About us
This page provides an overview of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) – including its purpose and accountability.
What is safety and quality?
Patient safety and quality is often summarised as the right care, in the right place, at the right time and cost. The Commission defines patient safety as prevention of error and adverse effects associated with health care; and quality as ‘the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge’.
The Commission's purpose
Our purpose is to contribute to better health outcomes and experiences for all patients and consumers, and improved value and sustainability in the health system by leading and coordinating national improvements in the safety and quality of health care.
Within this overarching purpose the Commission aims to ensure people are kept safe when they receive health care and that they receive the health care they should.
Priority areas
The Commission works in four priority areas:
- Safe delivery of health care
- Partnering with consumers
- Partnering with healthcare professionals
- Quality, value and outcomes.
The Commission's accountability
The Commission is a corporate Commonwealth entity and part of the Health portfolio of the Australian Government. As such, it is accountable to the Australian Parliament and the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler MP.
The Commission's history
In 2006, the Council of Australian Governments established the Commission to lead and coordinate national improvements in the safety and quality of health care.
The Commission commenced as an independent statutory authority on 1 July 2011, funded jointly by the Australian Government and by state and territory governments. The Commission’s role, functions and responsibilities are governed by the National Health Reform Act 2011.