NSQHS 2026 Update
2026 National Model for Clinical Governance
A new national direction for healthcare governance
In June 2026, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care released the 2026 National Model for Clinical Governance, strengthening the national focus on accountability, risk management, effective systems and meaningful use of data.
Its six foundations will shape the Clinical Governance Standard in the third edition of the NSQHS Standards. For healthcare industry representative governance, OneCredential helps facilities translate these principles into practical, traceable access controls and oversight.
The National Model and the NSQHS Standards
The NSQHS Standards are also developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and provide the nationally consistent safety and quality framework used across Australian health services.
The current Clinical Governance Standard describes the systems health services need to have in place to maintain and improve the safety, reliability and quality of healthcare.
The Commission is now developing the third edition of the NSQHS Standards, with the six foundations of the 2026 National Model becoming the structure of the future Clinical Governance Standard.
What does this mean for healthcare industry representative governance?
Healthcare industry representatives operate within healthcare environments governed by these systems. Managing representative access involves more than collecting credentials. Facilities need confidence in:
- who is entering
- who they represent
- whether requirements are current
- why they are attending
- where they are permitted to go
- whether facility requirements have been met
- what decisions were made at the point of access
This broader direction in clinical governance connects naturally with AS 5182:2018 Vendor Credentialing for Healthcare Facilities.
Clinical governance and the AS 5182:2018
AS 5182:2018, published by Standards Australia, provides the national framework for credentialing healthcare industry representatives and managing their access to healthcare facilities, supporting patient safety, security and confidentiality.
The 2026 National Model provides the broader governance direction.
The NSQHS Clinical Governance Standard embeds governance systems within Australian health services.
AS 5182:2018 provides the specific framework for healthcare industry representative credentialing.
Together, they provide a strong foundation for a contemporary approach to representative access governance.
Learn about AS 5182:2018 from Standards AustraliaOneCredential, Governance and Representative Access
OneCredential brings together identity, credential readiness, facility requirements, access decisions and traceability within one system.
Facilities remain in control of how representative access operates within their organisation, including credential requirements, risk classifications, approval pathways, permitted locations and escalation processes.
This creates a clearer link between credentialing and real-world access, while providing facilities with visibility of who is entering, whether requirements are being met, when access is prevented, where exceptions are occurring and whether patterns are emerging over time.
That activity can then support governance oversight, review and continuous improvement.
Connecting the framework
2026 National Model for Clinical Governance
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
Provides the broader national direction for clinical governance, accountability, risk management and the use of information.
NSQHS Clinical Governance Standard
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
Translates clinical governance into systems and responsibilities within the national safety and quality framework.
AS 5182:2018 Vendor Credentialing for Healthcare Facilities
Standards Australia
Provides the Australian framework specifically addressing healthcare industry representative credentialing.
Facility governance requirements
Each healthcare organisation determines how representative access should operate within its own environment.
OneCredential
Provides the infrastructure to manage representative readiness, apply facility requirements, govern access, maintain traceable records and provide meaningful oversight.
Designed for contemporary healthcare governance
OneCredential brings together identity, credential readiness, risk-based access, facility control, traceability and governance insight within one healthcare industry representative governance platform. It provides healthcare facilities with a practical way to turn credentialing requirements and local governance policies into controls that operate consistently at the point of access.
About this update
The 2026 National Model for Clinical Governance and the NSQHS Standards are published by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. AS 5182:2018 Vendor Credentialing for Healthcare Facilities is published by Standards Australia.
NOTE: OneCredential is not endorsed or accredited by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care or Standards Australia.