NSQHS Standards (third edition) Engagement Hub

Standards help healthcare organisations establish a clinical governance framework, ensuring that systems are in place to provide high-quality care.

Standards aim to enhance the overall quality of healthcare services through continuous improvement, supported by a cycle of collecting data from regular practice, analysing data to generate new knowledge, and translating that knowledge back into improved practice as part of a learning system.

Standards aim to support health services implement robust systems to prevent harm to patients. This includes areas such as infection prevention, medication safety, managing clinical deterioration, reducing adverse events and building a culture of safety.

The implementation of Standards by health services provide assurance to patients that the organisation is committed to transparency and accountability, clear communication about health care needs and treatment options, respect their rights throughout the healthcare journey and include patients in governance and their own care.

• 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 the actions to improve cultural safety and eliminate racism in health care
• Drive greater integration of care.

The development of the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.) is part of a 10-year review cycle, to ensure they remain effective, evidence-based and responsive to the evolving and emerging needs of our patients and communities. 

The first stage of consultation opened on 9 July 2025 and closes on 30 September 2025. 

The Commission anticipates formally launching the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.) in 2028. Assessment to the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.) is scheduled to commence in 2030.

• See Timeline

The Commission is using the following tools to evaluate the standards:

• targeted consultation with technical experts and key stakeholders
• literature reviews and environmental scans
• reviewing health system and accreditation outcome data
• public consultation with the healthcare sector and consumers.

Visit our consultation page to complete a survey, make a submission or register to participate in a focus group.

Register for updates via the NSQHS Standards (third edition) subscriber list to find out how to get involved in the consultation process.

We are seeking to understand the needs of our health system and consumers, including:

• the key healthcare challenges
• how to improve quality of care and prioritise patient safety
• the emerging evidence, new evidence-based practices and approaches to safety and quality
• how to shift the focus of the NSQHS Standards, to ensure they are integrated, drive outcomes, improve performance and learning
• the barriers and enablers to implementing the NSQHS Standards and clinical governance
• the strengths and weaknesses of the current NSQHS Standards

The initial consultation opens on 9 July and closes on 30 September 2025.

Feedback gathered during the first consultation will identify key themes to inform the development of the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.).

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

You can be involved by completing the online consumer survey, joining a focus group, emailing feedback or phoning our Advice Centre. For more information, visit our Consultation webpage.

Share a link to our NSQHS Standards Engagement Hub.

Recommend they sign-up to the NSQHS Standards (third edition) subscriber list to receive updates on how to get involved in the consultation process.

There are multiple ways for healthcare professionals and health services to engage in our consultation, including an online survey for the health sector, online focus groups, in-person forums held in each state and territory, and by responding to submission questions. 

For details, visit the NSQHS Standards Consultation webpage or email the Advice Centre, advicecentre@safetyandquality.gov.au.

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

Share a link to our NSQHS Standards Engagement Hub.

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 colleague and network. 

We invite you to share information about your promotional activity with our Advice Centre, advicecentre@safetyandquality.gov.au, to help us understand who has been informed about the consultation.

NSQHS Standards Executive Steering Committee

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.

NSQHS Standards Project Advisory 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.

NSQHS Standards Project Advisory Committee Meeting 1 Communiqué

2025

Newsletter

Terms of Reference - NSQHS Standards Project Advisory Committee

2025

Other resource