The Licensing and Accreditation Regulatory Unit (LARU) is responsible for the licensing and monitoring of private hospitals, psychiatric hostels, nursing homes, nursing posts, and human reproductive technology (HRT) practices and or storage facilities in Western Australia.
Private hospitals (all classes)
This is carried out under the authority of the Private Hospitals and Health Services Act 1927 (external site) and the provisions of the Private Hospitals (Licensing and Conduct of Private Hospitals) Regulations 1987 (external site) and the Private Hospitals (Licensing and Conduct of Private Psychiatric Hostels) Regulations 1997 (external site).
Accreditation of public and private healthcare facilities
The Department of Health Licensing and Accreditation Regulatory Unit (LARU) is the state regulator responsible for regulating accreditation of all public and private hospitals, private day hospitals (Class A) and public dental services as per the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation (AHSSQA) Scheme in Western Australia.
The National Health Reform Act 2011 establishes the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) which is responsible for formulating National Safety and Quality Standards relating to health care safety and quality matters. This includes formulating and coordinating the AHSSQA Scheme, which provides for the national coordination of accreditation processes.
Read more about accreditation (external site).
Private assisted reproductive technology (ART) practices and or storage facilities
This is carried out under the authority of the Human Reproductive Technology Act 1991 (external site), Human Reproductive Technology Regulations 1993 (external site)and the Human Reproductive Technology Directions 2021 (external site).
Accreditation of private assisted reproductive technology (ART) practices and or storage facilities
The Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC) of the Fertility Society of Australia is the national regulator responsible for regulating accreditation of all assisted reproductive technology practices and or storage facilities in Australia, as per the RTAC Codes of Practice.
It is a requirement of the Human Reproductive Technology Act 1991, Part 4 s 29 5(aa) that all licence applicants are accredited to carry out reproductive technology by RTAC.
Read more about accreditation (external site).
Dental practices
WA Dental Expert Working Group
Working Group Communique 16 February 2026
Key updates from the WA Dental Expert Working Group
- The working group acknowledges the importance of access to high quality dental services for ensuring good oral and general health.
- The working group noted the technological advances, changing funding environment and consumer expectations, evolving clinical practices, which have enabled the provision of an increasing number of procedures outside a traditional hospital environment.
- The working group considered the need for a balanced regulatory approach and the interplay with co-regulators such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to ensure that dentists and sedationists are competent and procedures are performed in an environment which addresses the safety risks to patients.
- The working group agreed that reforms to the Private Hospitals and Health Services Act 1927 present an opportunity to clarify the licensing status of dental services.
Agreed outcomes
- The Department of Health will seek to update the Private Hospitals and Health Services Act 1927.
- Upon passage through Parliament of the new Act, the Dental Expert Working Group will contribute to the development of dental specific Regulations which will outline the regulatory standards for dental services.
Background
- Further to patient safety concerns raised by the Australian Society of Anaesthetists of dental procedures conducted under anaesthesia or intravenous sedation, the Department of Health worked with the Australian Dental Association to understand the frequency of this practice; and established the Dental Expert Working Group to inform development of dental licensing framework and provide guidance for the implementation of licensing requirements for all private dental practices performing procedures under sedation.
Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing efforts to support safe care for our patients.
Western Australia Health Facility Guidelines for Engineering Services
The Western Australia Health Facility Guidelines for Engineering Services (WAHFG ES) have undergone a comprehensive review and update by industry subject matter experts. The WAHFG ES 2025 (PDF 3.2MB) document is contemporary and responsive to the regulatory requirements and level of clinical risk across different types of hospitals and health care facilities located across metropolitan, regional and rural Western Australia. The WAHFG ES 2025 has been approved for publication by the Director General of Health and will supersede the WAHFG ES 2021 Guidelines from Monday 2 February 2026.
There will be a grace period for all new Approval in Principle building applications and each application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. All building applications currently going through the LARU Building Approval Process will continue to be assessed against the WAHFG ES 2021 (PDF 1.08MB) version. The LARU wish to thank all stakeholders who have contributed to this review.
Contact details
RTU /LARU Office Hours are from 8am to 1630pm Monday to Friday except for public holidays
LARU contact details
ART / RTU contact details
Last reviewed: 30-01-2026
Produced by
Licensing and Accreditation Regulatory Unit