The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has announced it will develop Australia’s first national safety and quality standards for virtual care, marking a significant step towards strengthening the governance of digitally delivered healthcare.

Commissioned by the Australian Government, the standards will establish nationally consistent expectations for safe, high-quality virtual care across hospitals, primary care, community health services and commercial healthcare providers. The initiative reflects the growing role of virtual care in Australia’s health system, with more than 11 million Australians accessing telehealth consultations during 2025.

Strengthening Clinical Governance for Digital Care

The new standards will form part of a broader national approach to clinical governance, providing healthcare organisations with clear guidance on the leadership, systems and culture needed to deliver safe, high-quality virtual care. They will build on the Commission’s recently released National Model for Clinical Governance, ensuring that expectations for quality and patient safety remain consistent regardless of whether care is delivered in person or remotely.

According to the Commission, the standards will be developed in collaboration with the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the Australian Digital Health Agency, clinicians, consumers and industry representatives to reflect best practice and support Australia’s National Digital Health Infrastructure.

A Growing Global Priority

As countries continue to embed virtual care into routine healthcare delivery, the development of nationally consistent quality standards represents an important milestone for digital health governance. The Australian framework aims to provide greater assurance for patients while supporting healthcare providers to deliver safe, effective and equitable virtual care across a range of settings.

The Australian Government has endorsed the initiative, emphasising that Australians should expect the same standards of safety and quality whether receiving care face-to-face or through virtual services.

The Commission expects to publish the national virtual care standards by the end of 2027.

Learn More

For further information, visit the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care’s Virtual Care page:
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/virtual-care