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Australia’s National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards are undergoing a once-in-a-decade review—an open public consultation led by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Submissions close 30 September 2025, making this a pivotal moment to shape the future of healthcare.
This review invites feedback on whether the current standards truly reflect what Australians expect from safe, high-quality care—and whether new or strengthened standards are needed to meet those expectations.
Why Clinical Care Standards Matter
Within the NSQHS framework sit 19 Clinical Care Standards, each designed to improve outcomes in areas where care varies or falls short. These standards:
Yet despite their importance, only three of these standards are currently mandatory for hospital accreditation.
Sepsis Australia’s Call: Make the Sepsis Standard Mandatory
While the existence of this standard is a milestone in recognising the impact of sepsis, its voluntary status means hospitals and health services are not required to implement it. The result? Inconsistent diagnosis, treatment, and support—leaving lives at risk.
We believe Australians deserve:
Sepsis Australia is using this consultation to advocate for one critical change:
Make the National Sepsis Clinical Care Standard mandatory.
Your Voice Matters
We’re inviting sepsis survivors, carers, and bereaved families to join a group submission—a collective call for action backed by lived experience.
By adding your voice, you help:
Learn more on how to participate.
Sepsis changes lives. Let’s change the story.
In December 2022, toddler Ryan Lines from Broken Hill fell critically ill with sepsis following a Strep A infection. Within days, he was in cardiac arrest and urgently flown to Adelaide for life-saving treatment. Ryan survived—but the impact was profound. He underwent multiple surgeries, including the amputation of both lower legs and several fingers. His recovery has been long and complex, but his resilience continues to inspire everyone around him.
In 2024, Ryan’s story became the heart of Broken Hill’s World Sepsis Day campaign. Led by his incredible parents, Jess and Sam, the community united to raise awareness about the signs of sepsis and the importance of early intervention. Schools, local businesses, and health services joined forces, raising close to $15,000 for sepsis awareness and research.
Posters filled shop windows, the Broken Hill Times ran a special feature, and Ryan’s journey was shared widely—reminding families to trust their instincts and seek help early.
Ryan is now a spirited toddler learning to adapt to life after sepsis, surrounded by a community that will always stand beside him. His story has sparked real change, and Broken Hill has shown what’s possible when compassion, advocacy, and local pride come together.
Since the release of Australia’s first Sepsis National Action Plan in 2017, Sepsis Australia has led a national collaboration, working in partnership with clinicians, consumers, researchers, and policymakers to elevate the national response to sepsis.
Eight years on, awareness has increased, clinical pathways have been established and resources have been developed and disseminated. These outcomes reflect the strength of a shared commitment to change.
Yet sepsis remains a leading cause of preventable death and disability in Australia. It can affect anyone, at any age, from any infection. The urgency of the issue demands continued national attention, investment, and action.
This Sepsis Awareness Month, we acknowledge the progress made—and the work still to be done. We highlight the research, education, and lived experience that continue to shape Australia’s response. And we reaffirm our commitment to a future where preventable sepsis is no longer a threat.
Ending sepsis requires coordinated effort across all levels of the health system. It requires consistent clinical standards, timely diagnosis, equitable access to care, and sustained public awareness. Above all, it requires listening to those most affected.
We invite all Australians—clinicians, policymakers, survivors, bereaved, families, and advocates—to join us in this mission.
Progress with purpose. Changing the Sepsis Story.
The Queensland Paediatric Sepsis Mortality Study, led by Dr Paula Lister, is believed to be the first population-based study of childhood sepsis deaths anywhere in the world. This pioneering research marks a major step forward in understanding the true burden of paediatric sepsis.
In March of 2024 – the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) and the Queensland Paediatric Sepsis Program at Children’s Health Queensland (CHQ) partnered to complete Australia’s first population-based study to better understand the true incidence of childhood deaths from sepsis.
The QFCC and Queensland Paediatric Sepsis Program hope this landmark study will support better identification and reporting of sepsis in children, raise awareness among parents and carers, and strengthen recognition and treatment guidelines within primary care and emergency services.
More Information: Queensland Family & Child Commission
As the National Sepsis Program Extension nears completion, significant projects have been delivered contributing to improving sepsis recognition, response, and system-wide coordination. Key achievements include the launch of the Sepsis Challenge, a national awareness campaign aimed at increasing public understanding of sepsis symptoms and urgency, and the release of a CPD-accredited Primary Care Module designed to support earlier diagnosis and management in community settings.
Looking ahead, two major initiatives are scheduled for release in July/August. The Model of Coordinated Sepsis Care and Support and a supporting Business Case detailing best practice to guide implementation by health services and evidence for investment across the health care system. In parallel, the National Sepsis Data Management Plan will establish a framework for standardised documentation, coding, reporting, and data use, supporting quality improvement, health system monitoring, and research into sepsis prevention and care.
More Information: National Sepsis Program
Through these initiatives the National Sepsis Program is supporting the implementation of priorities recommended in the Stopping Sepsis National Action Plan, the strategic framework for improving sepsis recognition, prevention, treatment and post sepsis support in Australia.
Sepsis survivor and advocate Steve Zimbler knows just how fortunate he is to be alive. While visiting family in Switzerland, Steve became critically unwell after developing sepsis in response to a still unknown infection.
“I can attest to its severity. I had never heard of sepsis before, and I credit my daughter’s quick thinking in finding an emergency medical clinic that ultimately saved my life,” he shared.
Following his recovery, Steve attended a Sepsis Australia Symposium, where he met other survivors and bereaved families. Moved by their stories, he was motivated to raise awareness in his own community. As a member of the Bentmoor Community Men’s Shed and aware of the group’s national reach, Steve saw an opportunity to start meaningful conversations about early recognition and prevention.
Steve recognised that older adults are among the most vulnerable to sepsis. “Many of our members share similar vulnerabilities,” he noted, “making community awareness all the more vital.”
The Men’s Shed shares a community centre with other groups serving older Australians, including U3A Bentleigh and the Moongala Women’s Community House. Steve coordinated a joint event with Sepsis Australia, inviting the organisation to deliver two tailored awareness sessions for members of these groups. The event included a community sausage sizzle with food donations from Woolworths and Bakers Delight, and delicious homemade food generously provided by attendees.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the value of grassroots education and peer-led advocacy.
Driven by a commitment to “spread awareness as far and wide as possible,” Steve emphasised the importance of early recognition and timely medical intervention—and the need to equip community members with the confidence to act quickly, not just for themselves but for family, friends, and neighbours.
To extend the reach beyond the event, Steve enlisted the help of Dirk de Bruyn, a retired filmmaker, university lecturer, and U3A Bentleigh member, to record the session. The presentation is now available on the digital platforms of both the Men’s Shed and U3A for wider community access.
Sepsis Australia extends heartfelt thanks to Steve for his unwavering dedication, to the Bentmoor Men’s Shed for their warm hospitality and support, and to U3A for their collaboration in sharing this vital health information.
[photo of Sepsis Survivor Stephen Zimbler (left) and Louis Ballis, Men’s Shed Guest Speaker Facilitator]
Link to presentation:
In Australia, a substantial proportion of sepsis cases originate in the community, with primary care settings such as general practice, urgent care clinics and school clinics often being the first point of contact for people experiencing its early symptoms. Yet sepsis can be difficult to recognise as early signs and symptoms often mimic conditions like influenza and gastroenteritis, leading to missed or delayed diagnosis.
Many sepsis survivors, and families who have lost loved ones to sepsis, report that during their first call for help the early signs and symptoms of sepsis were not recognised.
To strengthen the frontline response, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, The George Institute for Global Health, Sepsis Australia and Medcast launched a free online education module for primary health care professionals.
On 18 June, Medcast hosted a live webinar to launch the module and reinforce the vital role of primary care in recognising sepsis early and initiating urgent treatment.
The one-hour course is now available online, CPD-approved, and designed to support early diagnosis of community-acquired sepsis. Additional downloadable clinical resources are also provided to assist GPs and primary care teams in recognising and responding to both sepsis and post-sepsis syndrome.
Shaping Sepsis Care is a new Australian study that brings together patients, carers, and healthcare professionals to identify and rank the most important unanswered research questions about sepsis.
Led by the National Critical Care Research (NCCR) Collaboration, it is part of a new Priority Setting Partnership in conjunction with the UK’s James Lind Alliance (JLA).
The aim of Shaping Sepsis Care is to highlight research that could significantly improve sepsis treatment and patient outcomes.
The study will use surveys to determine a Top 10 list of key research priorities in sepsis care and inform the development of the Australian Sepsis Research Roadmap – a guide for researchers and funders to focus on the most impactful studies.
Survey 1 has now launched with the help of sepsis survivor AFL star Sam Taylor from the GWS Giants. Sam has told of his life-threatening experience with sepsis and has urged other survivors to help set the research agenda for sepsis in Australia.
The survey will be open until 30 August, 2025.
Over the past year, Western Australia has significantly expanded its Sepsis Program, demonstrating a strong commitment to addressing this critical health condition. This initiative encompasses several projects designed to improve sepsis care and support across the state.
Led by Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) in partnership with the WA Department of Health, a key achievement has been the statewide implementation of the Paediatric Sepsis Pathway. This whole-of-hospital framework, supported by an educational package featuring e-learning modules and workshops, aims to enhance the delivery of paediatric sepsis care across all WA hospitals. Full implementation is expected by mid-2025, ensuring a consistent standard of care for children affected by sepsis.
Further developments include a locally developed neonatal clinical deterioration and sepsis pathway that will be launched in May 2025 at the Child and Adolescent Health Service neonatal units. Maternity and Adult Sepsis Pathways are scheduled for release in 2025/2026. These pathways will extend the program’s reach, ensuring tailored care for a broader demographic.
Since 2022, the Sepsis Clinical Care Standard Audit at PCH has become an integral component of routine operations. To promote uniformity across the healthcare system, a modified version of the audit template has been provided to all other Health Service Providers (HSPs).
PCH has also collaborated closely with its Consumer Reference Group to expand its Sepsis Consumer Resources, which are now available for use by all HSPs. These resources play a vital role in supporting individuals and families impacted by sepsis, contributing to greater awareness and understanding.
Additionally, the launch of the PCH Post-Sepsis Care Program marks a significant milestone in patient support. This initiative provides comprehensive follow-up care at 3, 6, and 12 months post-discharge for children who have experienced a sepsis-related hospital admission exceeding seven days. By addressing the long-term effects of sepsis, this program ensures ongoing support for young survivors and their families across Western Australia.
These efforts collectively underscore Western Australia’s commitment to advancing sepsis care, education, and post-treatment support.
Sepsis Australia is collaborating with two prominent research collaboratives to establish national research priorities addressing both paediatric and adult sepsis. These collaborations, facilitated by the James Lind Alliance (JLA), represent a pivotal step in guiding research efforts to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders.
The project integrates the expertise and perspectives of patients, carers, and clinicians to identify critical gaps in sepsis research. Through this inclusive process, the collaborations aim to generate a ranked top 10 list of key research priorities, ensuring that future investigations are focused on areas of greatest uncertainty and impact.
This partnership highlights the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing complex healthcare challenges like sepsis. By aligning efforts nationally, the initiative seeks to advance research that will improve outcomes and enhance the quality of care for individuals affected by this life-threatening condition.
Further updates on this significant undertaking will be shared as Sepsis Australia continues to drive progress in the field of sepsis research.