Advisory details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Advisory number | AS18/05 |
| Version number | 2.0 |
| Publication date | October 2025 |
| Replaces | Version 1.0 Published October 2018 |
| Compliance with this advisory | It is mandatory for approved accrediting agencies to implement this Advisory |
| Information in this advisory applies to | All approved accrediting agencies and health service organisations |
| Key relationship | n/a |
| Attachment | n/a |
| Notes | Updated to clarify the criteria for transfer between accrediting agencies during an assessment cycle |
| Responsible officer | Margaret Banks Director, National Standards Phone: 1800 304 056 Email: AdviceCentre@safetyandquality.gov.au |
| To be reviewed | December 2027 |
Purpose
To clarify the processes and requirements for health service organisations transferring between accrediting agencies.
Issue
There is provision within the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation (AHSSQA Scheme) for health service organisations to transfer to a new accrediting agency during a three-year accreditation cycle.
State and territory health regulators, accrediting agencies and health service organisations have raised concerns about the transfer of health service organisation membership or contracts between accrediting agencies during an assessment cycle.
The Commission considers that transfer between accrediting agencies during an assessment cycle could increase the risks of conflicts of interest for accrediting agencies and reduce the rigour of an assessment outcome. Therefore, under the rules of the AHSSQA Scheme, health service organisations cannot routinely transfer accrediting agencies during an assessment cycle. That is, between an initial and final assessment. Transfer between accrediting agencies can only occur once the final report has been released and an accreditation outcome is finalised.
Definitions:
* The original accrediting agency cancels a health service organisation’s membership or contract.
** The receiving accrediting agency enrols the health service organisation following cancellation of their membership or contract with another accrediting agency.
Requirements
- A health service organisation may transfer accrediting agencies during a three-year accreditation cycle providing:
- Signed a contract with the receiving accrediting agency just prior to, or immediately following cancellation of membership or existing contract with the original accrediting agency
- Maintained their existing accreditation cycle and have no outstanding actions or obligations to the initial accrediting agency.
- For the purposes of the AHSSQA Scheme, a health service organisation remains accredited where the health service has:
- Signed a contract with the receiving accrediting agency just prior to, or immediately following cancellation of membership or existing contract with the original accrediting agency
- Maintained their existing accreditation cycle and have no outstanding actions or obligations to the initial accrediting agency.
- Where the health service organisation enrols with a receiving accrediting agency, the receiving accrediting agency is required to continue the cycle of the health service organisation’s existing accreditation and timing of the accreditation cycle.
- To support continuity of accreditation and a transparent assessment process, the health service organisation must provide their receiving accrediting agency with a copy of their most recent assessment report from the original accrediting agency.
- Health service organisations should be aware the original accrediting agency may withdraw an accreditation award if the contract signed by the health service organisation with an accrediting agency has provisions for withdrawing an accreditation certificate (noting the health service organisation continues to remain accredited under the AHSSQA Scheme until the accreditation expiry date).
- Where a health service requires a certificate to be re-issued prior to their next accreditation assessment, they should seek advice from their receiving agency.
- Health service organisations cannot routinely transfer accrediting agencies during an assessment cycle. The Commission will consider requests on a case-by-case basis when they are submitted in writing and there is evidence of at least one of the following criteria:
- The accrediting agency did not comply with the rules of the AHSSQA scheme as set out in the policy
- The accrediting agency did not comply with Commission fact sheets or advisories
- A conflict of interest has been identified in breach of the Policy – Approval under the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation (AHSSQA) Scheme
- There has been an unreconcilable breakdown in the relationship between the agency and the health service organisation.