Expansion of newborn bloodspot screening

Expanding the program

We are expanding our NBS programs to increase the number and consistency of conditions we screen. We are working in partnership with states and territories who deliver NBS programs through their hospital and pathology networks.

The Australian Government is investing $107.3 million from 2022–23 to 2027–28 to support expansion. This includes:

• $39 million funding committed from Budget 2022–23, including funding of $25.3 million for states and territories
• $68.3 million committed from Budget 2024–25, including funding of $43.3 million (announced through MYEFO 2024–25) for states and territories.

The expansion of Australia’s NBS programs will deliver:

• a more consistent program that families can continue to trust
• an increase in number of conditions screened
• equitable screening and access, regardless of location
• opportunities for the public to contribute to the process
• a more open, transparent and accessible process to identify and consider conditions
• a collaborative approach across states and territories that brings all Australian health ministers together.

To learn more about what expansion means for you, progress this far, and upcoming milestones, read our NBS expansion fact sheet.

Key milestones

Key milestones this far include:

• agreeing a national list of target conditions, and achieving national consistency against this list
• the endorsement of the national decision-making pathway by all Australian health ministers
• a total of 76 conditions either being screened, agreed for screening, being considered or that have been considered for screening in Australia
• agreement from Health Ministers to add sickle cell disease as a new target condition in NBS programs nationally
• agreement from Health Ministers to add x-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) as a new target condition in NBS programs nationally for male newborns (and agreement to commission further work in relation to screening female newborns)
• targeted consultation with 30 stakeholder groups and an open consultation which received 105 responses nationally.

NBS decision-making pathway

We developed the NBS decision-making pathway to support the NBS expansion.

States and territories independently deliver NBS programs. All jurisdictions and the Australian Government work together to consider which conditions we screen.

Through the pathway, all Australian health ministers consider advice on conditions from governance and advisory committees, including MSAC. They then collectively make decisions on whether to add new conditions to NBS programs.

For the first time in the history of Australia’s NBS programs, we have a clear pathway that promotes:

• transparency
• consistency and expanded screening
• collaboration and efficiency.

The pathway will also maintain the safety of the programs and high-quality screening that is trusted by families.

To learn more, see the NBS decision-making pathway fact sheet. We have developed this resource to answer questions that you may have about the process.

Next steps

Immediate next steps include developing a national process to identify conditions. This will be a transparent and ongoing process. We will invite clinicians, advocates, families and other experts to share their knowledge and experience on potential conditions for the programs.

We will provide more information on this page as we formalise this process.

Resources