Content Update: HPU 390 Neonatal Care Unit and Standard Components for Neonatal Care

Date published 05/12/2025

Following extensive consultation with clinicians, technical experts, and consumers, the HPU 390 Neonatal Care Unit (Revision 8.0, December 2025) and the Neonatal Care Standard Components have been updated. 

Health Planning Unit:
Key changes to the document include:

  • Integration of neonatal care design principles to guide the planning and design of Neonatal Care Units, supporting improved short- and long-term outcomes for newborns.
  • Expanded design and spatial considerations for newborns requiring prolonged non-invasive ventilation, such as humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHFNC) oxygen and/or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
  • Enhanced planning and design guidance relating to newborn retrieval and transfer services.
  • Updated recommendations on nitric oxide usage, introducing the requirement for a risk assessment in situations where gas scavenging may be necessary.
  • Recommendation that decentralised ‘Office - Clinical Workrooms’ are provided on large units enabling medical and nursing staff to maintain close observation of newborns while performing administrative tasks.
  • Additional guidance for family lounge, overnight stay facilities, including bedrooms and associated ensuites within or adjacent to the Neonatal Care Unit, to promote equity of access for families. 

Standard Components:
The updated Standard Components include:

  • NEO-IC-HD - Patient Bay - Neonatal Care, Intensive Care / High Dependency (previously NBIC-HD)
  • PT-NEO-SC - Patient Bay - Neonatal Care, Special Care (previously NBLD)
  • LAUN-PT - Laundry - Patient / Visitor

Rooms have been updated to reflect contemporary operational models, equipment and design requirement, while maintaining support of family integrated care in both the intensive care / high dependency and special care bays. 

Project Resources:
Updates to the above Standard Components are also reflected in the following updated Project Resources: 

  • AusHFG Parts and HPU Document Register
  • Standard Component Document Register
  • Standard Component File for Import 

No changes have been made to the Item Control Schedule (Version 2.4 published on 12/11/2025).

Note: Due to changes to the Room Data Sheet (RDS) content and format, the File for Import has been provided as two separate files. One file provides the information for the Standard Components that are still published in the old RDS format with the 1.11 codes, while the other provides information for the Standard Components that are now published in the new RDS format with the 2.4 codes. This will be updated progressively as Standard Components are reviewed and re-published until all Standard Components are provided in the new format.

Due to a model update that is in progress, an updated version of the AusHFG Revit Model cannot be provided at this time.
The following Resources do NOT yet reflect the above changes to the Standard Components:

  • AusHFG Revit Model (and Shared Parameters)
  • AusHFG IFC Model

A thank you is extended to the many user representatives, jurisdictional representatives and consultants who have assisted in the review and production of these resources.

Kind regards,

The AusHFG Team