Tasmania’s chief psychiatrist Dr Aaron Groves has licence suspended

Tasmania’s chief psychiatrist is no longer able to practise after the nation’s medical regulator suspended his licence.

Chief Psychiatrist Dr Aaron Groves. Picture Chris Kidd

Tasmania’s chief psychiatrist is no longer able to practise after the nation’s medical regulator suspended his licence this week.

The Health Department is refusing to comment on the circumstances of Dr Aaron Groves’ extended absence from the role, saying it is unable to respond to questions relating to an “individual employee”.

Dr Groves’ deputy, Dr Anthony Cidoni, is currently serving as acting chief psychiatrist.

An AHPRA spokeswoman said the Medical Board of Australia had suspended Dr Groves on October 3, 2022.

Chief Psychiatrist Dr Aaron Groves. Picture Chris Kidd

“He cannot practise in Australia,” she said.

“Due to privacy provisions in the National Law, we cannot comment further.”

In an email sent to staff in the Tasmanian Health Service’s Community Health and Wellbeing section on August 23, the office of the deputy secretary wrote that Dr Groves was “currently on leave until further notice”.

Under the state’s Mental Health Act, the chief psychiatrist reviews and oversees the assessment, treatment, and care of people with mental illness in Tasmania.

Dr Groves commenced in the role in November 2017. He was previously the chief psychiatrist in South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland.

His five-year term is set to expire on November 23.

He was the 2021 recipient of the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Margaret Tobin Award, which is in recognition of an individual who has made a significant contribution to administrative psychiatry.

In a Facebook post on the Health Department’s Facebook page published on May 28 last, year, Dr Groves was lauded for his achievement.

“To receive this award is a tremendous honour, demonstrating Dr Groves’ dedication to the position of chief psychiatrist,” the post read.