Public Consultation - SSQCPE and PPSPN drafts
We are excited to announce that drafts of ACORN's clinical and professional standards are now open for public comment!
Each standard will be available for feedback for a period of six weeks, and we strongly encourage all perioperative stakeholders to contribute their insights. Your feedback is crucial to ensuring the standards are relevant, accurate and practical, ultimately enhancing patient safety in the perioperative environment across Australia. To provide your feedback, simply download the draft document of the standard you wish to review, then follow the link to the survey provided beneath the document. The survey should take approximately seven minutes to complete.
Please refrain from adding feedback directly within the document or using track changes, as previous consultations have shown that documents with multiple track changes are challenging to analyse effectively. We appreciate your valuable input and look forward to your contribution!
The public comment process plays a vital role in the development and refinement of these standards. By sharing your feedback, you are helping to shape standards that reflect the diverse perspectives and experiences of those working in the perioperative field. Your voice is integral to ensuring these standards are both practical and applicable, supporting ongoing improvements in patient care and safety across Australia. Together, we can make a significant impact on the future of perioperative practice.
Download the poster for your tearoom or education board to let your team know how they can be involved: ACORN Standards Public Consultation Poster
Now open:
Specimen identification, collection and handling
Download draft for review - Specimen identification, collection and handling
Feedback survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D9Y7XYW
Feedback open 15 January 2026 – 25 February 2026
Nurse practitioner (NP)
Download draft for review - Nurse practitioner (NP)
Feedback survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HK9N67Y
Feedback open 30 January 2026 – 12 March 2026
Enrolled nurse (EN)
Download draft for review - Enrolled nurse
Feedback survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QFWR9WK
Feedback open 31 January 2026 – 13 March 2026
Coming soon:
Asepsis
Preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia
Closed:
Visitors to the perioperative environment – Feedback open 7 April – 8 May 2025
Perioperative team communication (formerly Surgical safety) – Feedback open 1 May – 15 June 2025
Management of accountable items – Feedback open 17 June – 28 July 2025
Patient skin antisepsis – Feedback open 28 July – 14 September 2025
Cleaning and maintaining the perioperative environment – Feedback open 15 September – 26 October 2025
Electrosurgical safety – Feedback open 24 September – 4 November 2025
Sharps and preventing sharps-related injury – Feedback open 29 September – 9 November 2025
Patient positioning and manual handling – Feedback open 16 October – 26 November 2025
Surgical plume – Feedback open 28 October – 8 December 2025
Latex and chlorhexidine sensitivity – Feedback open 28 October – 8 December 2025
Laser safety – Feedback open 3 November – 14 December 2025
Perioperative attire – Feedback open 11 December 2025 – 21 January 2026
Surgical hand antisepsis, gowning and gloving – Feedback open 17 December 2025 – 27 January 2026