National Standards
NSQHS Standards (third edition) Engagement Hub
As a national leader in safety and quality improvement, the Commission is preparing to develop the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (third edition) to improve patient care into the future.
We are seeking your input to develop national standards that support effective, high-quality and patient-centred care for all Australians.
Consultation will commence in 2025 – stay tuned for details.
Overview
As the national agency responsible for leading improvements in the safety and quality of health care, the Commission develops national standards in collaboration with the healthcare system and community representatives.
The NSQHS Standards provide a structured framework for providing high-quality care with nationally consistent systems across the continuum of care.
To incorporate new evidence-based practices, emerging evidence and contemporary clinical governance approaches, the Commission is preparing to develop the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.) in collaboration with the healthcare system and community representatives.
NSQHS Standards are designed to:
| Strengthen clinical governance | Standards help healthcare organisations establish a clinical governance framework, ensuring that systems are in place to provide high-quality care. |
|---|---|
| Improve quality of 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. |
| Prioritise patient safety | 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. |
| Build consumer trust and confidence | 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. |
Purpose
The purpose of developing the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.) 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 the actions to improve cultural safety and eliminate racism in health care
- Drive greater integration of care.
Timeline
Development of the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.) will commence in 2025 and it is anticipated they will be released in 2028.
Public Consultation
By participating in upcoming consultations, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of the NSQHS Standards.
Several broad public consultations will inform the development of the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.). The Commission will consult with key stakeholders, including the Australian Government, state and territory health departments, health services, clinicians, clinical experts, consumers, and peak and professional bodies.
The initial consultation aims to identify:
- Focus areas for the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.)
- Emerging and existing safety and quality issues
- Key learnings from the NSQHS Standards (second edition)
- Opportunities to improve the NSQHS Standards structure, support improved engagement and implementation
- Implementation resources to support the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.).
The Commission will seek feedback in several ways, including responses to short online surveys, focus groups and written submissions.
The second consultation will be on the draft NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.) and is scheduled for 2026.
Program Governance
The Commission has invited people and organisations with relevant experience and expertise to collaborate on the development of the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.). The Commission’s work is being guided by two Committees.
More on the NSQHS Standards
The NSQHS Standards are highly regarded in Australia and internationally. As well as the NSQHS Standards, the Commission manages standards in other areas, such as primary and community health care and mental health care.
Read more on the NSQHS Standards
Contact
For questions and to provide feedback on the development of the NSQHS Standards (3rd ed.), contact the Safety and Quality Advice Centre via AdviceCentre@safetyandquality.gov.au or 1800 304 056.
Stay in touch
Keep up to date with project updates, including consultation information and how you can be involved, by signing up to the NSQHS Standards (third edition) subscriber list.