Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
ACSQHC
1 January 2006 – present
Leads and coordinates national improvements in the safety and quality of health care, developing the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, clinical care standards and the Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation.
How it came into existence
Established on 1 January 2006 by Australian health ministers under Council of Australian Governments arrangements, replacing the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care; it initially operated as a non-statutory body jointly funded by all governments.
- National leadership on patient safety and quality
Legislation: National Health Reform Act 2011
Changes during its life
- 1 July 2011Became an independent statutory body corporate under the National Health and Hospitals Network Act 2011, later renamed the National Health Reform Act 2011.
- Staff and some health care performance reporting work
The former NHPA chief executive reported that NHPA reporting staff moved to the AIHW and the Commission; which functions came to the Commission is not confirmed.
Main functions
- National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
- Accreditation scheme for health services
- Clinical care standards
- Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation
- Medication safety and infection control programs
- Advice to health ministers on safety and quality
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
- Type of body
- Corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Health, Disability and Ageing
- Accountable authority
- Commission Board – National Health Reform Act 2011 sections 8, 17-19 with reference to section 26
- ABN
- 97 250 687 371
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))