AMA seeks stronger protections in updated health standards
01 Oct 2026
The updated standards have been reorganised into three main areas: clinical governance, person-centred care and safe clinical systems.
They also place greater attention on culturally safe care, working with patients, digital healthcare and clinical trials.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has welcomed some of the changes made following its earlier feedback. These include a stronger focus on psychosocial safety and creating a healthy workplace culture.
However, the AMA said further improvements are needed in several areas.
Its concerns include stronger protections for healthcare workers, clearer clinical governance requirements, a broader definition of cultural safety and stronger requirements for managing health data.
The AMA also supported a joint submission from Quit and the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand about nicotine dependence.
The submission calls for nicotine dependence to be recognised as a chronic and treatable health condition that should be routinely identified, assessed and managed across healthcare settings.
It argues that including nicotine dependence treatment in the national standards could help reduce preventable harm, improve patient outcomes and support more consistent care.
The submission also highlights healthcare visits as opportunities to connect people who smoke or vape with evidence-based support to quit.
AMA seeks stronger protections in updated health standards
Source: Australian Medical Association (AMA)