AURA 2023 includes data and analyses from 2020–2022 (primarily 2020–2021) from various sources and reports on patterns and trends in antimicrobial use and appropriateness and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Australian acute and community healthcare settings.

This complete version of the Opioid Analgesic Stewardship in Acute Pain Clinical Care Standard describes what each quality statement means for patients and their families, clinicians, and health service organisations, and provides indicators for local monitoring. It includes information about using clinical care standards, and the background and evidence sources for this standard.

This issue includes items on medical devices, antimicrobial resistance, insulin, menopause, medicine safety, value, sepsis, and more. Along with the latest from BMJ Quality & Safety, Healthcare Policy, Public Health Research & Practice, Journal of Primary Health Care and the International Journal for Quality in Health Care. Also included is the latest from the UK’s NHS and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the USA’s Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

The Commission is seeking a full-time, non-ongoing APS5 Administration and Procurement Officer, Medicines Safety and Quality. This role is non-ongoing for a period of 18 months with the possibility of extension. 

Information on this vacancy and how to apply can be found in the link below. Applications for this role will close 11.59pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Monday 6 April 2026.

Questions about the role can be directed to Sankit Lalseta (02) 7232 6225.

This issue includes items on digital health, cancer care, dementia, long term care, antimicrobials, medicines safety, medical devices and more. Along with the latest from BMJ Quality & Safety, Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, JBI Evidence Synthesis, and the International Journal for Quality in Health Care. Also included is the latest from the TGA, the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the OECD.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, in consultation with the National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC), advises of an amendment to the language in Action 1.01 of the Requirements for Medical Testing for Human Genetic Variation.

The wording of Action 1.01 has been amended to clarify intent and improve consistency.

The amendment recognises nurse practitioners and midwives as providers of referrals for medical human genetic testing to accredited laboratories.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, in consultation with the National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC), advises of an amendment to the confirmatory testing for HIV and HCV of the Requirements for laboratory testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).

The amendment is to support:

To provides users with updated information on reflective questions and examples of evidence for the 2021 Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard.