What’s changing for ODC service users

We are refining your experience of the Health Business Services (HBS) Portal making it easier to do business with us.

The new system goes live from 9 June 2026. There will be associated service outages while we transition. The system will be unavailable from 7 pm (AEST) on Friday, 5 June to 9 am AEST) on Tuesday, 9 June 2026.

As part of the system upgrade, we will not transfer your draft applications.  

The cut off for draft applications to be submitted for assessment was by 4pm (AEST) on 29 May 2026. 

If you did not submit by this date:

• please save a copy of your information offline
• re-enter your application once the new system goes live.

What’s new

We’ve introduced several updates to improve usability and make it easier to manage applications in the portal. New features include:

• A submission dashboard with improved tracking to better enable you to monitor the progress of new applications.
• A new design to make forms easier to find and access. Frequently used applications can now be bookmarked.
• An updated look and feel, offering a more modern interface and easier navigation across the portal.
• New functionality will enable online submission of some additional ODC forms, including medicinal cannabis and narcotic drugs variations.

What’s changing

Some existing processes have been refined to improve efficiency, clarity and streamline how you work.

A brief overview of what’s changing is listed below to help prepare for the release.

We will provide guidance materials on all of these new processes on the ODC How to page from 9 June 2026.

Signing in

Existing users

Existing Australian users will be able to sign in to HBS with their myID as usual:

• If you are already associated with an organisation or personal client account, an ODC service tile will be available on the home page. Selecting this tile will allow the user to access the ODC service.
• If you are not currently associated with an existing organisation/account in the system, you will not be able to access the ODC service. You will need to either register an organisation or be added as contact to an existing organisation.

New Australian users

• You verify your identity through Health Business Services (HBS) by registering and signing in using myID.
• myID is the Australian Government’s standard way to prove who you are online.
• If you don’t already have a myID, set up myID
• To access the ODC service, you will need to either register an organisation or be added as contact to an existing organisation.

International users or users with international ID documents

• You access ODC through HBS, but identity verification works differently.
• As myID is only for Australian users, you will need to register for HBS with an email address. The registration process includes a one-off identity verification step.
• Once registered, you can sign in to HBS with your email address and password.
• To access the ODC service, you will need to either register an organisation based in Australia or be added as contact to an existing organisation.

Forms moving into the portal

• This release includes a new online submission process for some additional ODC forms to replace the previous PDF based email submission process. Applications can now be completed and submitted online with clearer guidance, better tracking and real time updates.
• Five variation forms will move into the portal in this release:
  • Four medicinal cannabis licence variation forms (Types 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  • One narcotic drug manufacturing licence variation form

Remaining ODC forms will transition to the online submission process in future release(s).

Informed Consent Responder role

• Informed consent responders are now listed against applicant organisations ahead of time as a separate step for clarity and consistency. Responders will need access to the portal and will need to set up myID for access.

New organisations

• New organisations will need to complete a form available on the ODC website and submit via email. You will be advised when your organisation profile is established.
• Anyone acting for an organisation must register for HBS and be invited to join the organisation before completing regulatory tasks for example, being listed on an informed consent form.

Your user profile and registration details

Your user profile and registration details will be moved from the current HBS portal to the new HBS portal and ODC service. Please contact us if any of your details don’t look correct at HBS.Support@health.gov.au.

What’s staying the same

Several key elements of your access and experience will remain unchanged:

• The URL for the portal stays the same so your usual access point will not change.
• While it will be an enhanced platform, your account and access will be carried over and you will not need to do anything to make it happen.
• The ODC service will still include these existing forms:
  • Medicinal Cannabis Licence Application
  • Narcotic Drug Manufacturing Licence Application
  • Informed consent form.

What you need to do now

As part of our system upgrade, we will not automatically transfer your draft applications.

You can save a copy of your information offline and re‑enter your application once the new system goes live.

How we will support you

Prior to the go live, we aim to help you prepare for these changes by providing:

• email updates for key dates and reminders
• a short demonstration video to help you learn about the new online form submission process (see below)
• updated guidance on Portal help and Licences and permits closer to go live
• Contact us page for help desk support when you need it.

We will update this page as new resources are added.

Share your feedback

We want your feedback. We’d like your feedback through an 8 minute pre‑go‑live survey to help us understand how well prepared you feel for this transformation and where we can improve.

Take our survey

Our survey will take 8 minutes and gives us valuable insight into your experience with the portal.