If a matter is referred, the Discipline Committee holds a formal hearing resembling a quasi-judicial trial: the member is given notice of the allegations, the right to counsel, the right to call and cross-examine witnesses, and a decision based on the evidence. Because discipline is a civil/administrative process, the burden of proof is the civil "balance of probabilities," not the criminal "beyond a reasonable doubt."
Know the categories the committee rules on:
- Professional misconduct, conduct breaching the Act, regulations, or Code of Ethics; the deliberate or serious failure to meet professional standards.
- Unprofessional conduct / conduct unbecoming, conduct that, while perhaps not a technical breach, harms the profession's reputation or dignity.
- Incompetence, a lack of knowledge, skill, or judgment of a degree showing the member is unfit to practise.
- Negligence (regulatory), a careless departure from the standard of care expected of a reasonable practitioner.
📌 Exam tip, burden: Discipline = balance of probabilities. Pick "beyond a reasonable doubt" and you've fallen for the most common discipline trap; that standard belongs to criminal court.
Note that misconduct can include off-duty or business conduct (e.g., fraud) if it reflects on fitness to practise.