The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) is conducting a preliminary assessment of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard (2020). The purpose of the review is to assess whether the 2020 standard still reflects current clinical best practice and focuses on areas needing improvement. Public and clinician feedback survey closes on Friday, 30 October 2026. Clinicians, quality managers, and clinical/service leaders working in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) across all care settings (hospitals, emergency services, general practice, primary/community […]

The Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) is inviting those working in Aged Care to participate in a short survey to help evaluation the Aged Care Community of Practice (CoP) and the resources available to support infection prevention and control (IPC). Over the past three years, the College’s CoP has continued to grow and expand. Participation in the survey will help ACIPC understand what is most valuable to the sector, identify opportunities for improvement and determine future priorities […]

From 1 October 2026, Australia’s COVID-19 vaccines transitioned from the universal National COVID-19 Vaccine Program (NCVP) to the National Immunisation Program (NIP). Free-funded vaccines are no longer universal and are now restricted to specific Medicare-eligible high-risk groups who are: Adults aged 75 years and over: 1 dose every 6 months (two funded doses per year) Adults aged 65 to 74 years: 1 dose every 12 months Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 to 74 years: 1 dose every […]

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) has released a new suite of infection prevention and control posters to support aged care staff with practical guidance on standard and transmission-based precautions at the point of care. Designed for residential, home and community-based aged care settings, the posters help staff apply IPC practices consistently and reduce the risk of infection transmission. The suite includes: ▪️ Standard Precautions ▪️ Contact Precautions ▪️ Respiratory Precautions ▪️ Respiratory Precautions with […]

Public consultation on the revised clinical practice recommendations and new good practice statements closed on 29 September 2026. Feedback is now being reviewed to inform the next edition of the Guidelines, expected to be published in August 2027. The new and revised Clinical Practice Recommendations can be found at https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/resources/new-and-revised-clinical-practice-recommendations-consultation-australian-guidelines-prevention-and-control-infection-healthcare

World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign to raise awareness and increase understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to promote global action to tackle the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections. WAAW is observed annually from 18 to 24 November. The theme for WAAW 2026 is: “One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now”. World AMR Awareness Week 2026 shines a spotlight on this shared responsibility. he campaign calls on everyone to do their part, recognizing that the health […]

IPC Week 2026 will be held from 18 to 24 October. This year’s theme Past, Present, Prepared for the future recognises the progress that has been and continues to be made in IPC, reinforces the importance of IPC practice everyday, and highlights the collective role in protecting consumers and healthcare workers into the future. To help you prepare, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care will be releasing resources shortly. To find out more about the theme […]

The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has announced that COVID-19 vaccines will transition to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) from 1 October 2026, replacing the stand-alone National COVID-19 Vaccine Program (NCVP) established during the Australia’s pandemic response. Under the NIP, eligibility for funded COVID-19 vaccines will change, with free COVID-19 vaccines available only to people at highest risk of severe disease: all adults aged 75 years and over (one dose every 6 months) adults aged 65–74 years […]

In July, the Commission will release the initial draft of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (third edition). Shaped by extensive sector-wide feedback, the draft reflects best practice evidence and responds to current healthcare realities, as well as emerging challenges and issues. This is your opportunity to contribute to improvements in patient safety and the delivery of high-quality care across Australia. You can provide feedback on the draft Standards by completing an online survey or written submission. […]

World Health Organization Guideline Development Groups for both the peripheral intravascular catheter guidelines and the central venous catheter/CLABSI prevention guidelines were launched on 11 June 2026. The WHO Guidelines for the Prevention of Bloodstream Infections and Other Infections Associated with the Use of Intravascular Catheters (Parts 1 & 2) were developed through a rigorous process involving international experts, evidence reviews, and the GRADE methodology. These guidelines provide an important global framework for preventing bloodstream infections and other infections associated with […]