follow the steps under the ‘Search for an individual health care provider in the Healthcare Provider Directory’ section of the Services Australia website. 

Use AHPRA to get your own HPI-I

1. Log in to your AHPRA account.
2. From the My details menu, select the HPI-I option to reveal your number. 

   

Non-AHPRA Registered Providers 

If your profession is credentialled by a professional body with certain characteristics, but you are not AHPRA registered, you can either register for an HPI-I yourself using Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) or ask your eligible allied health professional body to register on your behalf. 

The steps for both of these pathways are located on the Services Australia website.