Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

The Commission’s role is to lead and coordinate national improvements in the safety and quality of health care. The Commission works in partnership with the Australian Government and state and territory health systems to achieve a sustainable, safe and high-quality health system. In doing so, the Commission also works closely with patients, carers, clinicians, managers, policymakers and healthcare organisations, including those in the private sector.

Key functions of the Commission include developing national safety and quality standards, developing clinical care standards to improve the implementation of evidence-based health care, coordinating work in to improve patient outcomes, and providing information, publications and resources about safety and quality.

The Commission works in four priority areas:

1. Patient safety

2. Partnering with patients, consumers and communities

3. Quality, cost and value

4. Supporting health professionals to provide care that is informed, supported and organised to deliver safe and high-quality health care.

One of the Commission’s key programs is the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, which were developed by the Commission in collaboration with states and territories, clinical experts, patients and carers. The primary aims of the NSQHS Standards are to protect the public from harm and to improve the quality of health service provision. They provide a quality-assurance mechanism that tests whether relevant systems are in place to ensure expected standards of safety and quality are met.

The Commission is led by a Board, the members of which are appointed by the Australian Government Minister for Health in consultation with all state and territory health ministers. The Board includes members who have extensive experience and knowledge in the fields of healthcare administration, provision of health services, law, management, primary health care, corporate governance and safety and quality improvement.