Who Writes the Rules? Understanding the Hidden World of Australian Standards in Healthcare

The healthcare sector operates within one of the most highly regulated and technically complex environments in Australia. From essential services infrastructure and ventilation systems to accessibility requirements, electrical compliance, medical gas systems, digital integration and infection prevention controls — standards underpin almost every aspect of how healthcare facilities are designed, operated and maintained.

Yet despite their importance, many professionals across healthcare engineering and facilities management rarely get visibility into how standards are actually developed, who influences them, and how industry can contribute to shaping future requirements.

To help unpack this important topic, the Institute of Healthcare Engineering Australia (IHEA) is pleased to invite members and industry professionals to an upcoming presentation with Ben Russell, Engagement Manager – Health Sector at Standards Australia.

Titled “Australian Standards: How and who writes the rules?”, this industry session will provide a practical and highly relevant overview of the standards development process in Australia and the critical role standards play across healthcare infrastructure and operations.

Ben works closely with government agencies, healthcare stakeholders, technical experts, industry groups and consumers to support engagement within the national and international standards development process. His role includes facilitating new standards proposals, supporting revisions to existing standards, coordinating stakeholder consultation, and ensuring the right voices are represented on technical committees.

For many within healthcare engineering, standards can sometimes feel like documents that simply “appear” — referenced within legislation, codes and compliance frameworks without much understanding of the extensive consultation, consensus-building and technical review that sits behind them.

This presentation aims to demystify that process.

Attendees will gain insight into:

• How Australian Standards are proposed, developed and published

• The difference between standards and regulation

• The role of technical committees, industry representatives and stakeholder groups

• How healthcare organisations and professionals can contribute expertise to standards development

• The relationship between Australian Standards and international standards bodies such as ISO and IEC

• The practical role standards play in supporting safety, quality, interoperability, innovation and operational performance across healthcare environments

The session will also explore the broader standards and conformance ecosystem, including accreditation bodies, regulators, conformity assessment systems and market surveillance processes that collectively support safe and consistent practice across Australian industries.

Importantly, the presentation is not simply about compliance.

Healthcare facilities are evolving rapidly in response to changing patient expectations, digital transformation, sustainability pressures, ageing infrastructure, workforce challenges and increasing operational complexity. As hospitals and health services adopt new technologies and delivery models, standards are becoming increasingly important in supporting consistency, resilience, safety and future-ready infrastructure.

For healthcare engineers, facilities managers and project professionals, understanding how standards are developed — and how to engage in that process — presents a valuable opportunity to influence the future direction of healthcare infrastructure across Australia.

This session will be particularly relevant for:

• Healthcare engineers

• Facilities and asset managers

• Project managers

• Consultants and contractors

• Government representatives

• Clinical infrastructure stakeholders

• Compliance and operational teams

• Suppliers and technology providers working within healthcare environments

In addition to the technical presentation, attendees will also have the opportunity to network with peers and continue industry discussions following the session.

As healthcare infrastructure continues to evolve, collaboration between industry, government and technical experts will remain essential in ensuring standards continue to support safe, effective and innovative healthcare environments.

Event Details

Tuesday 16 June 2026

6:00 PM

Country Comfort Inn Conference Room249–263 Great Eastern Highway, Belmont WA 6104

Register To Attend

IHEA gratefully acknowledges the support of FLOWIO Group for generously supporting this event.