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This flowchart provides a summary of the roles of guideline developers, the Office of NHMRC (ONHMRC) and NHMRC Council at each stage of the NHMRC guideline approval process. A PDF version is available to download.

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The content of this resource is based on the Procedures and Requirements for Meeting NHMRC Standards for Clinical Practice Guidelines, version 2.0.

Flowchart: NHMRC guideline approval process roles and responsibilities
StageDeveloperONHMRCNHMRC Council

1. Register

(allow 4 weeks for NHMRC to respond)

  • Contact NHMRC to discuss eligibility before you start developing your guideline
  • Provide needs analysis and other key details via the Registration Form
  • Assess information provided at registration
  • Write to the NHMRC CEO to seek consideration of the guideline for approval
  • Organise meeting to discuss next steps (if registration is accepted)
  • NHMRC CEO may seek advice from Council before deciding on consideration of the guideline
  • Note the newly registered guideline and its clinical topic area
2. Develop
  • Establish guideline development group
  • Complete systematic reviews of evidence
  • Submit progress report and nominate independent clinical (peer) reviewers 6 months before public consultation
  • Notify NHMRC of public consultation dates
  • Review progress report to identify any major issues or gaps
  • Contact independent clinical (peer) reviewers
  • Contract independent methodological reviewers
  • Note the estimated dates for public consultation and submission for consideration by Council

3. Consult

(at least 30 days)

  • Publish notice inviting public submissions
  • Conduct public consultation (minimum 30 days)
  • Document and respond to submissions
  • Review feedback from independent reviews
  • Commission independent reviews (methodological and clinical expert reviews)
  • Provide de-identified feedback from reviews
  • Help promote public consultation by sending the invitation to Council and publishing a notice on Tracker newsletter
  • Provide feedback on the draft guideline
  • Promote consultation within networks
  • Seek advice from jurisdictions

4. Submit

(at least 8 weeks before Council meeting)

  • Confirm submission date with NHMRC
  • Submit final draft guideline and other companion documents
  • If asked, join the guideline's session at Council meeting as a guest
  • Schedule guideline for NHMRC Council meeting
  • Review and prepare the submission documents for consideration by Council
  • Review and consider the draft recommendations
  • Advise the NHMRC CEO to approve or not approve the recommendations
5. Publish
  • Publish guideline within 16 weeks of NHMRC approval
  • Make guideline freely available
  • Provide instructions on publishing requirements and use of NHMRC logo
  • Publish approval announcement in NHMRC Tracker newsletter
  • Note that the guideline has been published
6. Disseminate
  • Implement dissemination plan
  • Engage with stakeholders and promote guideline
  • Provide information on NHMRC website
  • Support dissemination efforts
  • Support dissemination within Council members’ networks where relevant

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