The Health Connect Australia Provider Directory (the Provider Directory) is a national service designed to support secure interactions between healthcare providers across the health system. It aims to enhance provider discoverability, facilitate connectivity across the healthcare ecosystem, and support the secure exchange of information between healthcare providers throughout Australia.
Recent legislative changes mean that information held in the Healthcare Identifiers (HI) Service will be automatically included in the Provider Directory and visible to other healthcare providers and healthcare organisations, unless a request for non-disclosure is made.
The information contained withing the Provider Directory can only be accessed by authorised entities in accordance with legislative and privacy requirements. It is not available to the public.
The Agency will operate the Provider Directory which is planned to pilot in the Northern Territory in Q4 of 2026, with national roll out commencing in Q2, 2027.
Health Connect Australia Provider Directory pilot achieves major milestone in the Northern Territory
The Agency is pleased to share a major milestone for the Health Connect Australia Provider Directory and Authorisation pilot in the Northern Territory. NT Health has completed its third milestone, publishing provider and service information to Provider Connect Australia (PCA) ahead of the Provider Directory pilot go-live.
Key Northern Territory health partners, AMSANT, NT Health and NT PHN, are all now registered as service partners in PCA, meaning health care organisations can now publish changes to their business information in PCA and notify all three of them at once.
With AMSANT, NT Health and NT PHN now registered in PCA, a connected and searchable directory of Territory health services is taking shape. A diverse group of pilot organisations have also been onboarded, including Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, general practices, specialist services and NT Health facilities. This work will make it easier for clinicians to find services, improve referrals and care coordination, and support better connected care for Territorians.
What does this mean for healthcare providers?
Information held in the national Healthcare Identifiers (HI) Service will be included in the Health Connect Australia Provider Directory, making it easier for authorised healthcare providers and organisations to find and connect with one another.
Healthcare providers are encouraged to review and update their information to ensure their most current information is available. You can update your details by contacting:
Healthcare providers will have an opportunity to inform the Agency of their disclosure preferences in relation to their information, including requesting non-disclosure.
What does this mean for software vendors and digital health systems?
Software vendors and healthcare organisations are encouraged to begin planning for integration with the Health Connect Australia Provider Directory.
The Provider Directory FHIR® Implementation Guide and FHIR® API Specifications are available now on the Health Connect Australia | Digital Health Implementer Hub. Conformance requirements will be released for feedback in October.
Please note the following Healthcare Provider Directory webservices managed by Services Australia are scheduled to be retired in December 2027:
TECH.SIS.HI.17 – Search for Individual Provider Directory Entry;
TECH.SIS.HI.18 – Search for Organisation Provider Directory Entry; &
TECH.SIS.HI.19 - Manage Provider Directory Entry
Questions?
Please contact the Health Connect Australia team at HealthConnect@digitalhealth.gov.au for further information or support regarding the Health Connect Australia Provider Directory.
