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Auditor training and validation – NHHI

The Commission has developed new training pathways for Hand Hygiene Auditors (previously called General Auditors) and Hand Hygiene Auditor Educators (previously called Gold Standard Auditors). 

National hand hygiene audit data - latest data now available

Hand hygiene is an essential element of infection prevention and control practice and one of the easiest activities to undertake, with appropriate guidance.

Hand hygiene compliance is assessed against a national benchmark set by the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council; the current national benchmark is 80%. There are three national hand hygiene audits conducted each year. The latest report on audit data for the period November 2022 to March 2023 is now available. 

NHHI - frequently asked questions

Responses have been prepared to frequently asked questions (FAQs) to support auditing and other aspects of implementation of the National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI). 

Please let us know if you have further questions to include.

National audits and HHCApp – NHHI

Data on hand hygiene compliance are collected by states and territories for all public health service organisations, and by many private health service organisations, and reported nationally three times per year for the National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI). 

National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) Learning Management System (LMS)

The National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) Learning Management System (LMS) hosts a suite of online learning modules designed to support healthcare workers' education on hand hygiene practices, hand hygiene auditor training, and infection prevention and control across health service organisations. 

National Hand Hygiene Initiative Implementation Guide

The National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) Implementation Guide is designed to help health service organisations to implement and manage their hand hygiene program and to meet the requirements of relevant national standards.

Audit tools – NHHI

There are a number of tools available to support hand hygiene auditing in acute and non-acute healthcare settings.

National Hand Hygiene Initiative - Audit Requirements

Hand hygiene compliance auditing is conducted to assess the effectiveness of hand hygiene programs in Australia, as part of the National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI). Hand hygiene compliance is assessed across both public and private Australian hospitals, consistent with AHMAC endorsed benchmark of 80 per cent.

5 Moments for Hand Hygiene

The 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene approach was designed by the World Health Organization to minimise the risk of transmission of microorganisms between a healthcare worker, the patient, and the environment.

Alcohol-based hand rubs

Alcohol-based hand rub is the recommended product for hand hygiene in healthcare settings when hands are visibly clean. 

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