Australia Establishes National Clinical Governance Committee for Digital Health
Australia has established a new National Clinical Governance Committee for Digital Health to strengthen clinical oversight and support consistent safety and quality standards as digital health technologies continue to evolve. Convened by the Australian Digital Health Agency, the committee will provide expert advice to government on areas including virtual care, telehealth and the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
The committee’s establishment was announced by the Agency and outlined in a media release, which positions the initiative as part of broader efforts to strengthen national digital health governance. The work of the committee builds on ongoing reforms aimed at improving coordination, safety and accountability across the digital health ecosystem, including initiatives discussed in Australia’s approach to simplifying digital health governance.
Strengthening clinical oversight in digital health
The National Clinical Governance Committee for Digital Health (NCGC-DH) is intended to guide the safe and effective adoption of emerging technologies across Australia’s health system. Its remit includes advising on policy, standards and practices that support clinical safety, quality improvement and workforce sustainability as digital tools become more embedded in care delivery.
“By bringing together leading voices from across the health sector, we are prioritising that the future of digital health is clinically safe, effective, and centred on the needs of all Australians.” — Amanda Cattermole PSM, CEO, Australian Digital Health Agency
According to the Agency, the committee will play an ongoing role in advising governments as digital health technologies and models of care continue to develop, ensuring clinical considerations remain central to decision-making.
Diverse membership and expert advisory groups
The NCGC-DH is chaired by the Agency’s Chief Clinical Adviser (Medicine), Dr Amandeep Hansra, and brings together clinicians, consumers, industry representatives, health technology experts and government agencies. These include the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
“Our focus is providing advice to government that is drawn from a collaborative ecosystem to ensure the benefits of digital innovation are delivered with clinical safety and quality as the guiding principle.” — Dr Amandeep Hansra, Chair, National Clinical Governance Committee for Digital Health
Supporting the committee are Expert Advisory Groups that will focus on three priority areas. These groups are designed to provide more detailed, domain-specific advice while maintaining alignment with national clinical governance objectives.
- Better and Faster Access: Advising on safe health information sharing, including use of My Health Record.
- Virtual Care and Telehealth: Addressing patient safety and quality considerations in remote and digital care models.
- Artificial Intelligence Enabled Care: Providing guidance on the safe implementation of AI in healthcare settings.
Linking clinical governance to system-wide reform
Agency Chief Program Officer Paul Creech PSM said the composition of the committee and advisory groups reflects a focus on robust clinical governance. Chairs of the Expert Advisory Groups include Dr Steve Hambleton, Dr Louise Schaper and Dr Rae Donovan, each bringing experience in clinical informatics, virtual care and digital health leadership.
The collaborative work of the committee is expected to inform how national digital health levers such as standards, conformance and ‘share by default’ are applied. These mechanisms are intended to reduce administrative burden, support the health workforce and contribute to a safer and more sustainable health system, aligning with broader priorities outlined in Australia’s digital health strategy.
Complementing existing advisory structures
The NCGC-DH expands on the Agency’s existing internal Clinical and Technical Advisory Committee, which continues to provide governance for Agency products and services. By taking a system-wide view, the new committee is intended to address the broader digital health ecosystem, including cross-jurisdictional and cross-sector considerations.
This approach reflects growing recognition that effective clinical governance is essential to realising the benefits of digital health at scale, including improved access and outcomes in regional and rural settings, as seen in initiatives such as digital health programmes supporting NSW rural healthcare.
