The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is designated as the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for the Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) in Australia. The Australian Collaborating Centre (ACC) assists the WHO with their efforts to support national and international health information systems, statistics and evidence. The ACC is part of a Network of collaborating centres that contribute to the development, dissemination, maintenance and use of products that help categorise concepts in health and the health system.

WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC)

The WHO-FIC includes reference classifications, derived classifications, and related classifications. The reference classifications serve as the global standards for health data, clinical documentation and statistical aggregation. They enable capture of the following health areas: diseases, health problems, body function, body structure, activity, participation and interventions. They include:

  • The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD)
  • The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
  • The International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI).

The other classifications are either based on (derived classifications) or separate to (related classifications) these three reference classifications. Together, the classifications are known as the Family of International Classifications and the network of collaborating centres is known as the WHO-FIC Network.

These products are used in different ways across different countries. Tables 1, 2 and 3 below describe how the different classifications of the WHO-FIC are used in Australia.

Table 1. Reference classifications and their use in Australia

Classifications that cover the main areas of health and the health system. These classifications are maintained by the WHO.

Reference classifications
Name and link Subject area Use in Australia
ICD
International Classification of Diseases
ICD-10 2019 (current)
ICD-11 (release version)
ICD-11 (coding tool for release version)
ICD-11 (maintenance version)
ICD-11 (coding tool for maintenance version)
Diseases
Health problems
Body structures
Mortality statistics (cause of death)
ICF
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
ICF
Body function
Disability
Activity
Participation
Environmental health
Population surveys
Measuring health and disability
ICHI
International Classification of Health Interventions
ICHI
Interventions
Procedures
Classification under development, not used in Australia

Table 2. Derived classifications and their use in Australia

There are a number of derived classifications in the WHO-FIC. Only the ones in use in Australia are shown in Table 2.

Classifications that are based on one or more reference classifications. These classifications are maintained by the WHO.

Derived classifications
Name and link Subject area Use in Australia
ICD-10-AM
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health Related Problems, Australian Modification
ICD-10-AM 11th edition (current)
Diseases
Health problems
Body structures
Morbidity statistics (disease)
ICD-O
International Classification of Oncology
ICD-O-3 (file download)
Oncology Cancer registry
Cancer reporting
ICD Mental Health
ICD Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Diagnostic Criteria for Research
ICD-10 : DCR-10 (file download)

ICD Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines
ICD-10: CDDG
Mental Health No official implementation
ICD-NA
Application of the International Classification of Diseases to Neurology
ICD-10-NA
Neurology No official implementation
ICD-DA
Application of the International Classification of Diseases to Dentistry and Stomatology
ICD-DA (3rd edition)
Dentistry
Oral health
No official implementation

Table 3. Related classifications and their use in Australia

These classifications describe important aspects of health or the health system, and not covered by the reference or derived classifications.

Related classifications
Name and link Subject area Use in Australia
ICPC
International Classification of Primary Care
ICPC-2
Maintained by: WONCA International Classification Committee (WICC)
ICPC-2 PLUS
Maintained by: Family Medicine Research Centre (FMRC)
Primary care
General practice
Electronic health records
ICECI
International Classification of External Causes of Injury
ICECI
Maintained by: ICECI Coordination and Maintenance Group.
External causes Injury surveillance
National Coronial Information System
ATC/DDD
Anatomical, Therapeutic, Chemical classification system with Daily Defined Doses
ATC/DDD System
Maintained by: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology
Therapeutic drugs Drug utilisation research
ISO 9999
Technical aids for persons with disabilities
ISO 9999:2016
Maintained by: International Organization for Standardization
Technical aids Disability services data collection
ICNP
International Classification for Nursing Practice
ICNP
Maintained by: International Council of Nurses
Nursing practice  

Table 4. Australian classifications

These classifications are maintained by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA) and are governed by the rules set out in the Australian Coding Standards (ACS) volume of the ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS classification system.

Australian classifications
Name and link Subject area Initially derived from
ICD-10-AM
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health Related Problems, Australian Modification
ICD-10-AM 11th edition (current)
Diseases
Health problems
Body structures
ICD-10
ACHI
Australian Classification of Health Interventions
ACHI 11th edition (current)
Interventions
Procedures
Medicare Benefits Schedule

WHO-FIC Network committee and reference groups

A number of experts from different WHO-FIC collaborating centres, including those from the Australian Collaborating Centre, participate in the activities of the Network's committees and reference groups to support the Network’s strategic work plan. The Network committees are:

  • Education and Implementation Committee (EIC)
  • Family Development Committee (FDC)
  • Informatics and Terminology Committee (ITC)
  • Classification and Statistics Advisory Committee (CSAC)

The reference groups allow the Network to provide for more technical discussions and participation by a wider range of experts and interested parties. The current WHO-FIC reference groups are:

  • Functioning and Disability Reference Group (FDRG)
  • Morbidity Reference Group (MbRG)
  • Mortality Reference Group (MRG)
  • Traditional Medicine Reference Group (TMRG)
  • Verbal Autopsy Reference Group (VARG)

Further details of the Australian Collaborating Centre

The Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for the Family of International Classifications Australia is Michael Frost, Senior Executive of the AIHW’s Data Governance Group.

For further information on the work of the WHO-FIC Network or the Australian Collaborating Centre please contact the secretariat.

Contact details
Postal address Secretariat, Australian WHO-FIC Collaborating Centre
PO Box 570
Canberra
ACT 2601
Telephone (02) 6244 1000 (International callers, please use +61 2 6244 1000)
Facsimile 02) 6244 1299
Email address [email protected]