Car parking provisions

Directive number: QH-HSD-042

Effective date: 5 August 2025

Review date: 12 July 2028

Supersedes: Version 2

On this page:

• Purpose
• Scope
• Principles
• Outcomes
• Mandatory requirements
• Compliance
• Human Rights
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander considerations
• Related or governing legislation, policy and agreements
• Supporting documents
• Business area contact
• Approval and implementation
• Review
• Definitions of terms used in this directive
• Version control

Purpose

The purpose of this Health Service Directive (this Directive) is to provide safe, accessible and affordable car parking at Queensland’s public hospitals for patients, their carers, visitors and hospital staff.

Scope

This Directive applies to all Hospital and Health Services (HHSs).

Principles

This Directive is guided by the following principles:

• Hospital car parks provide necessary support infrastructure for the provision of health services.
• Car parking supply is to be aligned with the efficient and safe operation of the hospital, considering access needs for patients, their carers and visitors, and hospital staff.
• Proposals for new hospital car park infrastructure should be supported through strategic planning and asset management planning.
• Car parking should be affordable and accessible for all patients, their carers and visitors.
• Car park operations are appropriately managed using robust financial processes and are self-sustaining to ensure public funds continue to be directed towards clinical services.

Outcomes

This Directive requires each HHS to develop the following for each hospital it administers:

• A local Staff Car Parking Policy that addresses car parking for staff where their safety is at an escalated risk (shifts completing or commencing between 6.00pm and 6.00am) and on-call staff where ready workplace access is required for emergency needs. The provision of general staff car parking is to consider the operational needs of the hospital and the clinical needs of patients and their carers and visitors.
• A local Hospital Car Park Strategy (the Strategy)* that seeks to achieve affordable and accessible car parking for patients, their carers, visitors, and hospital staff. The Strategy is to include a geographic car park plan and a local approach to patient, carer and visitor accessibility, staff parking locations, user safety, and any tariffs and concessions. The Strategy should also align with any HHS hospital master planning and service plans, considering both the short and long term car parking needs of the hospital.
• For hospitals with paid parking, a local Car Parking Concessions Policy and supporting local Car Parking Concessions Procedure for eligible patients and their carers.

*Not required for rural and remote sites with no need for additional car parking provision.

Mandatory requirements

In order to meet the Outcomes stated in this Directive:

• All hospitals are to have a local Staff Car Parking Policy that is generally aligned with the Health Service Directive Guideline Hospital Car Parking – Provision of Staff Parking;
• All hospitals are to have a local Strategy* in place, which will assist the HHS and Department of Health in determining the need for new car park infrastructure;
• Hospitals with paid parking are to have a local Car Parking Concessions Policy and supporting Car Parking Concessions Procedure developed in adherence with the Health Service Directive Standard Hospital Car Parking – Patient and Carer Car Parking Concession;
• The HHS must appropriately consult with relevant hospital employees, consumer groups and patients during the development of its local Strategy, Policies and Procedures; and
• The HHS must appropriately communicate the local Strategy, Policies and Procedure/s to patients, their carers, visitors and hospital staff to ensure information relating to hospital car parking is available to all users.

*Not required for rural and remote sites with no need for additional car parking provision.

Compliance

Compliance with this directive will be determined via:

• Hospital and Health Services are responsible for ensuring compliance with this directive.

Human Rights

Human rights are not engaged by this directive.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander considerations

In adhering to this directive, HHSs must consider the impact of this directive, including the stated mandatory requirements, may have on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, particularly cultural impacts.

Related or governing legislation, policy and agreements

• Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011, Qld
• Public Sector Act 2022
• Public Records Act 2002
• Right to Information Act 2009
• Human Rights Act 2019
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011

Supporting documents

• Health Service Directive Standard – Hospital Car Parking – Patient and Carer Car Parking Concessions Standard # QH-HSDSTD-042-2
• Health Service Directive Guideline – Hospital Car Parking – Provision of Staff Parking Guideline # QH-HSDGDL-042-1

Business area contact

• Carparking team of Financial Policy and Business Requirements, Finance Branch, Corporate Services Division

Approval and implementation

Directive Custodian

Chief Finance Officer, Department of Health

Approval by Chief Executive

Director-General, Department of Health

Approval date: 12 July 2025

Issued under Section 47 of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011.

Review

This Health Service Directive will be reviewed at least every three years.

Next review due by: 12/07/2028

Definitions of terms used in this directive

Version control

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