Accredited aged care services need to apply for re-accreditation before their accreditation expires.
Services that have previously been accredited can also apply for re-accreditation.
For a service that has never been accredited, see accreditation of commencing services.
Applying for re-accreditation
Providers need to:
- complete a self-assessment
- complete the Application for re-accreditation
- pay the application fee.
Re-accreditation for recommencing services
A recommencing service is previously accredited but not currently providing residential aged care.
To become accredited, recommencing services follow the accreditation process for commencing services.
Site audits
The re-accreditation process includes unannounced site audits. We may visit the service between when they apply for re-accreditation and when their accreditation expires.
Providers can ask that we don’t visit on specific dates.
Provider responsibilities
Before a site audit
Providers have to tell their residents (or nominated representatives):
- what the site audit is
- when the site audit might happen
- how to talk to the Assessment Team.
To help, we’ve created some letters and posters.
On the day of a site audit
Providers must tell residents (or nominated representatives) that the audit has started as soon as possible. This can be in person, via text or email or by phone.
Providers must allow people to meet the Assessment Team. They must also let the Assessment Team know who has asked to meet with them.
What happens on a site audit
We’ll send an Assessment Team to check a provider’s performance against the Aged Care Quality Standards.
The team will:
- interview staff and residents
- observe staff practices and interactions
- review the provider’s records and documents.
A site audit may take several days. On the last day, we discuss our findings with the person in charge.
Audit report
The Assessment Team creates a report, which helps decide whether to re-accredit a service.
They create the report within 7 days of the end of the site audit. Providers have 14 days to respond if they’d like to.
The site audit report contributes to a provider’s overall performance report.
The decision process
When making the decision, we consider:
- the site audit report
- the performance report
- any relevant information from a resident or the Department of Health and Aged Care
- the provider’s commitment to continuous improvement
- any other relevant information.
Decision to re-accredit
When we re-accredit a service, we provide:
- a Certificate of Accreditation
- information on applying for future re-accreditation
- the period of accreditation and the reasons for deciding that period.
Providers can apply for reconsideration of the accreditation period within 14 calendar days of the decision.
We also publish the performance report and decision on our website.
Decision not to re-accredit
If we decide not to re-accredit a service, we explain the reasons for the decision.
We also provide any information we received from the Department of Health and Aged Care that influenced the decision.
Providers can apply for reconsideration within 14 calendar days of the decision.
More information
- Unannounced re-accreditation in residential aged care services. This video was compiled from information sessions held in all states by the former Australian Aged Care Quality Agency to support the Quality Standards.
- Information for providers – Initial documents requested for performance assessments in residential services.
- Risk-based questions asked at the start of a performance assessment.
