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 as digital technologies become more embedded in healthcare delivery. Convened by the Australian Digital Health Agency, the committee is intended to support consistent safety and quality standards across areas such as virtual care, telehealth and artificial intelligence. Details of the announcement were outlined in a statement from the Agency.
The National Clinical Governance Committee for Digital Health, known as NCGC-DH, will provide advice to government and guide policy development as new digital health capabilities are introduced. Its remit reflects broader efforts to improve national coordination and oversight, building on reforms discussed in work to simplify digital health governance across Australia’s health system.
Strengthening clinical oversight in digital health
According to the Agency, the committee has been formed to ensure that safety, quality and clinical effectiveness remain central as digital health technologies evolve. Agency Chief Executive Officer Amanda Cattermole PSM described the committee as an important step in supporting safe and effective adoption across the sector.
“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, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Digital Health Agency
Ms Cattermole said the committee would play a key role in advising government and shaping policy and practice as technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual models of care continue to expand.
Broad representation through expert advisory groups
The NCGC-DH is chaired by the Agency’s Chief Clinical Adviser (Medicine), Dr Amandeep Hansra, and is supported by a series of Expert Advisory Groups. These groups are designed to bring together clinicians, consumers, industry representatives, health technology specialists and relevant government bodies.
“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
Dr Hansra noted that the advisory groups will include participation from organisations such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, helping to align clinical governance across the digital health ecosystem.
Priority focus areas
The Expert Advisory Groups will concentrate on three defined areas where digital technologies are having a growing impact on care delivery:
- Better and Faster Access: advice on safe sharing of health information, including use of My Health Record.
- Virtual Care and Telehealth: guidance on patient safety and quality in remote and digitally enabled care.
- Artificial Intelligence Enabled Care: advice on the safe implementation of AI in healthcare settings.
Supporting a safer and more sustainable health system
Agency Chief Program Officer Paul Creech PSM said the chairs appointed to each advisory group reflect a focus on robust clinical governance. He highlighted the role the committee will play in shaping how national digital health settings, standards and conformance requirements are applied.
This work is expected to support the health workforce by reducing administrative burden and improving interoperability, aligning with broader national objectives outlined in Australia’s digital health strategy. It also complements practical initiatives already improving service delivery, including programs strengthening access to care in regional and rural communities, as seen in NSW rural healthcare settings.
The Agency said the new committee expands on its existing internal Clinical and Technical Advisory Committee, which will continue to provide clinical governance for Agency products and services, while the NCGC-DH addresses the wider digital health landscape.
