Resource library

The Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR) annually publishes data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and epidemiologic and genetic patterns in bloodstream infections in Australia, relating to three main organisms: enterococcal species, Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacteria.

Bimonthly data update 30 provides data submitted to CARAlert for the reporting period 1 September 2022 to 31 October 2022. This data is able to be used to inform, and support, the prevention and containment of antimicrobial resistance.

The LGBTQI+ version of the Australian Charter of Health Care Rights can be used by health services to promote diversity and inclusion.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has mapped the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards against the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.

This resource is for those health service organisations currently required to meet the NSQHS Standards that also intend to be accredited against the voluntary NSQDMH Standards.

This guide explains how to protect the security and stability of the data held by a digital mental health service provider, including developing a risk management framework and preparing for and managing a cyber security incident.

On 23 November 2022, the Commission released the first National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations (NSQMH Standards for CMOs).

With 1 in 5 adults experiencing a common mental health disorder in 2020-21, the standards are a significant step in providing safety and quality assurance for consumers, their families and carers.

This factsheet outlines the critical safety elements for safer insulin prescribing within the context of active ingredient prescribing. As prescriptions are generated with the active ingredient name, prescribers should check the brand name is included. Inclusion of insulin brand name supports safer product identification and selection.

Please follow this guidance to bulk enrol learners into a particular module.

This guide provides practical strategies to help digital mental health service providers develop current, comprehensive and effective policies, procedures and protocols that cover safety and quality risks and compliance with legislation and regulations.

This guide provides practical strategies to help digital mental health service providers effectively partner with service users in the governance, planning, design, measurement and evaluation of the service. 

This guide explains how digital mental health service providers should prepare for and manage clinical and technical incidents and use an open disclosure process to communicate with service users about unexpected poor health outcomes or harm.

This guide explains how digital mental health service providers should implement a charter of service users rights.

This guide provides practical guidance on how to implement the NSQDMH Standards actions relating to safeguarding privacy including developing a privacy policy, undertaking a privacy impact assessment and managing data. 

The Commission conducted an update to the National Clinical Trials Governance Framework: Literature review with evidence for nationalised ICT infrastructure.

The Commission has developed the National Safety and Quality Mental Health (NSQMH) Standards for Community Managed Organisations (CMOs) in consultation with consumers, families and carers, community managed organisations, peak bodies, healthcare providers, professional bodies, Primary Health Networks, funders and other representatives of the sector.

The NSQMH Standards for CMOs were released on 23 November 2022.

This quick reference guide is for users of the Sepsis Clinical Care Standard Indicator Monitoring Tool, a data repository, analysis and reporting tool for the Sepsis Clinical Care Standard indicators. A version of the Indicator Monitoring Tool with sample data is also available for demonstration purposes to support services using the tool.

This version of the Indicator Monitoring Tool for the Sepsis Clinical Care Standard has been populated with sample data for demonstration purposes. The Indicator Monitoring Tool is a data repository, analysis and reporting tool for the Sepsis Clinical Care Standard indicators. A Quick Reference Guide is also available to support services using the tool.

The Indicator Monitoring Tool is a data repository, analysis and reporting tool for the Sepsis Clinical Care Standard indicators. It can be used by healthcare services to capture and audit individual patient data, examine results and identify targets for improvement. A Quick Reference Guide and a demonstration version of the Indicator Monitoring Tool using sample data are available to support the use of the tool.

This self-assessment tool supports the development and monitoring of quality improvement plans for sepsis care by allowing services to assess their progress towards implementing key elements of the Sepsis Clinical Care Standard. The Sepsis Clinical Care Standard Self-Assessment Tool can be used when establishing a new sepsis program, or to support the delivery and continual improvement of an existing sepsis program. 

Presentation by Associate Professor Liz Marles at the webcast launch of the Stillbirth Clinical Care Standard on 4 November 2022. This presentation discusses how the standard can improve appropriate care for stillbirth and bereavement care. The slides can be used or adapted to explain and promote the clinical care standard in your organisation or network.

The Stillbirth Clinical Care Standard provides guidance on how to reduce preventable stillbirth, and how to offer the best bereavement care.

This infographic highlights the impact of stillbirth on Australian families and how to reduce the risk of stillbirth.

On 4 November 2022, the Commission released the first national Stillbirth Clinical Care Standard to reduce rates of stillbirth and remove the culture of silence.

The standard provides a framework for healthcare practitioners to identify stillbirth risks, communicate effectively with women about reducing risk, discuss clinical investigations after stillbirth, and provide support after perinatal loss.

The 2022 APS employee census was undertaken between 9 May and 10 June 2022.

The Annual Report 2021-22 provides an overview of our performance, governance arrangements, organisational structure and financial statements for the past financial year.

A list of members in the Topic Working Group supporting the development of the clinical care standard aiming to reduce inappropriate use of psychotropic medicines for behaviour.

Bimonthly data update 29 provides data submitted to CARAlert for the reporting period 1 July 2022 to 31 August 2022. This data is able to be used to inform, and support, the prevention and containment of antimicrobial resistance.

The Commission engaged the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) and Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI) to conduct a review of existing policies and literature, to better understand the potential safety and quality implications and solutions facing health service organisations related to climate change and the associated extreme weather events and changing patterns of disease.

The Module has been developed to apply in any healthcare setting across Australia. It leverages the organisation’s existing clinical governance framework for its implementation. It can be applied along with other national safety and quality standards with a robust clinical governance framework, such as the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards or the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.

This report provides the findings and lessons learned from the pilot study for a national retrospective medical record review examining clinical records of patients with sepsis and suspected sepsis in Australia.

This presentation provides an overview of the content of the NSQHS Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard and the resources the Commission has developed to help health service organisations meet the requirements of the Standard. You can use it to help others in your organisation understand the importance of infection prevention and control for patient safety and for their safety.