The National Clinical Terminology Service (NCTS) is pleased to announce that the October combined release of SNOMED CT® AU[1] and the Australian Medicines Terminology (AMT) is now available to registered users from the NCTS website.
The latest Release Note and all release files (RF2 bundle, reference sets) can be downloaded from the Access tab.
SNOMED CT Description Length Increase - Important Information for Implementers
Following industry consultation in 2024, SNOMED International has increased the maximum length of Fully Specified Names (FSNs), Synonyms, and Preferred Terms from 255 to 4096 characters. Descriptions exceeding 255 characters have been introduced in the International SNOMED CT releases from August 2026 onwards.
Within the Australian Extension (SNOMED CT-AU), the standard Description Type specification was extended to 2048 characters in 2014.
While there is no impact to the October 2026 release of SNOMED CT-AU, future releases of SNOMED CT-AU (or other SNOMED CT editions or extensions) may contain descriptions of up to 4096 characters.
Organisations that implement SNOMED CT-AU (or other SNOMED CT editions or extensions) descriptions should review their systems and assess any dependencies on current description length limits. This includes verifying that databases, interfaces, APIs, validation rules, reporting processes, and display functions can support description lengths of up to 4096 characters. Although no immediate action is required for the October 2026 release, proactive assessment and planning are recommended to ensure future compatibility and minimise implementation risks.
For further information or assistance, please contact the NCTS team at help@digitalhealth.gov.au.
Website content migration
The content of the Health Terminologies website is progressively being migrated to relevant sections of the Australian Digital Health Agency Implementer Hub. Please update any bookmarks as content moves to its new location.
Where can I find technical guides and other resources?
All SNOMED CT AU and AMT documentation, including technical and implementation guides, is freely available for download from the NCTS Document Library without registering or logging in. However, if you are a registered user we recommend that you log in before downloading any material so that we can better target our communications to you, based on the resources that you have downloaded.
Terminology browsers
Shrimp[2] is available online at https://ontoserver.csiro.au/shrimp. Search both SNOMED CT AU and AMT content, or browse the hierarchies by selecting the latest version of “SNOMED Clinical Terms Australian Extension” in the drop-down menu.
Terminology Engagement and Activity Update
October has been a significant month for terminology engagement, highlighted by the SNOMED International Expo 2026 in Sydney. As this is the first time the event in its current format has been hosted in Australia, it has provided a unique opportunity for the NCTS and its partners to showcase Australian leadership in clinical terminology, share implementation experiences, and engage with jurisdictions, vendors, clinicians and international stakeholders. The NCTS pre-conference workshop and Expo presentations have highlighted the practical role of terminology in supporting interoperability, demonstrating how standards-based approaches are enabling the consistent exchange and meaningful use of health information across healthcare settings.
We will provide a further update on the SNOMED meetings next month.
Feedback
Development by the NCTS relies on the input and cooperation of the Australian healthcare community. We value your feedback and encourage questions, comments, or suggestions about our products. You can contact us by completing the online support request form, emailing help@digitalhealth.gov.au, or calling 1300 901 001.
[1] "SNOMED" and "SNOMED CT" are registered trademarks of the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO).
[2] Shrimp was developed by the Australian e-Health Research Centre (AEHRC)