Resources and advisories for the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

The Commission has developed resources and advisories to assist healthcare services implement the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.

Healthcare services are responsible for understanding and complying with the latest accreditation requirements, as well as managing their assessment timeframes to achieve and maintain accreditation to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.

Resources and advisories

Fact sheets

Accreditation to the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

2026

Fact sheet

This fact sheet describes the processes and structures for accreditation to the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.

Accreditation flow chart for the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

Accreditation cycle flow chart for the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

2026

Other resource

This flow chart provides guidance on the assessment processes for accreditation to the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.

Primary and Community Healthcare Standards assessment models

Assessment models of the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

2026

Fact sheet

This fact sheet outlines the four assessment models for accreditation to the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.

Guidance on out-of-cycle assessments for primary and community healthcare services

2026

Fact sheet

This fact sheet provides guidance to primary and community healthcare services accredited to the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards on requirements for out-of-cycle assessments, when there are material changes that could increase risk of patient harm.

Using PICM for quality improvement and assessment preparation.jpg

Using PICM for quality improvement and assessment preparation - National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

2025

Fact sheet

Transitioning from the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards to the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

2022

Fact sheet

Primary and community healthcare services currently accredited to the NSQHS Standards may consider the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards are more appropriate to their service model.

Introduction to the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

2021

Fact sheet

The fact sheet aims to provide consumers with a brief introduction to the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.

Implementing the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

2021

Fact sheet

The fact sheet aims to provide health service organisations with guidance on implementing the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Health Care Standards.

Advisories

Advisory PCHS26/01: Sampling for assessments	This advisory clarifies the requirements for sampling multi-site healthcare services at assessment to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.
Advisory PCHS26/02: Advice on not applicable actions	This advisory clarifies the requirements for awarding a ‘Not applicable’ rating for actions in the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.
Advisory PCHS26/03: Notification of significant risk	This advisory clarifies the requirements for the notification of significant patient risks identified during the assessment of a healthcare service to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.
Advisory PCHS26/04: Requests for extensions and appeals	This advisory clarifies the requirements for requesting extensions and appeals for healthcare services being assessed to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.
Advisory PCHS26/05: Transitioning between accrediting agencies	This advisory clarifies the requirements for healthcare services transitioning accrediting agencies for assessment to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.
Advisory PCHS25/01: Advice on not applicable actions for private dental practices	This advisory clarifies the not applicable actions for private dental practices implementing the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.
Advisory PCHS24/01: Requirements for reprocessing of reusable medical devices in practices	This advisory describes the minimum requirements for complying with Action 3.13 of the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.
Transitioning from AS/NZS 4815:2006 to AS 5369:2023	This resource was developed to assist in conducting a gap analysis to identify key changes and updated requirements between AS/NZS 4815:2006 and AS 5369:2023.

Guides

The Commission has developed the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards Guide for Healthcare Services (the Guide) to provide support for healthcare services implementing the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards. The Guide includes practical guidance and examples of evidence that can be used to implement the actions in a way that is appropriate to the healthcare service.

The title page for the Guide for Healthcare Services implementing the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards Guide for Healthcare Services

2024

Guide, user guide or guidelines

Monitoring tool

This tool has been developed to specifically support services intending to transition from implementation of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards 2nd edition to implementation of the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards. It should be used together with the relevant NSQHS Standards guide and the Accreditation Workbook, available on the Commission’s website.

Primary and Community Health Care Standards Monitoring Tool

2022

Tool or template

Mapping resources

These documents map the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards to other National Safety and Quality Standards to assist healthcare services who are already accredited to implement the relevant actions.

Map of National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (second edition)

This document maps the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards with the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards (Primary and Community Healthcare Standards). The purpose of the document is to assist healthcare services who are already assessed to the NSQHS Standards to implement the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.

An image of a fact sheet mapping the NSQHS Standards to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

Map of the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards with matching National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (second edition) actions

2024

Fact sheet

Map of National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (first edition)

This document maps the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards first edition with the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards (Primary and Community Healthcare Standards). The purpose of the document is to assist healthcare services who are already assessed to the NSQHS Standards first edition to implement the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards.

An image of a resource mapping the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards to the NSQHS Standards (first edition)

Map of National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (first edition) to the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

2024

Fact sheet

Contact us

For questions and feedback on the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards please contact the Safety and Quality Advice Centre via AdviceCentre@safetyandquality.gov.au or 1800 304 056.

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Resources and advisories for the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards

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