The Cook Government has announced a significant new health initiative, providing free respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccinations to older West Australians residing in aged care homes. This $2.6 million program, set to commence in mid-May, aims to protect approximately 15,000 residents this year, bolstering their health during the winter months. For the first time, the Arexvy® RSV vaccine, which typically costs around $300 privately, will be made available at no cost to all people aged 65 and over in residential […]

Residential aged care homes no longer need to report COVID-19 outbreaks, cases and deaths through the COVID Support Portal. Government supports, strong vaccination practices and improved infection prevention control mean the sector is better prepared to manage COVID outbreaks. The COVID-19 reporting link will be removed from the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal in late February

Standards Australia has released the Amendment No. 1 for AS/NZS 5369:2023 which will primarily affect Australian office-based practices using Type B or some Type S cycle small steam sterilisers (chamber less than 60 litres). The key change in the amendment is a revision to the terminology regarding the daily test requirement for moist heat sterilisation load monitoring. References to “Bowie and Dick-type test” have been replaced with “air removal and steam penetration test”. For dental, medical, allied health and other […]

The 2025 update of Infection Prevention and Control in Endoscopy was developed in partnership by GESA and GENCA.  A multidisciplinary committee of representatives from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TCANZ) , Australasian College of Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC), Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) and Federation of Sterilizing Research and Advisory Councils of Australia (FSRACA) collaborated on this project.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care(ACSQHC) is preparing to develop the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (third edition) in collaboration with the healthcare system and community representatives. The NSQHS Standards provide a structured framework for providing high-quality care with nationally consistent systems across the continuum of care. Broad public consultations will be commencing soon to inform the development of the NSQHS Standards (third edition). To stay informed about the project and consultation process, […]

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency affecting 55,000 Australians each year and causing over 8,700 deaths. Early recognition and timely intervention are critical, but recognising and responding to sepsis in primary care can be challenging. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, in partnership with The George Institute for Global Health, Sepsis Australia and Medcast has developed an online education module for primary health professionals. This free one hour, CPD approved course features three interactive case studies […]

ACORN invites you to provide feedback on drafts of Visitors to the perioperative environment and Perioperative team communication (formerly Surgical safety). Perioperative professionals, stakeholders, and interested contributors are invited to review the drafts and share their feedback during the designated consultation periods. Consultation open: 7 April – 18 May 2025 This draft standard outlines recommended practices and considerations for managing visitors – such as students, observers and medical company representatives – in perioperative areas, ensuring safety and minimising disruptions. https://www.acorn.org.au/the-oak-may-2025

A Hamilton, Ontario dental clinic is under scrutiny after Hamilton Public Health Services (HPHS) discovered that patients may have been exposed to improperly sterilised instruments over a period spanning nearly six years, from 25 July 2019 to 20 February 2025 . The investigation launched on 20 February, prompted by a patient complaint, revealed inadequate reprocessing practices and insufficient documentation to confirm proper sterilisation procedures. Although the clinic has since implemented corrective measures and as of 24 February 2025, complies with […]

GESA and GENCA are encouraging you to provide feedback on the revised Infection Prevention and Control in Endoscopy (IPCE) clinical resource draft 2025. The IPCE Steering Committee has revised the current version (last updated in 2021). Please review the draft and provide feedback in the form below: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=HcEJNqQhmU-6CKGnli8H70Xp37uT2PtChJPUOK6Mw9hURTQ4RExSUVpIRzhZVU9LN1VWTE81NEpEOC4u Consultation will close 3pm Thursday 24 April.  All feedback will be considered by the Steering Committee.

The Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) is calling for the consistent use of particulate filter respirators (PFRs), not surgical masks, in healthcare environments where COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed. In its latest position statement, the use of particulate filter respirators (PFR) masks for the management of COVID-19 in healthcare settings, ACIPC challenges current Australian IPC guidelines, which recommend surgical masks as standard PPE. Evidence confirms that COVID-19 is transmitted through both droplets and airborne particles, especially in […]