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Subsidised accreditation for existing homes assessors and trainees
Accreditation fees will be fully subsidised for all currently accredited NatHERS for existing homes assessors and current industry transition trainees, until at least 30 June 2027.
This will help current assessors and trainees to remain in the industry while demand for assessments develops over the next year.
Accreditation fees for incoming assessors after the release of Stage 2, and for current assessors from 1 July 2027 onwards, will be reviewed and confirmed closer to the date based on the number of accredited assessors and having regard to market conditions.
Note: NatHERS for new homes assessors will be able to be accredited for existing homes at no additional cost. However, they will continue to pay membership fees to their chosen AAO (including with DMN).
Free access to magicplan extended
The Australian Government is extending its support for NatHERS existing homes assessors to access software tools.
NatHERS for existing homes assessors and industry transition trainees will continue to have free access to magicplan until 30 June 2027, capped at 220 licenses.
Alongside this support, the NatHERS Administrator is actively working with a number of software developers to support them through the accreditation process to become NatHERS User Interfaces (UI), with 7 developers having submitted expressions of interest to develop a UI.
Accredited UIs will support faster, more streamlined assessments which will improve the user experience for assessors and help drive down assessment times and costs.
Existing homes software enhancements from mid-2026
Updated versions of software tools will be released to coincide with the Stage 2 roll out of NatHERS for existing homes from mid-2026. A key focus of the software changes is to reduce the time and cost of assessments.
The updates are almost complete, with the focus now on testing and integration. Key improvements include:
- streamlining the magicplan process by redesigning the data collection forms to better align with the typical assessment workflow
- improving the data that is transferred from magicplan to AccuRate Enterprise, reducing the need for manual re-entry.
Further improvements will continue after the Stage 2 release, with the accreditation of third-party NatHERS User Interfaces expected to streamline processes and help drive down assessment times even further.
Help shape the future of NatHERS
As NatHERS begins an exciting new chapter with the roll out of Stage 2 for existing homes from mid-year, we are seeking new members to join two key committees.
Applications are open for both the NatHERS Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Stakeholder Consultative Group (SCG), with current memberships for both groups due to expire on 30 June 2026.
New members with various expertise are welcome from a range of industries including property, finance, building and construction, software tools, building physics and window glazing and shading. Current members can also apply to renew their membership for the new sitting period through to 30 June 2028.
The TAC provides expert advice about NatHERS technical settings, assessment methods, software and modelling issues.
The SCG provides stakeholder and industry input on policy and program design, while supporting scheme implementation, improvements and decisions on operational activities.
If you are interested in applying for either committee, please email: admin@nathers.gov.au.
NCC 2025 software accreditation updates
The National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 was released on 1 May 2026. States and territories will be adopting the updated code according to individual jurisdictional arrangements.
There are no major energy efficiency changes for residential buildings in the NCC 2025. Assessors can continue to use currently accredited NatHERS software when NCC 2025 is adopted in their jurisdiction.
To ensure software remains aligned and up-to-date, NatHERS software for new homes is being re-accredited and updated, incorporating minor non-regulatory improvements such as:
- certificate updates, including Whole of Home clarifications; and
- optional software implementation for displaying the modelled airtightness of the design. The next Technical Note and Handbook will include guidance and further information on this functionality to assist assessors.
If you have queries about any of the changes, email: admin@nathers.gov.au.
NCC information sessions
If you want to learn more about the NCC 2025 updates, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is holding webinars between 25 and 30 June. Registrations are now open. If you cannot attend, video recordings will be available (Q&As not included).
Authored on
13 May 2026