Patients Australia Launches National Telehealth Standards at Parliament House

Canberra – Patients Australia will formally launch Australia’s National Telehealth

Standards at Parliament House today, marking a significant milestone in strengthening

safety, quality and trust in virtual healthcare across the country.

Developed by the Australian Telehealth Standards Consortium (ATSC), which includes

Healthdirect, Medibank, HCF, BUPA, nib Group’s Honeysuckle Health, Updoc, Eucalyptus,

Healthengine, MedAdvisor, MOSH, Medmate, 13Sick and Wesfarmers Health, the

Standards are the outcome of a national, patient-led collaboration convened by Patients

Australia and informed by extensive consultation with patients, clinicians, digital health

providers and policy experts.

The parliamentary launch will bring together Members of Parliament, Senators, patient

advocates, clinicians and industry leaders to discuss how nationally consistent standards

can support high-quality telehealth care while maintaining access, innovation and clinical

confidence.

Patients Australia CEO Lisa Robins said that telehealth is now a permanent and essential

part of Australia’s healthcare system, but public confidence must keep pace with its rapid

growth.

“Telehealth has transformed access to care for millions of Australians, particularly those in regional, rural and remote communities,” Ms Robins said. “But access alone is not enough. Patients need to know that telehealth is safe, high quality and accountable. These National Telehealth Standards provide a clear, patient-led benchmark that supports safe, high-quality telehealth care and helps build confidence as virtual care continues to expand.”

The Standards set out clear expectations across key domains including clinical

governance, patient safety, informed consent, continuity of care, advertising, technology

and data security, and accreditation. They are designed to complement existing laws and

regulations while providing a consistent national framework that can be applied across

different telehealth delivery models.

Patients Australia emphasises that the Standards are not intended to create unnecessary

red tape, but to support clinicians, providers and policymakers by clearly defining what

“trustworthy telehealth” looks like in practice.

Patients Australia will work with governments, regulators, health services and industry to

support awareness, uptake and policy alignment with the National Telehealth Standards.

This includes positioning the Standards as a practical reference point for policymakers as

telehealth continues to evolve as part of Australia’s health system.

ENDS 

For further information or media requests:  

Lisa Robins

Chief Executive Officer, Patients Australia  

media@patients.org.au  

About Patients Australia 

Patients Australia is a leading independent not-for-profit organisation championing the rights of patients across Australia. We’re here to ensure that patients’ voices are amplified and their needs prioritised within the healthcare system. Our organisation drives significant improvements in patient care, advocating for greater transparency, accessibility, and quality within Australia’s healthcare landscape. By actively engaging with health consumers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, we empower patients to create a more responsive and equitable healthcare system for all Australians.