The standing committee is one of nine general purpose investigatory committees established by the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Australia.

Information on the establishment, role and powers of House of Representatives committees can be found at the Committee Office home page and in chapters 16 and 17 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives.

In summary, the role of the Standing Committee on Health is to carry out inquiries into matters referred to it by the House of Representatives or a Minister of the Commonwealth Government. The Committee could also inquire into matters raised in annual reports of Commonwealth Government departments and authorities or reports by the Commonwealth Auditor-General.

The committee has had the following name change in recent Parliaments:

• 2013 to present: Standing Committee on Health
• 2004 – 2013: Standing Committee on Health and Ageing
• 2001 - 2004: Standing Committee on Ageing.