What You Can and Cannot Say When Asking for Google Reviews (AHPRA Compliance for Clinics)
By Brendan Byrne Friday, August 15, 2025
If you run an allied health clinic, you already know Google reviews are gold.
In fact, 84% of Aussies check reviews before booking a physio, chiro, podiatrist, or other health service. The catch? If you’re registered under AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), the rules around reviews aren’t just “best practice” — they’re law.
Get it wrong, and you risk fines, removal of advertising, or even disciplinary action.
Get it right, and you can build trust, boost visibility, and grow your clinic — all without breaking a single rule.
Here’s your no-nonsense guide to what you can and can’t say, plus a ready-to-use, AHPRA-compliant review request template.
AHPRA Rules in Plain English
AHPRA’s advertising guidelines have one main aim: protect the public from misleading health claims. That means:
✅ You can request feedback — as long as it’s about non-clinical aspects of your service.
❌ You cannot use or encourage testimonials that mention clinical outcomes or treatment results.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Not allowed: “Dr. Sarah cured my plantar fasciitis in two weeks!”
- Allowed: “The clinic was easy to book with, and the staff were welcoming.”
AHPRA also prohibits:
❌ Claims of superiority (“best physio in Sydney”)
❌ Comparisons with other practitioners (“better than the clinic down the road”)
❌ Offering incentives for reviews (no free massages in exchange for five stars!)
What You Can Say in a Review Request
You can guide your patients to write reviews that are 100% safe for you to publish.
Here’s an AHPRA-friendly example:
“We’d love your feedback. When leaving a review, please focus on your experience with our booking process, communication, facilities, and professionalism. Please avoid mentioning specific treatment results.”
What You Cannot Say
To stay compliant, avoid asking for:
- Outcome-based comments (“My knee pain is completely gone!”)
- Comparative statements (“Much better than my old physio”)
- Reviews in exchange for gifts, discounts, or freebies
Remember — even if a patient leaves an outcome-based review unprompted, you cannot publish it or display it on your website or marketing.
Why This Matters
Following these rules isn’t just about ticking a legal box. It:
- Protects your clinic from compliance breaches and fines
- Maintains patient trust and credibility
- Keeps your Google profile active without risking takedowns
Your Copy & Paste Review Request Template
You can drop this straight into your email, SMS, or reception cards:
"We’d love your feedback!
When leaving a review, please focus on your experience with our booking process, communication, facilities, and professionalism.
Please avoid mentioning specific treatment results, as AHPRA guidelines prevent us from publishing these.
Thank you for helping us improve our services!"
How to Share the Template with Patients
- Email follow-up after an appointment
- SMS with a direct Google review link
- Printed card with a QR code at reception
The Takeaway
AHPRA compliance doesn’t have to kill your Google review strategy — it just means being smart about how you ask. You can still collect genuine, useful feedback that helps prospective patients feel confident choosing you.
Need help building your clinic’s visibility while staying 100% compliant?
Contact One Orange Cow — we help clinics like yours stand out online without stepping on any legal landmines.
