The National Clinical Terminology Service (NCTS) is pleased to announce that the September 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 September 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 September 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.
SNOMED International Expo and pre-conference workshops
Significant focus is on the upcoming SNOMED International Expo in Sydney this October, including delivery of the NCTS and Sparked pre-conference workshops on 21st October 2026. The NCTS workshop provides a significant platform to showcase Australian terminology capabilities, and participants will gain practical insights from implementation leaders from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Malaysia and Belgium, who will share their experiences, challenges, lessons learned and future priorities. The workshop will foster and support knowledge sharing and national and international collaboration on clinical terminology and interoperability.
Attendance at the workshops can be combined with the broader SNOMED International Expo (22-23 October), which brings together governments, software vendors, implementers and standards organisations from across the global health community.
The SNOMED CT Expo is more than an event; it is an opportunity to build knowledge, exchange ideas and help shape the future of interoperable healthcare. See the full agenda and register here.
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.
SNOMED CT-AU & AMT Foundation Courses Available
The Australian Digital Health Agency has recently released two new introductory eLearning courses through the Standards Academy, designed to build foundational knowledge of Australia's national clinical terminology standards.
Introduction to Australian Medicines Terminology (AMT)
This short, self-paced course provides foundational knowledge of Australian Medicines Terminology (AMT), including its concepts and use across the medicines management lifecycle. The course consists of four modules and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Introduction to SNOMED CT-AU
The course provides foundational knowledge of SNOMED CT-AU, why standardised terminology is important for safe and connected care, how it is structured, and where it is used within the Australian health system. The course consists of four modules and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
These courses can be found on the Standards Academy page:
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.
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.