National Standards
Resources for the NSQHS Standards
The Commission has developed resources to assist health service organisations align their patient safety and quality improvement programs using the framework of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.
New Guide for Ambulance Health Services
The National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Guide for Ambulance Health Services was developed with a broad range of industry experts to interpret the NSQHS Standards for ambulance health services implementing the Standards.
2024Guide, user guide or guidelines
2024Fact sheet or brochure
Download the NSQHS Standards
The second edition of the NSQHS Standards was endorsed by Health Ministers in June 2017, released in November 2017 and updated in May 2021. This document contains the NSQHS Standards, criteria and actions. The Commission has not printed hard copies of this booklet.
Summary of advisories, fact sheets and guides
This page summarises links between NSQHS Standards advisories, fact sheets and primary NSQHS Standards actions. It outlines the intent, timeframes and requirements for health service organisations. The referenced dates relate to the most current published versions. Version control cannot be guaranteed when this document is printed.
User guides
The user guides are designed to support health service organisations improve the safety and quality of care they provide by using the NSQHS Standards as a framework for improvement. The Commission has not printed hard copies of these user guides.
Workbooks, risk matrices and monitoring tools
Advisories
An NSQHS Standards advisory is a formal communication from the Commission to accrediting agencies to provide guidance and direction on the interpretation and/or assessment of the NSQHS Standards. The NSQHS Standards advisories are routinely reviewed to ensure they remain current. Any changes to any advisory are summarised in the notes section of the advisory’s cover sheet.
Fact sheets
AHSSQA Scheme
National Model Clinical Governance Framework
Medication management in cancer care
Impact of the NSQHS Standards
The Commission produced the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Impact Report to provide an overview of the changes associated with implementation of the first edition of the NSQHS Standards; a ground-breaking initiative that has improved the safety and quality of health care across Australia. The report identifies areas where improvements have been made, as well as where further work is needed.
Mapping of the first and second editions
This document maps the actions from the first edition of the NSQHS Standards to the second edition. Some actions from the first edition map to more than one action in the second edition, and some second edition actions have new components and actions from the first edition. There are 50 new actions in the second edition.
Live literature searches
The live literature searches can be used to find evidence to support best practice in line with Australian National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
Other reports and literature reviews
Private dental practices
From 1 May 2024, accreditation for private dental practices transitioned to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards. Prior to this, practices have been assessed against the first edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.
A range of resources are available here to support practices to prepare for accreditation.
NSQHS Standards First Edition: Fact Sheets, Advisories and Guides
Note these are historical resources which are no longer active.