Sterilisation technicians are a vital part of the health care and social assistance sectors and play a crucial role in maintaining the cleanliness and sterility of medical instruments and equipment, which is essential for patient safety.
The HLT37015 Certificate III in Sterilisation Services and HLT47015 Certificate IV in Sterilisation Services qualifications were last reviewed in 2015. Since then, current practice, standards and technology have evolved significantly. This project aims to align training with updated regulatory and safety requirements, including AS5369:2023, and to help create clearer career pathways and improve course content and consistency to ensure training supports the existing and future workforce.
This is a 12-month project that is expected to be completed by June 2026.
Project Scope
We will review 2 qualifications and 8 units of competency that support training for the following occupations:
- instrument technician
- sterilisation assistant
- sterilisation technician
- Central Sterilisation Service Department supervisor
- senior instrument technician
- sterilisation supervisor.
Typically, sterilisation technicians clean, sterilise, and package surgical instruments and other hospital equipment. Their work is critical for infection control and patient safety in healthcare facilities.
Qualifications and Units of Competency
Currently there are 2 qualifications and 8 units of competency specific to sterilisation services. You are invited to provide feedback on these current training products by completing surveys.
Qualifications
Units of Competency
Complete survey
Project Governance and Consultation Strategy
We have established a Technical Committee of members selected for their relevant expertise on the diverse aspects of the project.
Project fact sheet
View the Terms of Reference and Technical Committee members.
Our Project Consultation Strategy has been finalised and is available to download.
July 2025
Information gathering activities will be undertaken to prepare drafts units of competency, qualifications and skill sets for national stakeholder consultations. These include:
- a Technical Committee meeting to source stakeholders to consult on qualifications content, for insight on communication and consultation strategies, and to provide technical knowledge of the skills required to meet the desired vocational outcomes
- 16 one-on-one employer interviews to determine the skills required in their organisations, career pathways for workers and focused changes in their sector in the foreseeable future. These will include employers from small, medium and large employers
- an online functional analysis workshop with industry stakeholders from all Australian jurisdictions to determine skill commonalities and differences. This will assist in determining core and elective components of the draft qualifications
- desktop research used to gather publicly available information on industry standards, working conditions and employer recruitment selection criteria.
Qualifications and Units of Competency
Currently there are 2 qualifications and 8 units of competency specific to sterilisation services. You are invited to provide feedback on these current training products by completing surveys.
Qualifications
Units of Competency
Complete survey
September 2025 to November 2025
We're inviting registered training organisations, educational experts, subject matter experts, industry bodies, unions, employers, providers, employers, First Nations people and other relevant people to attend a consultation workshop for the Sterilisation Services Qualification review.
These workshops will help us to:
- understand industry changes and the skills, knowledge, practice and requirements needed for Certificate III and Certificate IV in Sterilisation Services qualifications
- understand current challenges, gaps, opportunities and potential solutions
- identify and inform changes for the qualifications, units of competency and skill sets
- identify functions that are common across all settings/specific settings and pathways within the sector
- gain advice on the development of resources, guidance on delivery and pathways information.
Before we hold the consultation workshops, we'll host a 1.5 hour online information session about the workshops which will include what to expect, who should attend and how to help us spread the word about the project.
- Online information session: Wednesday 27 August 2025, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm AEST
Register to attend
Consultation workshops
- Darwin: Tuesday 9 September 2025 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ACST
Industry Skills Advisory Council NT (ISCANT) Office, Parap
Register to attend
- Brisbane: Thursday 11 September 2025, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm AEST
The Sebel Hotel, Brisbane
Register to attend
- Online: Wednesday 17 September 2025, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm AEST
Register to attend
- Online: Wednesday 24 September 2025, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm AEST
Register to attend
- Online: Wednesday 1 October 2025, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm AEST
Register to attend
- Perth: Tuesday 14 October 2025, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm AWST
Mercure Perth
Register to attend
- Adelaide: Thursday 16 October 2025, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ACST
The Pullman Hotel, Adelaide
Register to attend
- Sydney: Tuesday 21 October 2025, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm AEST
The Grace Hotel, Sydney
Register to attend
- Canberra: Thursday 23 October 2025, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm AEST
Peppers Gallery Hotel, Acton
Register to attend
- Melbourne: Tuesday 28 October 2025, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm AEST
VET Development Centre, Melbourne
Register to attend
- Hobart: Thursday 30 October 2025, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm AEST
Hadley's Orient Hotel, Hobart
Register to attend
December 2025 to February 2026
Details to come.
March 2026 to April 2026
Details to come.