Sepsis is life threatening…if concerned, seek advice immediately and ask #coulditbesepsis?
Get help
For years, Australia has faced persistent challenges in capturing accurate sepsis data, including inconsistent diagnosis documentation, complex coding and no centralised reporting which has resulted in chronic underreporting.
These issues are not unique to Australia, documentation and data limitations are a global concern, affecting efforts to track and respond to the growing burden of sepsis, thereby hindering efforts to reduce the impact of sepsis worldwide.
Between 2020 and 2025, a series of projects were undertaken to address these challenges. Delivered through the National Sepsis Program (NSP) (2020-2022) and NSP Extension (NSPE) (2023-2025) these initiatives responded directly to the Stopping Sepsis National Action Plan (SSNAP) priorities. They represent an important step toward improving prevention, quality of care and post sepsis support, and the accuracy, consistency, and utility of sepsis data in Australia to provide a strong foundation for future system-wide improvements.
The Initial Data Scoping and Coding Review Project was one of the first projects to review how sepsis was being recorded in public hospitals. This review looked at clinical documentation and coding practices across Australia and confirmed that many cases of sepsis were not being counted in national data.
Although sepsis has its own diagnostic codes, those codes are only applied if the word “sepsis” is clearly written in the patient’s medical record. If clinicians describe symptoms like infection or organ failure without naming sepsis directly, coders may not be able to apply the correct code, leaving sepsis cases out of national statistics.
The review confirmed that inconsistent documentation and coding were contributing to underreporting. These findings helped shape later projects, including identification of a national minimum dataset and a data management plan to improve how sepsis is tracked and reported across the health system.
This initial data scoping helped clarify the extent of the problem and highlighted the need for national alignment.
The Sepsis Clinical Care Standard (SCCS) (2022) was delivered by the first NSP and has been a transformative step in terms of improving the coordination, consistency and timeliness of care nationally, for people with sepsis.
As a key achievement of the program, the SCCS plays a central role in delivering the SSNAP, translating national priorities into clear, measurable expectations for health services, clinicians and consumers. It provides a consistent framework to guide improvement, support early recognition and treatment, and enable benchmarking across Australia’s health system.
The SCCS comprises quality statements, requirements for health services and clinical practice, aspects of sepsis care that consumers should expect and indicators used to measure progress and inform quality improvement initiatives. Accurate collection and evaluation of indicators rely on consistent data collection, coding and reporting.
The NSPE included several projects to support health service implementation of the SCCS, including data projects to build on the foundational work of earlier NSP. These projects uncovered critical insights that have shaped national understanding of sepsis and informed future directions for care, coding, and policy. Together, they informed Australia’s first comprehensive national report on sepsis, the Sepsis Epidemiology Report– and laid the groundwork for more consistent and comprehensive data collection.
One of the discreet projects was the identification of a Minimum Dataset, which defines a core set of data elements for national benchmarking. Aligned with the SCCS, this dataset supports consistent measurement and quality improvement across health services.
Additional data quality improvement analysis examined the barriers to accurate sepsis reporting. These included inconsistent clinical definitions, variable documentation practices, and limitations in how sepsis is coded. The findings contributed to proposed reforms to coding standards and clinician education, essential steps toward improving the reliability of national data.
The NSPE Sepsis Epidemiology Report (2025), the most detailed national analysis of sepsis hospitalisations to date, represents a key outcome of Australia’s commitment to improving sepsis data and stands to be highly influential in shaping future policy, practice, and system-wide responses. Drawing on 10 years of public hospital data (2013–14 to 2022–23) and using explicit ICD-10-AM codes, the report revealed that:
The report was based on an analysis of more than 900,000 hospitalisations for sepsis in Australian public hospitals. It is the most comprehensive analysis to date of sepsis prevalence, outcomes and risk factors.
In parallel, the data research work progressed on the National Sepsis Data Management Plan, a strategic guide for consistent sepsis data collection, coding, and reporting across jurisdictions. When released, it will provide a national framework to support improved surveillance, enable better clinical decision-making, and strengthen the evidence base for future investment.
Without reliable, evidence-based statistics, it is difficult to assess the full impact of sepsis or to implement targeted, measurable improvements.
For many Australians, surviving sepsis is just the beginning. Long after discharge, survivors often face a complex and poorly understood set of challenges that may be not only physical but also include a range of health issues such as fatigue, cognitive changes, anxiety, chronic pain, and reduced quality of life. This cluster of ongoing symptoms, known as post-sepsis syndrome, affects up to 50% of survivors and can persist for months or even years.
Those bereaved by sepsis are left with trauma that deeply impacts their lives, often without adequate support.
As part of the NSPE (2023–2025) a suite of initiatives to improve post-sepsis care and support for survivors and families was delivered.
These initiatives were co-designed with survivors, clinicians, and carers, ensuring they reflect lived experience and frontline realities. They also respond directly to the Stopping Sepsis National Action Plan’s (SSNAP) call to “support people affected by sepsis,” recognising that recovery is not just physical, it’s emotional, social, and financial.
Initiative One: A National Model of Coordinated Sepsis Care
Outlines essential components for coordinated survivor-centred care across the sepsis journey, from acute treatment to long-term recovery. The framework is designed to guide change by outlining the elements, activities, and behaviours required across transitions of care to coordinate and address post-sepsis support.
Initiative Two: A Business Case for Investment
Presents the economic and clinical rationale for sustained implementation of system-wide support services for people recovering from sepsis, their families, and families bereaved by sepsis. It demonstrates the benefits of investing in coordinated care after hospital discharge on health outcomes, reducing avoidable hospital demand and economic saving, supporting the case for national investment. By backing survivor needs with data, the Australian health system can plan better services, reduce long-term costs, and deliver more consistent support across Australia.
Initiative Three: Implementation Resources
Developed to guide health services in embedding consistent, high-quality follow-up care. Two key resources support the Post-Sepsis Model of Care Framework under the National Sepsis Program Extension:
Resource 1: Coordination of Care and Post-Sepsis Support – Interactive PDF
Resource 2: Supporting Evidence and Implementation Ideas
Together, the outcomes of these projects aim to improve recovery and support for sepsis survivors and their families, and for those bereaved by promoting coordinated, compassionate, and evidence-informed care. This work advances the SSNAP and reinforces the commitment to ensuring survivors are not left behind. Their journey of adapting to life after sepsis must be supported through embedded post-sepsis care that is both responsive and sustainable.
Importantly, these initiatives also make a significant contribution to the SEPSIS SUPPORT Research Program. This program builds on the foundation of current work to operationalise, pilot, and evaluate post-sepsis support services—further enabling implementation of a Model of Care and its principles of best practice. The research is currently underway, and there is still an opportunity to be involved by participating in the survey.
Sepsis awareness in Australia has been driven by Sepsis Australia through a combination of ongoing awareness activities and promotions, a national strategy and grassroots advocacy. Sepsis Australia in collaboration with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care delivered targeted campaigns such as “Could It Be Sepsis?”, clinical education modules, and public-facing resources to improve early recognition and response.
These efforts aim to embed awareness across hospitals, primary care, and community settings, ensuring that both clinicians and consumers understand the urgency of sepsis and the importance of timely treatment.
Now, with the release of the NSPE Sepsis Epidemiology Report (2025), the most detailed national analysis of sepsis hospitalisations to date, the urgency is reinforced by robust and contemporary data. The report confirms sepsis as a major contributor to mortality and morbidity in Australia, underscoring the imperative for sustained, system-wide action.
The report provides a more accurate picture of the condition’s burden in Australia reveals a significantly higher burden than previously understood. In 2022–23, more than 84,000 Australians were hospitalised with sepsis and over 12,000 died, a sharp increase from previous estimates of 55,000 cases and 7,400 deaths annually.
Sepsis symptoms such as fever, confusion, rapid breathing, and extreme discomfort often overlap with those of common illnesses like influenza or viral infections. This similarity can lead to misinterpretation and delays in seeking appropriate care. Improving awareness is essential, as early recognition is associated with reduced mortality, lower morbidity, and improved treatment outcomes.
The term “sepsis” itself is not widely understood, and its symptoms are not unique to the condition. However, the combination of symptoms, along with how effectively individuals or their carers can describe their experience or communicate urgency, can significantly influence clinical response.
Awareness efforts aim to ensure that all individuals understand that sepsis can affect anyone, at any time, triggered by any infection. While certain populations may be at higher risk, the condition is not limited to these groups. Providing people with the knowledge and confidence to ask appropriate questions when seriously unwell is a key component of improving recognition and response.
Awareness is a central focus of the Stopping Sepsis National Action Plan (SSNAP), which identifies public and clinical education as critical to improving early detection, timely treatment, and equitable care across the health system.
Addressing this central to the SSNAP and the National Sepsis Program and Program Extension delivered programs of worked dedicated specifically to public awareness.
Program One: The Could It Be Sepsis? public awareness campaign, developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, aims to improve early recognition of sepsis by encouraging individuals and clinicians to consider sepsis when someone is seriously unwell. By prompting people to ask “Could it be sepsis?”, the campaign seeks to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment, which are critical to improving survival and recovery outcomes.
As part of the National Sepsis Program, the campaign includes social media assets, posters, videos, and clinical prompts designed for use across hospitals, primary care, and community settings. In addition to aligning with the SSNAP the campaign supports the Sepsis Clinical Care Standard’s key strategy to reduce preventable harm. The campaign reinforces that anyone can develop sepsis from any infection, and that informed questioning, and escalation can make a life-saving difference.
Program Two: The National Sepsis Program Extension launched the Tongue Twister Sepsis Challenge for World Sepsis Day 2024. This was national social media campaign led by Sepsis Australia designed to raise public awareness of sepsis in a fresh and engaging way. Centred around the phrase “I’m sepsis susceptible and susceptible to sepsis,” the challenge invited Australians to record themselves attempting the tongue twister and share it online using the hashtag #SepsisChallenge.
The campaign’s purpose was to increase recognition of the word “sepsis,” educate the public about its symptoms, and encourage people to ask the critical question: “Could it be sepsis?” especially when unwell but unsure why and concerned for self or family.
The challenge successfully amplified awareness efforts, generating thousands of views and shares across social media. It also helped normalise the use of the word “sepsis” in everyday conversation—an important step in improving early recognition and response.
Sepsis Australia, in alignment with the SSNAP, continues to prioritise public awareness as a core action in Australia’s national response to sepsis. Awareness raising is critical for consumers, as early recognition and timely escalation can significantly improve outcomes. The importance of this work is underscored by countless anecdotal accounts from survivors and bereaved families who reflect that, had they known more about sepsis, its symptoms, urgency, and risks, they might have asked different questions, sought care sooner, or avoided long-term impacts. These lived experiences reinforce the need for sustained, system-wide education that empowers individuals to recognise when something feels seriously wrong and to ask, “Could it be sepsis?” Awareness is not just a campaign; it is a life-saving strategy which should be embedded in national policy.
Early recognition and timely response are at the core of the Stopping Sepsis National Action Plan (SSNAP), and the National Sepsis Program and Program Extension have delivered a coordinated suite of projects that directly advance these goals, improving clinical capability, public awareness, and system-wide consistency.
These projects, developed through collaboration between Sepsis Australia, The George Institute, and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, provide practical tools and frameworks for clinicians, consumers, and health services.
Primary Care Sepsis Training Module
Primary health care professionals are often the first point of contact for patients with early signs of sepsis. Their ability to recognise and escalate care is critical to improving outcomes. Launched in 2025, a free online course, developed with Sepsis Australia, The George Institute, and Medcast offers case studies and downloadable tools to support earlier diagnosis and escalation in primary care.
Sepsis Awareness
A national awareness campaign and kit were developed to help consumers identify sepsis symptoms and seek care promptly. These resources also include information for clinicians and healthcare workers, supporting the SSNAP’s focus on public education and workforce capability.
Released in 2022, the standard outlines seven quality statements for best-practice care from acute presentation through to survivorship. It promotes consistent, evidence-based care across health services.
Model of Coordinated Sepsis Care and Support
Scheduled for release in late 2025, this framework will guide health services in implementing best-practice sepsis care. It includes a business case for investment and supports the SSNAP’s emphasis on coordinated, sustainable reform.
National Sepsis Data Management Plan
While the final plan is still in development, foundational projects have delivered tools to support consistent data collection and reporting. These outputs will inform the national plan and provide an evidence base for future decision-making.
Each initiative aligns with the SSNAP’s strategic priorities from early recognition and public awareness to system coordination and support for survivors and the bereaved. The partnership between Sepsis Australia, The George Institute, and the Commission has delivered measurable progress and established a foundation for long-term reform.
These efforts contribute to a more consistent and responsive health system, one that is better equipped to recognise sepsis early, act appropriately, and support those impacted.
Wedding dresses are often worn once, then carefully stored away, preserved in boxes and remembered through photos and stories. But for a group of women committed to making a difference, these dresses became part of something more.
Held in Perth, Love and Lace – A Vintage Wedding Dress Story, showcased decades of bridal fashion and personal history. Curated as a fundraising initiative, the event invited women to share their wedding gowns — giving each dress a second life and raising funds for Sepsis Australia. Visitors came to appreciate the changing styles, craftsmanship, and stories behind the gowns, while contributors had the opportunity to revisit meaningful memories and support a cause with lasting impact.
Funds raised through the exhibit were donated to Sepsis Australia, driven by a shared commitment to raising awareness of this time-critical condition. Committee member Lynda Rose’s family experience — her daughter’s survival with life-altering injuries and the loss of her unborn grandchild — deeply affected those involved. The initiative became a way for the group to support Lynda and ensure that more people understand the risks and signs of sepsis. With support from fellow committee members, the exhibit brought together personal stories, community generosity, and a clear message: sepsis awareness matters.
This initiative also gave wedding dresses a renewed purpose. Garments once chosen to symbolise love were shared again to support improved awareness and response to sepsis. In doing so, the exhibit connected memory with meaning, and fashion with fundraising, in service of a vital cause.
GSA Engages in NCDs and AMR Discussions at #WorldHealthSummit Side Events
On October 13, Prof. Konrad Reinhart, GSA Founding President and President of the Sepsis Stiftung, will join a panel of experts at an event organized on the side of the World Health Summit by the Infectious Disease Alliance (IDA) and co-hosted by organizations including FIND, UNICEF, Amref Health Africa, and the Global Sepsis Alliance.
At “Breaking the Silos: Primary Healthcare as the Bridge between NCDs and IDs”, Prof. Reinhart will highlight the strong link between non-communicable diseases and #sepsis, emphasizing the need to integrate early sepsis detection and treatment into primary healthcare strategies.
The panel will be co-moderated by Simone Mancini, GSA Partnership Lead and Coordinator of the Regional Sepsis Alliances.
📅 Oct 13, 2025 | 07:00–09:30 CEST
📍 Tuechtig – Raum für Inklusion, Berlin
On October 14, Simone Mancini will intervene at the event “Push, Pull, Partner: Building a Global AMR Incentive Ecosystem”, addressing the synergies and paradoxes between sepsis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
📅 Oct 14, 2025 | 09:30–11:30 CEST
📍 Tuechtig – Raum für Inklusion, Berlin
Full program & free registration:
https://lnkd.in/eNrPwwfN
#Sepsis #AMR #NCDs #GlobalHealth #WorldHealthSummit #GSA
Sepsis Australia welcomes the release of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care’s Sepsis Epidemiology Report — the most comprehensive national analysis to date of hospital-treated sepsis in Australia.
Drawing on more than 900,000 hospitalisations between 2013–14 and 2022–23, the report confirms that sepsis is significantly more widespread, deadly, and costly than previously understood. In 2022–23 alone, over 84,000 Australians were hospitalised with sepsis — a sharp increase from earlier estimates of 55,000 cases and 7,400 deaths.
These figures, while alarming, still underestimate the true burden. The report draws only from public hospital data, and inconsistencies in coding mean many cases go unrecorded. The reality is that sepsis affects far more Australians than current systems capture — and the consequences are profound.
A Milestone That Must Drive Action
While the release of the Sepsis Epidemiology Report is a critical milestone, it must also be a catalyst for change. The report’s recommendations call for investment in consistent coding and data collection across both public and private hospitals — a vital step toward improving visibility and accountability.
But more than improved data is needed. Sepsis must be recognised as a national health priority.
Join the Call for Mandatory Standards
To elevate the position of sepsis in our national healthcare system, the Sepsis Australia Consumer Partner and Advocacy Program (SACPAP) — is leading a submission calling for the Sepsis Clinical Care Standard (SCCS) to become mandatory.
We are inviting sepsis survivors, bereaved families, carers, clinicians, and advocates to endorse this submission before 26 September. Every signature strengthens the call for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to formally include the SCCS in the third edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.
Mandating the SCCS would help prevent sepsis, ensure national consistency, and improve outcomes for patients at risk. Without this formal inclusion, sepsis prevention and care remain fragmented — leaving Australians vulnerable to preventable harm.
Sepsis changes lives. Let’s change the story.
For more information visit: Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
To read the full report visit: National Sepsis Program Extension Epidemiology Report
To read the submission and submit your signature visit: Sepsis Clinical Care Standards
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.