Few things unsettle a patient more than learning the surgeon they trusted is facing regulatory action. Greg Malham, a well-known spine neurosurgeon in Melbourne, Australia, had practice conditions imposed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) in December 2025 after an investigation by ABC’s Four Corners program and a separate incident involving a torn-down election sign.

Practice location: Melbourne, Australia ·
Specialty: Spine surgery (neurosurgery) ·
Regulatory action (2025): Practice conditions imposed by AHPRA ·
Hospital termination (2025): Terminated from Warringal Private Hospital

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Greg Malham is a spine surgeon practicing in Melbourne, Australia (ABC News).
  • AHPRA imposed practice conditions on him in December 2025 (ABC News).
  • He was terminated from Warringal Private Hospital after an ABC Four Corners investigation (ABC News). (ABC News)
  • In April 2025, he publicly apologized after a video of him tearing down a corflute election sign was circulated (The Age).
2What’s unclear
  • The exact nature of the AHPRA practice conditions remains undisclosed in full (ABC News).
  • Whether Malham is currently practicing under those conditions is not publicly confirmed.
  • The specific details of the ABC Four Corners investigation findings have not been fully released.
  • His current hospital affiliations (or lack thereof) are not clear.
3Timeline signal
  • April 2025: Video of Malham tearing down an election sign surfaces; he apologizes and self-reports to AHPRA (The Age).
  • July 2025: ABC Four Corners airs investigation; Malham terminated from Warringal Private Hospital (ABC News).
  • December 2025: AHPRA imposes practice conditions (ABC News).
4What’s next
  • Malham must complete 12 mentoring sessions every two weeks covering communication with distressed patients and respectful workplace relationships (ABC News).
  • He must also complete training in patient-centred communication in neurosurgery (ABC News).
  • Epworth HealthCare, where Malham was previously one of the most active surgeons, continues its independent investigation (ABC News).
Key facts about Greg Malham
Attribute Detail
Name Greg Malham (also known as Gregory Malham)
Profession Spinal neurosurgeon
Practice Location Melbourne, Australia
Regulatory Body Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Regulatory Action Date December 2025
Type of Action Practice conditions imposed

The pattern here is clear: a high-profile surgeon who built a reputation treating elite athletes now faces significant restrictions following a convergence of public and regulatory scrutiny.

Where does Greg Malham practice?

Greg Malham practices in Melbourne, Australia, where he has built a career as a spine surgery specialist. His private practice is based in Melbourne, and prior to 2025, he was one of the most active surgeons at Epworth, Melbourne’s largest private health facility, according to ABC News.

Current practice location

  • Malham’s practice is based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
  • After the ABC investigation, he was terminated from Warringal Private Hospital in July 2025, as reported by ABC News.
  • His current ability to practice at other hospitals is subject to the conditions imposed by AHPRA in December 2025.

Hospital affiliations

  • Before the regulatory action, Malham operated at Epworth HealthCare and Warringal Private Hospital.
  • Epworth commissioned its own independent investigation into Malham’s conduct after the April 2025 sign incident, as reported by The Age.
  • As of December 2025, he no longer holds privileges at Warringal Private Hospital.
Bottom line: Greg Malham’s practice is limited by the AHPRA conditions. Current patients should verify his active hospital privileges before scheduling procedures.

What is Greg Malham’s background?

Greg Malham is an Australian-trained spine neurosurgeon with a focus on complex spine surgery, including minimally invasive techniques. According to ABC News, he has treated elite athletes across AFL, AFLW, rugby, tennis, and netball, building a reputation in sports-related spine injuries.

Professional training and experience

  • Malham completed his neurosurgery training in Australia and has been practicing in Melbourne for many years.
  • He has been described as a controversial neurosurgeon by ABC News.
  • The ABC report noted that complaints against him included severe pain, paraplegia, and allegations of sexist behaviour toward female nurses.

Areas of specialization

  • Complex spine surgery.
  • Minimally invasive spine surgery.
  • Sports-related spine injuries for elite athletes in AFL, AFLW, rugby, tennis, and netball, as reported by ABC News.
The trade-off

A surgeon with elite sports credentials and high surgical volume also faces serious complaints about patient outcomes and workplace conduct. The pattern: prominence does not guarantee patient safety.

The implication: professional reputation in sports medicine does not insulate a surgeon from accountability when patient complaints accumulate.

Is Greg Malham still working?

Greg Malham’s ability to practice is currently governed by practice conditions imposed by AHPRA in December 2025, following the ABC investigation and the April 2025 incident involving the election sign. The ABC News report stated that the conditions require him to complete 12 mentoring sessions every two weeks, covering communication with distressed patients and those with postoperative pain, along with training in patient-centred communication in neurosurgery and respectful relationships with colleagues.

Regulatory status (AHPRA)

  • AHPRA imposed practice conditions on Malham’s registration in December 2025, as reported by ABC News.
  • The regulatory action followed grievances about his post-surgical patient care and interactions with colleagues.
  • ABC reported that complaints included severe pain, paraplegia, and allegations of sexist behaviour toward female nurses.

Impact of the ABC investigation

  • The ABC’s Four Corners program aired an investigation in July 2025 into surgeon behaviour, leading to Malham’s termination from Warringal Private Hospital, reported ABC News.
  • In April 2025, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) said it was deeply concerned by behaviour shown in the circulated video of Malham tearing down an election sign, noting it could be seen to trivialise or incite violence, especially towards women.
Bottom line: Malham is still registered but under active AHPRA conditions. He faces mentoring and training requirements, and his hospital access has been significantly restricted.

Who is the top neurosurgeon in Melbourne?

Determining the “top” neurosurgeon in Melbourne depends heavily on the specific specialty, experience, patient outcomes, and personal fit. Greg Malham is a known spine surgeon in Melbourne, but rankings are subjective, and no definitive list from official sources exists. ABC News described him as a “controversial neurosurgeon” in its reporting on the AHPRA action.

Factors in determining ‘top’ neurosurgeon

  • Specialty area: spine versus brain surgery, and further subspecialties within each.
  • Experience and surgical volume.
  • Patient outcomes and complication rates.
  • Hospital privileges and affiliations.
  • Regulatory and disciplinary history — now a factor in Malham’s case.

Other notable Melbourne neurosurgeons

  • Available from official sources like the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) directory and individual hospital websites.
  • Patients should verify a neurosurgeon’s credentials through AHPRA’s public register and surgical college listings.
The upshot

For Melbourne patients seeking a neurosurgeon, Malham’s case highlights why checking AHPRA records and hospital privileges is essential. The “top” label is only useful if backed by current regulatory clean standing.

Who is the best brain surgeon in Ireland?

This question is tangentially related to Greg Malham, who practices in Australia, not Ireland. For readers interested in Irish neurosurgery, the consultant neurosurgeon at Cork University Hospital is a specific role, and best-ranked hospitals for neurology in Ireland include Beaumont Hospital and Cork University Hospital, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE) of Ireland.

Notable neurosurgeons in Ireland

  • Cork University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital in Dublin are the primary centers for neurosurgery in Ireland.
  • Specific neurosurgeons should be verified through the Irish Medical Council (IMC) register.

How to evaluate a neurosurgeon

  • Check their registration with the IMC.
  • Verify hospital privileges at major neurosurgery hospitals like Beaumont or Cork University Hospital.
  • Review their specialty area — not all neurosurgeons perform the same types of surgery.
Why this matters

Patients in Australia and Ireland now share a clearer standard: verify a surgeon’s regulatory status before committing to care. The Malham case underscores how disciplinary history can be publicly available through national registers.

Timeline of events

Date or period Event
Before 2025 Greg Malham practices as a spine neurosurgeon in Melbourne, treating elite athletes and running a private practice at Epworth HealthCare and Warringal Private Hospital.
April 2025 Video of Malham tearing down an election sign circulates; he publicly apologizes and self-reports to AHPRA (The Age).
April 2025 Epworth HealthCare commissions an independent investigation into Malham’s conduct (The Age).
April 2025 RACS expresses deep concern over the behaviour shown in the circulated video (Royal Australasian College of Surgeons).
July 2025 ABC Four Corners airs an investigation into surgeon behaviour; Malham is terminated from Warringal Private Hospital (ABC News).
December 2025 AHPRA imposes practice conditions on Malham’s registration, including mentoring and training requirements (ABC News).

The catch: the entire cascade from a public video to formal regulatory conditions unfolded in just eight months, showing how quickly professional standing can shift when public safety concerns emerge.

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Greg Malham is a spine surgeon in Melbourne, Australia.
  • AHPRA imposed practice conditions on him in December 2025.
  • He was terminated from Warringal Private Hospital after the ABC investigation.
  • The ABC investigation preceded the regulatory action.
  • The conditions require 12 mentoring sessions every two weeks and training in patient-centred communication.
  • RACS expressed concern about the video behaviour in April 2025.

What’s unclear

  • The exact nature of the AHPRA practice conditions in full.
  • Whether Greg Malham is currently practicing under those conditions.
  • The specific details of the ABC Four Corners investigation findings.
  • Greg Malham’s current hospital affiliations or lack thereof.
  • The outcome of Epworth HealthCare’s independent investigation.

Expert perspectives

“Our priority is public safety. We will consider whether regulatory action is required following the media reporting about Mr Malham.”

— AHPRA official statement, as reported by The Age

“RACS is deeply concerned by the behaviour shown in the video circulating on social media. Such actions can be seen to trivialise or incite violence, especially towards women.”

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, April 2025

“The conditions require him to undergo 12 mentoring sessions once every two weeks, covering communication with distressed patients and patients with postoperative pain, as well as training in patient-centred communication in neurosurgery and respectful relationships with colleagues.”

— ABC News, December 2025

“Neurosurgeon Greg Malham has been terminated from working at Warringal Private Hospital after a Four Corners investigation examining his behaviour.”

— ABC News, July 2025

The implication: regulatory and hospital systems in Australia responded within a single year to concerns about a single surgeon’s conduct, moving from a social-media video to formal conditions on practice.

Bottom line: For anyone considering spine surgery with Greg Malham, the clear recommendation is to verify his current AHPRA standing and hospital privileges directly. For other Melbourne neurosurgeons, the lesson is that regulatory records are public and should be checked before booking surgery.

Frequently asked questions

What practice conditions did AHPRA impose on Greg Malham?

AHPRA’s conditions include 12 mentoring sessions every two weeks covering communication with distressed patients and patients with postoperative pain, as well as training in patient-centred communication in neurosurgery and respectful relationships with colleagues, as reported by ABC News.

Why was Greg Malham terminated from the hospital?

He was terminated from Warringal Private Hospital in July 2025 after an ABC Four Corners investigation examining his behaviour, as reported by ABC News.

What did the ABC investigation find about Greg Malham?

ABC News reported that the investigation covered complaints about Malham’s post-surgical patient care and interactions with colleagues, including reports of severe pain, paraplegia, and allegations of sexist behaviour toward female nurses.

Is Greg Malham still able to see patients?

He is still registered with AHPRA but must comply with practice conditions. His ability to practice is subject to those conditions, and he no longer holds privileges at Warringal Private Hospital.

Where can I find the official AHPRA record for Greg Malham?

The official AHPRA public register is available at ahpra.gov.au where you can search for a practitioner’s registration status and any conditions on practice.

What is the difference between a neurosurgeon and a spine surgeon?

A neurosurgeon is a medical specialist trained in surgery of the brain, spine, and nervous system. A spine surgeon may be either a neurosurgeon or an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in spine procedures. Both can perform spine surgery, but their training backgrounds differ.

How can I verify a neurosurgeon’s credentials in Australia?

You can check the AHPRA public register at ahpra.gov.au for registration status, specialty recognition, and any practice conditions. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons provides a surgeon finder service.