Skip to main content
Print

Third edition engagement hub

We are developing the third edition of the NSQHS Standards to ensure they continue to support safe, high-quality and person-centred care in a changing healthcare environment.

Public consultation now open

An initial draft of the NSQHS Standards (third edition) is out now for public consultation.

Download the draft Standards and provide your feedback.

Have your say

Overview

As the national agency responsible for leading improvements in the safety and quality of health care, we develop national standards in collaboration with the healthcare system and members of the community.

The National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (second edition) provide a nationally consistent statement about the level of care patients can expect from health services. 

They are designed to ensure health services provide high-quality care in Australia.

The second edition of the NSQHS Standards were released in 2017 and are being used in health services across the country. We are currently developing the third edition of the NSQHS Standards as part of our 10-year review process, to ensure the Standards remain current and fit for purpose.
 

Initial draft of the NSQHS Standards (third edition)

The third edition of the NSQHS Standards supports high-quality care for all Australians through nationally consistent safety and quality systems across the continuum of care.

To reflect the complexity of today's healthcare system, the eight standards from the second edition have been consolidated into three integrated standards. They are intended to strengthen the connection between clinical governance, workforce capability and patient outcomes, supporting a coordinated approach to safety and quality.

The standards are designed to operate as an integrated system:

Clinical Governance StandardOutlines the responsibilities of the board, executive and leaders for ensuring that the organisation’s clinical governance system supports the delivery of high-quality care
Person-Centred Practice StandardOutlines the systems that support clinicians to provide high-quality care so that patients receive care that is person-centred, safe, effective, accessible and integrated 
Safe Clinical Systems StandardOutlines the priority systems, policies and processes that keep people safe while receiving care or working in a health service, prevent avoidable harm and support the sustainable delivery of high‑quality care


The Rationale for Change has been developed to provide further information about the foundational elements underpinning the NSQHS Standards.
 

Public consultation

By participating in the consultation, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of the NSQHS Standards. 

The consultation is open from Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September 2026.

We are seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders including health services, clinicians, clinical experts, consumers, First Nations peoples and organisations, peak and professional bodies, state and territory health departments and the Australian Government.

This consultation aims to: 

1. Establish whether the initial draft of the NSQHS Standards (third edition)

  • is fit for purpose and responsive to system needs
  • strengthens the person-centred approach to high-quality care
  • captures existing and emerging health service safety and quality issues
  • better supports health services to participate in continuous learning, improvement and focus on health outcomes
  • has an improved structure and format that makes it easier to understand and implement.

2. Identify

  • areas where the Standards need to be refined
  • the level of support the system requires to implement the revised Standards.

Visit our consultation page to find out how you can provide feedback.
 

Purpose

The purpose of developing the NSQHS Standards (third edition) is to:

  • engage health service boards, leadership and clinical teams on the systems, structures, actions and improvements needed to provide high-quality care
  • incorporate new and emerging evidence-based practices, and contemporary approaches to clinical governance
  • strengthen clinical governance at the health service level to create resilient and scalable structures and systems
  • align and adapt to evolving changes in the healthcare system
  • develop and mature health service organisations to become high performing learning organisations that focus on outcomes and impact
  • evolve actions to improve cultural safety and eliminate racism in health care
  • drive greater integration of care.
     

Timeline

Development of the NSQHS Standards (third edition) commenced 2025 and it is anticipated they will be released in 2028.

  • First public consultation: Opportunities and information gathering on system needs to inform development of the draft NSQHS Standards (third edition)
  • Commence drafting the NSQHS Standards (third edition)
  • Second public consultation: Seek feedback on the draft NSQHS Standards (third edition)
  • Pilot of the NSQHS Standards (third edition) in select health services
  • Draft Consultation Regulatory Impact Assessment
  • Seek feedback on Consultation Regulatory Impact Assessment
  • Seek Ministerial approval for the NSQHS Standards (third edition)
  • Public Decision Regulatory Impact Assessment
  • Launch NSQHS Standards (third edition)
  • Detailed consultation to inform development of NSQHS Standards (third edition) implementation resources
  • Release of NSQHS Standards (third edition) implementation resources
  • Health services commence assessment to the NSQHS Standards (third edition)

Frequently asked questions

General

This version of the draft Standards reflects what we heard during our first public consultation held in 2025, a review of the best available evidence and close collaboration across the health sector. We worked with health services, clinicians, patients, carers, consumers and state and territory health departments to prepare the draft. 

For a deeper understanding of what informed the initial draft NSQHS Standards (third edition), you can read The Rationale for Change.

The second consultation is seeking feedback on the initial draft of the NSQHS Standards (third edition) to understand whether the proposed changes reflect what was heard during the initial consultation and support the delivery of high-quality care.

Through this consultation, the Commission is seeking feedback on:

  • safety and quality risks: Do the draft Standards reflect current and emerging safety and quality risks? Which risks should be clearer or better addressed?
  • impact and integration: Will the draft Standards support better quality of care and improve coordination across services, settings and providers?
  • learning vs. compliance: Do the draft Standards support learning, continuous improvement and better outcomes? What changes would help shift the focus away from compliance?
  • format and useability: Are the draft Standards clear and easy to understand? How well do they support care delivery in real settings and at the point of care?
  • redundancies: Are there areas in the draft Standards that seem repetitive or unnecessary and could be simplified to reduce burden?

The second consultation closes on Friday 25 September 2026.

Feedback from the second consultation will be analysed and used to refine the next draft of the NSQHS Standards (third edition), which will be piloted by health services in 2027.

Consumers

The Commission is keen to receive feedback from consumers across Australia, including patients, their carers and families, and consumers.

You can be involved by completing the consumer survey, emailing feedback or phoning our Safety and Quality Advice Centre to provide feedback. 

For more information, visit our Consultation page.

Visit our Campaign page with downloadable communications assets, including newsletter copy, social media content and graphics, which you can share with your colleagues and networks.

Or recommend they sign-up to the NSQHS Standards (third edition) subscriber list to receive updates on our progress and how to get involved.

Health sector

There are multiple ways for health professionals and health services to engage in this consultation, including completing an online survey, providing a written submission or attending a forum. 

For details, visit the NSQHS Standards (third edition) Consultation page or email the Safety and Quality Advice Centre.

Sign-up to the NSQHS Standards (third edition) subscriber list to receive updates on the consultation process.

Recommend your colleagues sign-up to the NSQHS Standards (third edition) subscriber list to receive updates.

Also, visit our campaign page with downloadable communications assets, including newsletter copy, social media content and graphics, which you can share with your colleagues and networks. 

We invite you to share information about your promotional activity with our Safety and Quality Advice Centre to help us understand who has been informed about the consultation.

What else is the Commission working on?

Alongside the development of the NSQHS Standards (third edition), the Commission is progressing related work to support safe, high-quality care across the health system, including:

Standards for First Nations Cultural Safety

In parallel with the drafting the NSQHS Standards, the Commission is coordinating a First Nations-led project to analyse evidence on standards for cultural safety (including associated measures and indicators) to inform recommendations regarding national standards for cultural safety for hospitals. 

The first stage of this project is underway and is focused on building the evidence and consulting with key stakeholders. The Commission has established a First Nations Health team to lead and drive the Standards for Cultural Safety Review Project.

The findings from this project and lessons from the co-design processes will be combined with feedback from the consultation on NSQHS Standards to help shape the requirements for the next draft of the third edition. Learn more on the First Nations health page.

Virtual Care Standards

The Commission is developing standards for virtual care to support safe, high-quality and connected care, as virtual care has grown rapidly across all parts of the health system. The standards are being designed to support emerging models of care and complement the NSQHS Standards. Learn more on the Virtual Care page.

National Clinical Trials Governance Framework

The National Clinical Trials Governance Framework has been incorporated into the third edition, with an expanded focus on clinical research. This strengthens governance, accountability and support for research-enabled care across health services. Learn more on the National Clinical Trials Governance Framework page.

Program governance

The Commission has invited people and organisations with relevant experience and expertise to collaborate on the development of the NSQHS Standards (third edition). The Commission’s work is being guided by two Committees.

Overview of committees

Provides strategic oversight.

Members include representatives from the Commission and its standing committees including the Inter-Jurisdictional Committee, Private Hospital Sector Committee and Primary Care Committee.

Provides expert subject matter knowledge and advice on contemporary thinking about national standards and health system improvement.

Members include, government agencies, public and private health service organisations, peak organisations researchers and academics and consumer representatives.

Contact

For questions and to provide feedback on the development of the NSQHS Standards (third edition), contact the Safety and Quality Advice Centre.

Stay in touch

Keep up to date with project updates, including consultation information and how you can be involved. 

Sign up to receive updates

Last updated: 20 July 2026