In 1994, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) collaborated with industry and academic representatives on a Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) proposal for simulation-related research and development. While that proposal was not funded, project participants were enthused and decided to form an association, led by industry, to further the use and development of simulation in Australia. DSTO also hoped that such an association would manage a newly established annual simulation conference.
In 1996, after planning and negotiation, the Simulation Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) was formed (formerly Simulation Australia Ltd and now Simulation Australasia Ltd). Its primary goal was to conduct an annual conference, which it did so – SimTecT is held is held annually. SIAA had a mission of advancing the research, development, and use of simulation technologies and practices in Australian industry, academia, and government.
In 2007, Simulation Australia created for their health division, the Australian Society for Simulation in Healthcare (ASSH) brand to reflect the international partnership with SSH. This was prior to the SimTecT Health Conference (now SimHealth) being held as an individual conference.
Starting in 2013, the SimTecT and SimHealth conferences were brought together once more and co-located to provide a single focal event for the Australasian simulation community. Following 3 years of co-location, SimTecT and SimHealth were further unified by becoming parallel streams of the inaugural Australasian Simulation Congress in September 2016.