Governance

entry nook to kitchen
Shutterstock.com

Operation of the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is administered by the Commonwealth Government on behalf of all Australian governments. NatHERS activities are overseen by a Steering Committee, which includes representatives from the Commonwealth Government and all state and territory governments.

Under these arrangements, the Commonwealth Government, acting as the NatHERS Administrator, is responsible for:

  • accreditation of NatHERS software tools
  • approval and oversight of NatHERS Assessor Accrediting Organisations (AAOs)
  • Development and maintenance of NatHERS Protocols and procedures;
  • Management of upgrades to CSIRO’s Chenath calculation engine (which currently underpins all of the NatHERS software tools);
  • Communication with industry, government and consumer stakeholders; and
  • NatHERS development.

NatHERS provides a ‘measuring tape’ for rating residential building energy efficiency. How NatHERS is used for regulatory purposes, through the National Construction Code (NCC), is overseen by state and territory governments. 

The NatHERS Administrator and Steering Committee are expertly advised on technical issues and developments by the NatHERS Software Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and provided with stakeholder and industry views on various aspects of the scheme by the NatHERS Stakeholder Consultative Group (SCG). 

Further information on the Scheme's administration is contained in the NatHERS administrative and governance arrangements paper.

  • NatHERS administrative and governance arrangements [PDF 392 KB]
  • NatHERS administrative and governance arrangements [DOC 169 KB]

2016 NatHERS Governance and Operational Review

In 2016, as per the NatHERS Strategic Plan 2015-2018, the NatHERS Administrator engaged ACIL Allen Consulting to undertake an independent governance and operational review of NatHERS.

EEAT has finalised its response to the recommendations for the Governance Review on the possible future directions for NatHERS governance and operations.

In response to the Governance Review a stakeholder strategy has been developed including a service charter which outlines the NatHERS Administrator’s commitments to its stakeholders over the 2016/17 Financial year.

Accreditation

Processes for software and AAO accreditation are outlined respectively in the NatHERS Software Accreditation Protocol and Protocol for Assessor Accrediting Organisations. An updated AAO Protocol comes into effect on 1 July 2016 (Noting clause 4.5 –; Continuing Professional Development will only come into effect when assessors next renew their annual accreditation after 1 July 2016).

NatHERS Strategic Plan

In April 2018, the NatHERS Steering Committee released the NatHERS Strategic Plan for 2018-2022. The Strategic Plan was developed in consultation with the NatHERS Stakeholder Consultative Group (SCG). The Strategic Plan establishes a clear Purpose and Objectives for NatHERS, as well as Strategic Goals and Priorities for the next four years. The proposed Activities in the Strategic Plan will inform annual planning and prioritisation of activities for the NatHERS Administrator.

An inaugural Strategic Plan for 2015-2018 was released in August 2015, which underwent minor amendments in 2016 and 2017.

The National Construction Code

Obtaining a NatHERS rating at the required star level is specified in the National Construction Code (NCC) as one of the ways of demonstrating compliance with the energy efficiency (thermal performance) requirements for new houses and apartments.

For further information on the NCC and state and territory based regulations, check the NCC and regulations page.