Australian Assessment Pathways
NatHERS, BASIX and BESS can all appear within Australian building projects, but they apply in different jurisdictions, answer different assessment questions and produce different forms of documentation.
The three names are often grouped together because each can influence the design and documentation of a residential development. That does not make them interchangeable. NatHERS is a residential energy-rating framework. BASIX is a New South Wales residential sustainability requirement. BESS is a Victorian planning-stage sustainable design assessment.
The correct starting point is usually the project location, building type and approval pathway. A house in New South Wales may need BASIX together with NatHERS modelling. A Victorian apartment development may need BESS at planning stage and NatHERS as a separate residential energy assessment. A Victorian commercial development may require BESS but would not use NatHERS.
This guide compares the role of each framework without replacing the detailed requirements of the individual pathways. For project-specific guidance, review the relevant council, planning authority and building approval requirements.
