The Australasian Health
Facility Guidelines
Jennifer Hands
A/Director
Design Standards Unit
Capital Works & Asset Management Branch
June 2007

Outline
 The Australasian Health Facility
Guidelines – “How and Why”
 The intent of the system
 The process of review and ongoing development

In the Beginning……
AHMAC
CHAA
HCAMC
VIC
NSW
QLD
WA
SA
TAS
NZ
NT pending
ACT pending

The Intent of The Guidelines
 Identify evidence based design
 Guide architects and designers
 Assist Users and Managers
 Help all stakeholders to talk the same language

The Intent of The Guidelines
Anticipate future design
Adaptable
Easily Modified
Promote Information
Sharing
Reduce
Duplication

Other The Potential Benefits
Eliminate design features that result in unacceptable practices
Eliminate duplication between various existing guidelines
Encourage design features that create operational efficiencies

History of The Guidelines
Development……
AHMAC
CHAA
HCAMC
VIC
NSW
QLD
WA
SA
TAS
NZ
HFG
HFG
NT pending
ACT pending

Development Process
 Capable of State based variations
Similar to BCA Development
 Promote information sharing and the creation of a health design knowledge base

Capturing “good” Design
 Validate existing guidelines
 Jurisdictional involvement in developing
National guidelines

The Process
1.
Jan 07 all new projects to use the
Australasian HFG’s as the “Standard”
2.
Except where our current guidelines are preferred e.g. Infection Control
3.
Steering Committees responsible for design on a project by project basis
4.
Accepted variations forwarded to DSU

The Australasian HFG www.healthfacilityguidelines.com.au

The Guidelines Content

Standard Components & Schedules of
Accommodation

Room Data Sheets

Room Layout Sheets

Identifying optimal design through:
 variations proposed by capital project teams
 identifying significant operational issues highlighted by users or stakeholders
 recommendations from Post Occupancy
Evaluation studies
 examination of exemplars of contemporary national or international “best” practice

To Conclude:
The Australasian HFG’s are at the beginning of their development.
Must facilitate change
Changes must demonstrates better clinical outcomes or efficiencies.
Internet site: www.healthfacilityguidelines.com.au
Thank you