Infection control management plans

What to know

Chapter 4, Part 3 of the Public Health Act 2005 (Qld) (the Act) requires persons involved in the provision of declared health services to take reasonable precautions and care to minimise the risk of infection to other persons.

All facilities providing declared health services as defined under the Act must have an infection control management plan (ICMP) and review and update it before offering new declared health services.

An infection control management plan is a documented plan to prevent or minimise the risk of infection related to a declared health services for:

  • persons receiving services at the facility; and
  • persons employed or engaged at the facility; and
  • other persons at risk of infection at the facility.

Chapter 4 of the Act does not apply to:

  • private health facility (please refer to Division 3, Part 3 of the Private Health Facilities Act 1999); or
  • areas within a health care facility used for food services including, for example, the preparation and handling and storage of food; or
  • an aged care service conducted by an approved provider under the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth).

Meaning of declared health service

A declared health service means a service intended to maintain, improve or restore a person’s health AND involves an invasive procedure (for example, the insertion of an instrument, appliance or other object into human tissue, organs, body cavities or body orifices) or an activity that exposes a person to blood or another bodily fluid.

Examples of healthcare facilities requiring an infection control management plan

A healthcare facility that provides declared health services includes mobile premises associated with the facility and other premises or places that persons employed or otherwise engaged at the facility provide the declared health service. It may include, but is not limited to:

  • public hospitals
  • dental clinics
  • blood banks
  • specialist practice clinics
  • podiatry clinics
  • acupuncturists
  • physiotherapists
  • independent midwives
  • pathology laboratories
  • occupational therapists
  • speech therapists
  • optometrists
  • stem cell transplant services
  • radiology services/diagnostic imaging
  • hyperbaric medicine
  • Aboriginal healthcare services
  • diabetes educators
  • dermatology services
  • pharmacies
  • school nurse service
  • correction services
  • Chinese medicine.

Further guidance can be found in section 149 of the Act.

Exempt facilities

The Public Health Regulation 2018 (Qld) lists the following health care facilities as exempt from the requirement to develop and maintain an infection control management plan:

  • general practice
    • the practice much achieve and maintain accreditation against the 'Standards for general practices' developed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and accredited by an approved accreditation organisation.
      (Organisations which assess general practices against the Standards must be approved by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare. A list of approved accreditation organisations is available on the Commission's website.)
  • local government immunisation service
    • must have developed and implemented an occupational exposure and a sharps disposal policy.

Chapter 4 obligations must still be met by these facilities.

Information for consumers

Consumers can expect that healthcare facilities providing declared health services in Queensland have a documented and regularly reviewed infection control management plan in place to protect patients, staff, and visitors from infection risks.

For more information, contact your local Queensland Health Public Health Unit.

Developing and reviewing ICMP

The Infection Control Management Plan - Development Guideline (PDF 899 kB) is available for health care facilities providing declared health services with the key information required to develop, implement and maintain an infection control management plan.

The following templates are available to support health care facilities in developing and implementing an infection control management plan:

Quick reference guide

7 steps to developing an infection control management plan

StepDescription
One Identify the owner/operator of the healthcare facility:
  • The owner is responsible for the work practices of all people delivering declared health services to clients. It may be a company entity.
  • The operator is the person who has the day-to-day operation and control of the facility, this may also be the owner.
Two

Identify any declared health services offered by the healthcare facility or service:

  • These are services involving invasive procedures that expose individuals to blood or bodily fluids.
  • Review and update the ICMP whenever new services are introduced.
Three

Assess the level of risk:

  • Evaluate infection risks for each procedure, considering both general and procedure-specific risks, and ensure standard precautions are consistently applied.
Four

Manage the infection risks in the healthcare facility or service by:

  • Applying the hierarchy of controls to manage infection risks
  • Support risk control with procedures and staff awareness
Five

Monitor risk management measures.:

  • Include monitoring methods in the ICMP, such as audits, inspections, surveys, and incident reviews, to assess the effectiveness of infection control strategies.
  • Use self-audit tools and professional guidelines to identify strengths and areas for improvement, and adjust practices, equipment, or training as needed based on findings.
Six

Staff training

  • Provide role-specific infection control training for all staff using various learning formats to ensure staff competency and compliance with infection prevention standards
Seven

Responsibility for Infection Risk Management:

  • Owners/operators share legal responsibility for infection control ensuring an ICMP is signed and dated and regularly reviewed.

Templates

Evidence statement

The content of this page is informed by Chapter 4, Part 3 of the Public Health Act 2005 (Qld).

Further information

Last updated: 28 April 2026