Assisted Reproductive Technology Standards
We are helping to reform assisted reproductive technology (ART) services to strengthen the quality, consistency and transparency of care across Australia.
In June 2025, a rapid review of ART regulation and accreditation was commissioned following concerns in the sector. In September 2025 Health Ministers announced reform for the ART sector.
Find out more about the implementation of ART sector reforms from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
New ART standards and accreditation scheme
We have been asked to develop an independent national accreditation scheme for ART service providers against updated National Safety and Quality Standards.
This project began in April 2026 and involves developing a number of different components to support ART service providers and people using their services. A description of components and the anticipated approach to their development is below.
| Component | Purpose | Approach to development |
|---|---|---|
| Standards for ART service providers | Outlines the safety and quality systems, processes and requirements for ART service providers. The Standards also include intent statements, consumer outcomes and a glossary of terms. | The initial public consultation on the draft Standards closed in September 2026. A second public consultation will seek feedback on the areas requiring further input or clarification where we received mixed direction from the initial public consultation. Feedback from the public consultations will be used to refine the Standards, along with the input of the ART Industry Advisory Group. A pilot process, anticipated to commence in January 2027, will be used to identify areas of the Standards that require further clarity or implementation resources. Following the pilot, the Commission will take the Standards to its standing committees for endorsement and to its Board for approval. The Standards will then be presented to Health Ministers in mid-2027. |
| User Guide for ART service providers | The User Guide includes additional guidance and information to support ART service providers to implement the Standards. The User Guide includes reflective questions, clarifying information, key tasks, examples of evidence and links to additional resources. | The draft User Guide will undergo public consultation in 2027 to ensure broad input. Feedback from the public consultation will be used to refine the User Guide, along with the input of the ART Industry Advisory Group. |
| Assessment Framework | The Assessment Framework describes how ART service providers will be assessed to the Standards, and how it fits into an accreditation scheme. The Assessment Framework includes how often ART service providers will be required to undergo assessment, the information required to be submitted to accrediting agencies, the method of how assessments will be undertaken and the assessor team requirements. It will also outline remediation and mandatory reassessment, which is what happens if an ART service provider does not meet all the requirements of the Standards. The Assessment Framework also includes the assessment requirements to establish a new ART facility, relocations and changes to the scope of services provided. | The Assessment Framework will support the states and territories with their regulatory approach to issuing ART service providers with licences. The Commission will conduct targeted consultation to ensure that the approach described in the Assessment Framework supports regulators. Feedback from the targeted consultation will be used to refine the Assessment Framework, along with the input of the ART Industry Advisory Group. |
| Transition Plan | The Transition Plan will outline the requirements, timelines and interim arrangements for ART service providers as they transition between the existing RTAC Code of Practice and Accreditation Scheme to the Commission’s Standards and Assessment Framework. | The Commission will work with the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC) to develop the draft Transition Plan. The Commission will conduct targeted consultation to ensure that the approach described in the Transition Plan supports regulators and the RTAC for a smooth transition. Feedback from the targeted consultation will be used to refine the Transition Plan along with the input of the ART Industry Advisory Group. |
| Advisories | Advisories are rules issued by the Commission to clarify requirements and responsibilities that ART service providers, accrediting agencies and regulators have under the Commission’s accreditation scheme. | Advisories are developed as required. Input of the ART Industry Advisory Group will be used to refine the Advisories. |
| Implementation resources | Implementation resources are developed as required to supplement the User Guide. This may include resources such as mapping documents or information for consumers. | Using feedback from the public consultations, targeted consultations and the pilot, the Commission will develop an implementation resource roadmap to identify and prioritise the development of resources to support implementation of the Standards. Depending on the nature of the Implementation Resources, a mixture of public and targeted consultation will be undertaken to develop the implementation resources, along with the input from the ART Industry Advisory Group. |
The Commission’s public consultations are the best way to contribute to the development of the components for the Standards. We welcome feedback from individuals, service providers, organisations, regulators and other interested parties to contribute to this important work.
Some of the components of the Standards are more technical and have a strict scope of what we include, which means that sometimes we will incorporate your feedback into other components that support the Standards.
The best way to stay informed of these opportunities is to subscribe to the Commission’s eNews and Updates.
Progress on consultation and development
To develop National Safety and Quality Standards, we undertake a number of steps to ensure we are hearing from as many people as we can. We undertake consultation, testing, resource development as well as seeking approval before the Standards are finalised.
Initial scoping
The Commission was engaged in April 2026 to undertake work on the Standards.
To inform initial scoping, the Commission used key informant interviews and an online survey between April and July 2026. The scoping was also informed by reports on the topic of ART, including the Rapid Review.
Consultation phase
The first public consultation was held for 4 weeks between August and September 2026. The Commission received over 100 responses to the online survey and 20 written submissions.
Further public consultation is anticipated on components of the Standards, including implementation resources (see Table 1 for further information). To stay informed about upcoming consultations subscribe to our newsletter.
Piloting the Standards
The Commission will use a pilot process to understand the feasibility aspects of the Standards from ART service providers and assessors. This is anticipated to take place from January 2027.
If you are interested in receiving more information on this pilot, please contact the ART Team.
Approval of the Standards
The Commission’s standing committees will review the Standards before they go to the Commission’s Board. The Commission’s Board approves the submission of the Standards to go to Health Ministers for their approval, which is anticipated in mid-2027.
Resource development
Throughout 2027 and 2028, the Commission will be identifying and developing implementation resources.
If you are interested in contributing to specific resources for the Standards, please let us know your areas of interest.
Implementation
The Standards and Assessment Framework are anticipated to come into effect from December 2028. The Commission will establish governance and oversight of the Standards and accreditation to ensure ongoing risks are identified and managed, in partnership with regulators and the sector.
Industry Advisory Group
The Commission has established an Assisted Reproductive Technology Industry Advisory Group in July 2026. The Advisory Group consists of experts within the ART sector and those with lived experience. Each member was appointed for their individual skills, lived experience, knowledge, and expertise of the ART sector and not their representation of an organisation.
Members were invited following guidance from the Commission’s clinical advisors, participation in key informant interviews, and engagement with the sector survey.
The Commission’s Advisory Groups operate under Terms of reference that outline the scope of the advisory group, member duties, and processes to address issues such as conflicts of interest and confidentiality.
Industry Advisory Group members
| Name | Position/Expertise or Perspective |
|---|---|
| Professor Robert Norman | Chair |
| Honorary Professor Liz Marles | Commission Clinical Advisor, General Practitioner |
| Dr Lynne Coulson Barr | Complaints Commissioner |
| Professor Georgina Chambers | Epidemiologist |
| Dr Clare Boothroyd | Fertility specialist (Certificate in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility [CREI]) |
| Dr Fleur Cattrall | Fertility specialist (CREI) |
| Dr Roger Hart | Fertility specialist (CREI) |
| Dr Petra Wale | Embryologist |
| Adjunct Associate Professor Cecilia Sjoblom | Embryologist |
| Dr Adrianne Pope | Quality management in ART |
| Professor Robert McLachlan | Endocrinologist |
| Nicole Heffernan | Fertility nurse |
| Rebecca Kerner | Infertility counsellor |
| Dr Giselle Newton | Donor conceived person, researcher |
| Catherine Vallence | Lived consumer experience |
| Kathryn Berry | Lived consumer experience |
| Heather Corkhill | Lived consumer experience |
| Alisha Burns | Lived consumer experience |
| Rachel Henry | ART reform advice (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing) |
Additional resources
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Raising complaints
We do not manage complaints about health care. However, we have developed a webpage which may be helpful as a resource.
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Open disclosure
We have developed a Framework and resources to support a principles-based approach to communicating openly and honestly with patients when things go wrong in health care.
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Healthcare rights
The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights describes the rights that you or someone you care for can expect when receiving health care. These rights apply to all people in all places where health care is provided in Australia.
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Women’s health
We have a range of resources and information that support high-quality care for women.
Contact
For questions and feedback, email our team.
Subscribe for news updates from the Commission on assisted reproductive technology.