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Tuesday 29 September 2026
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Welcome to the 9th Edition of Partnership Pulse, the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency)’s stakeholder newsletter, designed to keep you informed and connected with key initiatives, projects and engagement opportunities across the Agency. Each edition shares updates on major programs and initiatives, as well as recent media releases and Agency news, highlights from project and program areas, opportunities to contribute through consultations, surveys, upcoming events, and learning resources to support digital health knowledge.
If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you’d like to receive future editions, you can subscribe to the mailing list here.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to support a more connected digital health system for all Australians.
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Agency Spotlight
My Health Record legislative transition period ending soon
The My Health Records Rules 2026 (the 2026 Rules) came into effect on 1 April 2026, replacing the My Health Records Rule 2016. Organisations registered for My Health Record prior to 1 April 2026 were provided a 6-month transition period to begin complying with updated requirements under the 2026 Rules.
As the end of the transition period approaches, healthcare provider organisations should ensure they are prepared to meet their obligations under the 2026 Rules from 1 October 2026. This includes updated requirements in relation to My Health Record security and access policies and the introduction of new record-keeping requirements.
Preparing for 1 October 2026 – New Resources and Guidance Materials now Available
Whether your organisation is updating an existing security and access policy or reviewing it as part of the annual review requirements, now is a good time to assess current security and access policies against the requirements of the 2026 Rules.
To support healthcare provider organisations, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), in collaboration with the Agency, has developed an updated My Health Record security and access policy template.
This template is designed support healthcare provider organisations to develop new or revise existing security and access policies to ensure they are eligible for, and remain eligible for, registration with the My Health Record System.
The Agency has also developed a fact sheet outlining the key updates organisations should consider when reviewing their existing security and access policies. This resource provides a practical summary of the changes required to align with the 2026 Rules.
Organisations are also encouraged to familiarise themselves with new record-keeping requirements which apply from 1 October 2026. Further guidance in relation to these requirements can be found on the recently updated My Health Record Participation Obligations webpage.
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Building Connected Care: Three Reforms Shaping the Future of Australian Healthcare
Australia's health system is entering a significant period of transformation, with Share by Default, National Medicines Record (NMR) and Thriving Kids – Child Health Record (CHR) helping to create a more connected, coordinated and person-centred healthcare system.
Together, these initiatives support a common goal: enabling the optimal care pathway, where clinicians, consumers and the broader care team can access the right health and care information at the right time. They also bring to life the connected care agenda by advancing interoperability, modernisation, expanded access and more consistent and secured information sharing across the healthcare system.
Importantly, these initiatives work in concert to establish the foundations for digital health reform and creating reusable capability that can be leveraged across multiple health and care priorities.
Share by Default provides a framework for increased sharing of information to support informed decisions about a person’s health and wellbeing. It is a foundational element for connected care that complements both National Medicines Record and Thriving Kids. Following the successful introduction of rules for sharing of pathology and diagnostic imaging reports, the next phase will introduce requirements for sharing of medicines information and GP Chronic Condition Management Plans to My Health Record by default. The Agency is also working with the Department to develop a future Share by Default roadmap, providing the sector with greater visibility of upcoming reforms and supporting the broader transition towards FHIR®-enabled interoperability.
National Medicines Record aims to create a more complete and connected view of medicines information across the healthcare system. To support this vision, the Agency in partnership with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (Department) is delivering core foundations including Patient Medicines History service, and establishing the National Prescription delivery Service (NPDS) as the Registered Repository Operator (RRO), as a critical piece needed to enhance medicines information sharing and future implementation. In parallel, the Department is preparing for public consultation on the National Medicines Record to inform its design, implementation approach, and future direction, helping to shape a more connected medicines information ecosystem for Australia.
The Thriving Kids - Child Health Record program recognises the importance of early childhood intervention and coordinated care.
The Agency, together with the Department, Services Australia and CSIRO, is leading delivery of key digital enablers for this program. This includes delivery of a nationally standardised 3-Year-Old Health Check, reminders through the 1800MEDICARE app, partnering with Services Australia to modernise the Individual Healthcare Identifiers service for newborns and establishing the foundations for a broader Child Health Record capability over time.
While the Child Health Record is a key component of the Government’s Thriving Kids initiative, delivery also forms part of a broader digital health reform agenda to support children’s long-term health and wellbeing.
The Agency is establishing the governance, partnerships and sector engagement needed to support successful delivery. This includes establishing program governance arrangements and advisory mechanisms such as the Thriving Kids – Child Health Record Expert Advisory Group, supported through existing digital health governance forums, to ensure clinical, consumer, jurisdictional and sector perspectives are incorporated into design and delivery. Together, these arrangements help ensure implementation remains aligned to policy intent: supporting earlier intervention, safer and more coordinated care, reducing fragmentation across the health system, and helping consumers and care teams access the information they need when and where it matters most.
Together, these initiatives will help reduce fragmentation, support safer prescribing and dispensing, and improve continuity of care across healthcare settings.
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Australian sprinter Lachlan Kennedy’s support team, including exercise physiologist Matt Crear, highlights the value of connected care for people living with diabetes. Through My Health Record, healthcare providers can access key health information, such as pathology and diagnostic imaging reports, helping them make informed decisions, improve collaboration, and deliver more coordinated care. Patients can also access their health information through the 1800MEDICARE app, supporting more informed conversations with their healthcare team.
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New My Health Record eLearning Courses for Hospital Clinicians and Midwives
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Strong Sector Response Highlights Growing Demand for Digital Health Education
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The Agency’s inaugural Digital Health eLearning Showcase, held on Tuesday 1st September, attracted strong interest from across the health and education sectors, with 694 registrations and 405 attendees joining the online event. Read more
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My Health Record use surges as Agency improves access for clinicians
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Clinician use of My Health Record continues to grow strongly following the announcement of Share by Default in May 2023, with views of diagnostic imaging reports increasing by 866% and pathology reports increasing by 642%, as of 2 August 2026. Read more
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Looking to build capability across standards and digital health interoperability? The FHIRside Forum is your online hub for collaboration, learning and innovation. Connect with peers, collaborate on challenges and stay up to date with the latest from the Agency. Read more
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New Courses From Our Standards Academy
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The Standards Academy has recently released three new eLearning courses. The first is ‘Introduction to FHIR®’, a foundation course designed to build capability across all skill-levels in the adoption and implementation of FHIR for improved information sharing between health systems. Read more
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Become a Cyber Champion today!
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Australia’s healthcare sector is facing ever-evolving cyber threats, and now more than ever, building a strong cyber security culture is vital. The Agency is helping to empower healthcare professionals to proactively understand and defend against cyber risks through the Cyber Champions Network.
Take the next step to protect your organisation and join the Cyber Champions Network today! Read more
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Health Connect Australia Provider Directory
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The Health Connect Australia Provider Directory (the Provider Directory) is a national service designed to support secure interactions between healthcare providers across the health system. It aims to enhance provider discoverability, facilitate connectivity across the healthcare ecosystem, and support the secure exchange of information between healthcare providers throughout Australia. Read more
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Upcoming Events
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SNOMED CT EXPO
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Date: Wednesday 21 - Friday 23 October 2026
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Don’t miss the SNOMED CT Expo 2026 - Where Global Healthcare Terminology Takes Centre Stage
Join digital health leaders, clinicians, researchers, policy makers and terminology experts from around the world at SNOMED CT Expo 2026, coming to Sydney, Australia.
This international event will explore how SNOMED CT is transforming healthcare through better data, stronger interoperability, safer clinical decision-making and improved patient outcomes.
Meet the Speakers Shaping the Future of Healthcare Interoperability
What to Expect
Whether you are implementing SNOMED CT, advancing digital health strategy, supporting clinical care or shaping the future of health information exchange, the Expo offers unparalleled opportunities to learn from international experts and connect with the global SNOMED CT community.
View the full agenda and register now SNOMED CT Expo | SNOMED International
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Date: Tuesday 8 - Thursday 10 December 2026
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Location: Melbourne Connect, Parkville, VIC
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Registration Now Open: HL7 Australia FHIR Connectathon 2026
Join Australia's leading digital health innovators at the HL7 Australia FHIR Connectathon 2026, a two-day collaborative event designed to accelerate healthcare interoperability and advance the adoption of HL7 FHIR® across the healthcare sector.
Bringing together developers, implementers, informaticians, researchers and digital health leaders, the Connectathon provides a unique opportunity to test FHIR-based solutions, validate implementation guides, and collaborate with peers tackling real-world interoperability challenges.
Why Attend?
- Gain hands-on experience testing and refining FHIR implementations.
- Collaborate with industry experts and national standards leaders.
- Help shape the future of Australian interoperability standards.
- Validate implementation guides and support their ongoing maturity.
- Build valuable connections across the digital health community.
Whether you are developing APIs, implementing digital health solutions, designing data models, or leading interoperability initiatives, this event offers practical learning, networking, and the chance to contribute to Australia's connected healthcare future.
Supported by the Agency, the HL7 Australia Connectathons play a key role in driving interoperability, innovation and better health outcomes nationwide.
Places are limited, register now and be part of the community building the future of digital health in Australia.
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Learning Spotlight
The Agency hosts a range of resources to support healthcare providers and organisations that want to register for My Health Record.
Visit the Implementing My Health Record in your healthcare organisation webpage to discover how to establish policies, register your organisation, and access the system via conformant clinical software, the National Provider Portal (NPP) or hospital applications.
Alternatively, access the free eLearning course Registering your organisation for My Health Record to help you register, understand the participation obligations and prepare your organisation to access My Health Record.
A comprehensive checklist outlining the steps required to register a healthcare provider organisation for My Health Record is also available: My Health Record: Organisation Registration Checklist.
If you need help registering, contact us by phone: 1300 901 001 during business hours or
email: help@digitalhealth.gov.au. You can also contact your local Primary Health Network for further support.
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While Partnership Pulse keeps you up to date with our projects and programs, the Agency’s Inside Digital Health newsletter on LinkedIn takes a wider view. It’s all about innovations, global trends, and sector-wide updates, perfect for keeping up with the bigger digital health picture.
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