National Telehealth Standards Launched in Australia, But Enforcement Questions Remain

Australia’s rapidly expanding telehealth sector now has a new set of guidelines aimed at improving safety, quality, and trust. The ‘National Telehealth Standards,’ developed by a consortium of telehealth companies and insurers, were launched earlier this month. Yet, questions persist regarding their enforceability, with some viewing them as aspirational rather than legally binding.

The Rise of Telehealth and the Necessitate for Standards

The push for standardized telehealth practices comes as virtual care becomes increasingly integrated into the Australian healthcare landscape, particularly benefiting those in regional, rural, and remote areas. Telehealth access has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, but this growth has also raised concerns about inconsistencies in clinical governance and patient safety. The new standards aim to address these concerns by outlining expectations around informed consent, data security, and continuity of care.

A Patient-Led Initiative

The Australian Telehealth Standards Consortium, convened by Patients Australia, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to develop the standards. These included Healthdirect, Medibank, HCF, Bupa, nib Group’s Honeysuckle Health, Updoc, Eucalyptus, Healthengine, MedAdvisor, MOSH, Medmate, 13Sick and Wesfarmers Health. According to Healthdirect CEO Bettina McMahon, the initiative stemmed from a recognition of the need for clarity in the telehealth space. “They made the observation that since covid, telehealth has really taken off. It’s used by many more patients. But there’s not really a lexicon around the different types of telehealth services that can be provided,” she stated in an interview.

Patients Australia CEO Lisa Robins emphasized the importance of maintaining public confidence in telehealth, noting its transformative impact on access to care, especially for those in remote communities. “But access alone is not enough. Patients need to recognize that telehealth is safe, high quality and accountable,” she said .

What Do the Standards Cover?

The National Telehealth Standards focus on strengthening safety, quality, and trust in virtual healthcare across the country. They establish clear, practical benchmarks to support safe, high-quality telehealth while enabling innovation and improving access to care for Australians. Key areas addressed include:

• Informed consent
• Data security
• Continuity of care

Enforcement and the Future of Telehealth Standards

Despite the launch and widespread support, a key question remains: who will enforce these standards? Currently, the standards lack formal regulatory backing, leading some in the medical community to view them as aspirational. The consortium is supporting the development of self-assessed telehealth accreditation to help patients identify trustworthy and reliable virtual healthcare services.

The standards were launched at a parliamentary roundtable on March 3rd, 2026, bringing 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.

Key Takeaways

• New ‘National Telehealth Standards’ have been launched in Australia.
• The standards were developed by a consortium led by Patients Australia.
• Key areas of focus include safety, quality, and trust in virtual healthcare.
• Enforcement of the standards remains a key challenge.
• The standards aim to build public confidence in the rapidly growing telehealth sector.