Consultation Hub

Welcome to the Consultation Hub. This site will help you find, share and participate in consultations that interest you. Below you will find links to the consultations we are currently running.

Alternatively you may search for consultations by keyword, interest or status. Once finalised, decisions will be published under Closed Consultations.

Open Consultations

Closed Consultations

  • Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Advisory Committee - Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives Draft Report

    The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) is a list of health professional services (items) that the Australian Government subsidises. MBS items provide patient benefits for a wide range of health services including consultations, diagnostic tests, therapy, and operations. Established in...

    Closed 11 November 2025

  • Consultation on residential aged care accommodation pricing

    As part of the independent Residential Aged Care Accommodation Pricing Review , we want to hear from residential aged care providers, residents, and other stakeholders on how to achieve equitable outcomes for supported residents and contribute to a sustainable sector that can build, upgrade, and...

    Closed 10 November 2025

  • Bonded Medical Program - Potential Rule Amendments

    Amendments to the Health Insurance (Bonded Medical Program) Rule 2020 Overview The Australian Government intends to amend Part VD of the Health Insurance Act 1973 to enhance the Bonded Medical Program (Program) through a bill introduced into Parliament on 4 September...

    Closed 10 November 2025

  • NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee Consultation September2025

    The NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee (EAC) was established in an ongoing capacity by the Australian Government in response to the NDIS Review . The EAC will make recommendations to government on the safety, suitability and value for money of supports for NDIS funding , drawing on the best...

    Closed 9 November 2025

  • Expressions of Interest for membership of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB)

    The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is now accepting applications from highly qualified candidates for appointment to the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB), with opportunities available for both Member and Deputy Chair positions. About AMRAB ...

    Closed 9 November 2025

We Asked, You Said, We Did

Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes

We asked

Between 24 July and 18 September 2025, we sought your feedback on the consultation version of the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) prepared for the DIR 217 licence application (Commercial supply of genetically modified therapeutic from Ferring Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd).

You said

During the 8-week consultation period, we received advice from prescribed Government agencies, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee, and the public.

We heard support for:

  • the thoroughness of the RARMP
  • the overall conclusions of the RARMP
  • the inclusion of post-release review in the draft licence conditions.

Some submissions sought clarification on prevalence and serotyping of human adenoviruses in Australia.

We did

We analysed the feedback provided during the public consultation process in finalising the RARMP. The issues raised and how they were addressed can be found in Appendices B and C of the final RARMP.

The Gene Technology Regulator issued a licence to Ferring Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd for the commercial supply on 17 October 2025. More details, including the final version of the RARMP and the licence, are available at DIR 217 | Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.

We appreciate all those who provided input to the consultation – your feedback will help to ensure that any risks posed by gene technology to people and the environment continue to be managed.

We asked

Between 21 July and 12 September, we asked for feedback on the proposed mandatory training manual for volunteers in aged care.

The consultation ensured that the training framework is inclusive, practical and aligned with the Aged Care Act 2024 and strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.

You said

We received strong engagement across the sector:

  • 1,486 survey responses, including:
    • volunteers (38%)
    • volunteer managers (21%)
    • providers (17%)
  • workshops with peak bodies such as Volunteering Australia and Meals on Wheels
  • more than 40 written submissions from individuals and organisations, including Dementia Australia, Council on the Ageing (COTA), Ageing Australia, multicultural and disability advocacy groups, and aged care providers.

Feedback showed broad support for nationally consistent, role-specific training that improves safety, dignity and care quality.

Key themes included:

  • flexible training options (print, online, face to face)
  • empowering language (e.g. ‘minimum requirements’ instead of ‘mandatory’)
  • respect for volunteer time and experience
  • cultural and disability inclusion, including multilingual and ‘Easy Read’ resources.

Concerns were raised about digital access, over-regulation and the impact on volunteer recruitment and retention. Volunteer managers supported the initiative but asked for practical tools, clear guidance and implementation support.

We did

We analysed all feedback including survey responses, submissions and workshop insights. This informed a thematic framework to refine the training manual and modules.

Key areas of focus included:

  • accessibility and inclusion
  • volunteer identity and motivation
  • training portability and recognition
  • support for volunteer managers
  • clarity around applicability and registration categories.

Stakeholder suggestions are now being incorporated into the final version of the training manual.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the consultation. Your feedback is helping us build a training framework that values volunteers, supports volunteer managers and providers, and strengthens the safety and dignity of older people.

Read the consultation summary report.

Contact AgedCareVolunteer@health.gov.au for more information.

We asked

Between 15 July and 9 September 2025, we sought your feedback on the consultation version of the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) prepared for the DIR 216 licence application (commercial release of genetically modified cotton from Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd).

You said

During the 8-week consultation period, we received advice from prescribed Government agencies, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee, and the public.

We heard support for:

  • the overall conclusions of the RARMP
  • the licence conditions for DIR 216

We also heard concerns for:

  • the potential negative impacts on people and the environment
  • the cumulative risks of the introduced genes
  • the potential for increased weediness as a result of the introduced genes

We did

We analysed the feedback provided during the public consultation process in finalising the RARMP. The issues raised and how they were addressed can be found in Appendices C and D of the final RARMP.

The Gene Technology Regulator issued a licence to Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd for the commercial release of a genetically modified (GM) cotton on 07 October 2025. More details, including the final version of the RARMP and the licence, are available at DIR 216 | Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.

We appreciate all those who provided input to the consultation – your feedback will help to ensure that any risks posed by gene technology to people and the environment continue to be managed.