Welcome to HL7 Australia. We are a membership-based not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee that exists to facilitate adoption of e-health in Australia by promoting effective use of standards and products developed by HL7 International and supporting their enhancement to meet local needs.
Australia has been an early driver for the internationalisation of HL7.
HL7 Australia began in Australia in 1998 under the auspices of Standards Australia IT-14 Health Informatics Committee.
In May 2002, it was first incorporated independently as the HL7 Australasia User Group.
In March 2010 the name changed to HL7 Australia; and in December 2019 HL7 restructured, becoming a limited company.
HL7 Australia Ltd remains the local affiliate of HL7 International. Our members are representative of those using and benefiting from HL7 Standards in Australia.
HL7 Australia Ltd continues to make an important and significant contribution to the work of HL7 International and global health informatics standards development more generally.
HL7 Australia’s objects are to:
Create a collaborative and open community, developing interoperability standards and promoting their adoption to support and enhance world leading healthcare in Australia
Since the late 2020 the Board of HL7 Australia convened a series of workshops with members and stakeholders to input into a strategy for the company for the coming three years (2023-2025).
Four strategic objectives emerged:
For each of these strategic objectives, a series of actions and deliverables have been identified and indicative prioritisation given to these. To view the 2023-25 strategic plan please click below.
HL7 Australia Strategic Priorities 2023-2025.
View our submission for the national interoperability plan for Australia here.
HL7 Australia Limited (HL7 Australia) is incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) as an Australian public company limited by guarantee and is governed in accordance with its Constitution and By-laws.
To view the Constitution of HL7 Australia Limited click here.
To view the latest version of the By-laws of HL7 Australia click here.
In order to carry out its functions and activities, HL7 Australia collects, holds, uses and discloses personal information as set out in its Privacy Policy, and in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. To view a copy of the HL7 Australia Privacy Policy click here.
Standards and other intellectual property held by HL7 Australia represent goodwill created by our members, collaborators and stakeholders over many years. To protect the contributions of our stakeholders and the rights of HL7 Australia, the acquisition, use and distribution of HL7 Australia copyright material and trademarks are subject to the HL7 Australia Intellectual Property Policy, the latest edition of which may be accessed here.
Under its affiliate agreement with Health Level Seven International (“HL7 International”), HL7 Australia is recognized as the HL7 Affiliate for Australia, which gives HL7 Australia and its members rights to participate directly in HL7 International’s standards development work to take part in other HL7 International activities and to access and use its standards. More information on HL7 International and its activities may be accessed here.
Trademarks owned by HL7 International include; HL7®, HEALTH LEVEL SEVEN®, FHIR® and the FHIR flame design. Any use of HL7 International’s intellectual property and trademarks should comply with HL7 International’s IP Policy, Guide to Using HL7 Trademarks and the FHIR Trademark Policy.
Your use of HL7 Australia facilities (including this website and other HL7 Australia web pages as identified in the HL7 Australia IP Policy), your access to and use of HL7 Australia standards and other publications, and your participation in HL7 Australia activities is subject to your agreement to applicable terms and conditions as set out in the HL7 Australia Constitution, the HL7 Australia By-laws, the policies identified above, and any specific terms and conditions, notices or licenses applicable to such use of facilities, access and use of publications, or participation in activities.
The HL7 Australia Governance and Operations Manual (AU-GOM) defines standard operating procedures and various policies created to clarify, support, and/or implement the HL7 Australia By-laws and the HL7 Australia Constitution. Like the HL7 International Governance and Operations Manual, the AU-GOM is established to assure the uniformity, equity, quality, efficiency, and compliance of administrative and organisational activities through standard methods and guidelines.
Following consultation with HL7 Australia members, this version (0.1) of the AU-GOM has been approved by the HL7 Australia Board. The HL7 Australia Board is currently working on implementation steps towards operationalising the AU-GOM. Following operationalisation (and any required changes), the version of the AU-GOM will be updated to version 1.0.
Click here to view the HL7 Australia Governance & Operations Manual (AU-GOM) v0.1
The HL7 Australia Board is a volunteer board responsible for supporting a collaborative and open community in Australia to develop interoperability standards.
The members of the HL7 Australia Board for 2024/25 are:
Managing Director, Digital Health Leadership Australasia
Term expires: AGM 2026
Senior Consultant, Digital Health CRC
Term expires: AGM 2026
CEO, Fluffy Spider Technologies
Term expires: AGM 2025
General Manager of Enterprise Solutions and Growth at Telstra Health
Term expires: AGM 2025
Product and Services Lead - Interoperability, CSIRO
Term expires: AGM 2025
Principal Consultant, Saludax
Term expires: AGM 2025
Consultant
Term expires: AGM 2026
Interoperability Lead, Magentus
Term expires: AGM 2026
HL7 Australia has two Work Groups, broadly modelled after their HL7 International counterparts, these are:
HL7 Australia Work Groups, modelled after their HL7 International counterparts are:
FHIR Work Group (FWG): oversees and coordinates the technical efforts related to the development of HL7 FHIR standards in Australia.
The FWG oversees the development of AU-realm specific HL7 FHIR consensus-based standards specifications.
The FWG develops and maintains the processes HL7 AU follows to develop standards. The broad structure is based on HL7 International and the separation of governance, management, and methodology.
The FWG oversees the development of methodologies and work processes to be used by the Work Group in developing HL7 consensus-based standards specifications.
The FWG Co-chairs are:
Refer to HL7 Australia’s Work Group Governance for more information on Co-chair appointments.
HL7 V2 Work Group (HL7V2WG): oversees and coordinates the technical efforts related to the development of HL7 V2 standards in Australia.
The HL7V2WG will maintain and align V2 content with national requirements.
If you are interested in nominating as a co-chair, please email us at admin@hl7.com.au
The Board of HL7 Australia expresses thanks to individuals and their supporting organisations for their participation and contribution to the development of Australian standards in healthcare.
The Board is planning a program of monthly events for members and interested parties. Keep an eye on our News posts and LinkedIn Company Page for updates.
HL7 Australia 2025 Calendar – Coming soon.
To view the HL7 International calendar of events please click here.
Interested in sponsoring an HL7 Australia Event? Get in touch with our Event’s team here.
2025 Trans-Tasman Symposium 18 March 2025 | Details and agenda here.
HL7 Australia FHIR Work Group Meetings 18 March 2025 | Details and agenda here.
2025 HL7 Australia FHIR Sydney Connectathon 19-20 March 2025 | Details and agenda here.
Webinar: Joint Australian & New Zealand debrief on the September 2024 HL7 FHIR Connectathon & Working Group Meeting +(WGM+) 15 October 2024 | Details and agenda here.
HL7 Australia Annual General Meeting 2024 + AFCC Information Session 21 August 2024 | Slides | Recording.
AU FHIR Work Group + Sparked Technical Design Groups 20 August 2024 | Details.
HL7 Australia Ballot Participation Information Session 16 August 2024 | Details.
Webinar: Overview Australian & New Zealand experiences of the May 2024 HL7 Working Group Meeting (WGM) 5 June 2024 | Details.
HL7 AU & HL7 NZ Joint Symposium 2024 20 March 2024 | Details.
HL7 Australia & HL7 New Zealand Debrief on HL7 International Jan 2024 WGM 8 February 2024 | Details.
HL7 Australia Annual General Meeting 2023 6 September 2023 | Slides
HL7 Australia – Building FHIR Implementations in Australia 6 September 2023 | Recording | Slides
Australian & New Zealand experiences of the September 2023 HL7 International Connectathon & Working Group Meeting (WGM) in Phoenix, USA 29 September 2023
If you have never participated in an HL7 Australia FHIR Connectathon or if you are about to attend your first Connectathon and want to know what to expect, read our Guide to getting the most from HL7 Australia Connectathons here.
If you are familiar with Connectathons and would like to propose a new Track to examine, write code or test a specific specification, we encourage you to submit a track proposal. Anyone is welcome to submit a Track Proposal for an HL7 Australia FHIR Connectathon. Track proposals are generally requested from 12-8 weeks prior to one of the scheduled Connectathon events. They are reviewed and confirmed by the HL7 Australia events coordinator 8-6 weeks prior to the Connectathon. To find the track proposal deadline and the associated track template, get in touch with our Events Team here.
HL7 Australia hosts at least three FHIR Connectathon events each year. These are ticketed events and are advertised here, on our HL7 Australia Confluence page
2025-09 HL7 AU FHIR Brisbane Connectathon 2025 | 8am-5pm | 1st-2nd September 2025 | Details
View all here.
In recognition of their sustained contribution and commitment to the development of HL7 standards, HL7 Australia recognises the following individuals as honorary life members:
Life Membership is conferred on an individual by the Board (by simple majority) at a General Meeting.
Since 2019, HL7 Australia as an association limited by guarantee which places us under federal legislation that clearly outlines all member and director rights and responsibilities. We suggest you familiarise yourself with the rules governing our new association here.
We wish to draw your attention to the obligation that HL7 Australia now carries to make primary contact details of all members available to every member. This is to allow any member to gain enough support to call a General Meeting. By becoming a member, you agree to your contact details being shared in line with federal legislation.
To view our by-laws click here.
To view our Constitution click here.
Become a member with HL7 Australia here or learn more about the Membership here.
HL7 standards support clinical practice and the management, delivery, and evaluation of health services, and are recognized as the most commonly used in the world.
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HL7 Australia Secretariat
Secretariat
Upper Level, 59 Smith Street,
Kempsey NSW 2440, Australia
Email: secretary@hl7.com.au
HL7 International
Health Level Seven International.
Suite 227
3300 Washtenaw Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
Tel: +1 734 677 7777
Email: hq@hl7.org Web: www.hl7.org
