Understanding general practice accreditation
General practices accredited through our National General Practice Accreditation Scheme have demonstrated their practice offers safe, quality services, so you can feel confident when stepping through their doors.
What is the scheme and why is it important to me?
Accreditation under the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme is the process where general practices show they meet the requirements of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Standards for general practices (5th edition).
Accreditation is voluntary. General practices that choose to participate are taking additional steps to support safe and quality care.
To be accredited, general practices must prove they have:
- safe and well-maintained medical equipment to protect you from harm and improve your health outcomes (such as blood pressure monitors that are clean and working)
- qualified and trained staff (including doctors, nurses and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health workers)
- secure systems for health information and records to keep your information safe and protected
- access to clinical guidelines to help with the diagnosis of your healthcare needs
- processes in place that clearly communicate how you can provide feedback or raise concerns, such as an email address or contact person, and
- met the RACGP definition of a general practice.
Our fact sheet and poster provide more information about what accreditation is and what it means when you visit a general practice.
We have also developed a poster for services that provide primary health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
What is accreditation of a general practice?
A poster explaining what the the National General Practitioners Accreditation Scheme means for you.
Why choose an accredited practice?
A poster for services that provide primary health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“This poster has been created by Gurugun, a 100% Aboriginal owned, managed and controlled Supply Nation Certified business, with artwork by Kalkadoon (Mount Isa) and Waanyi (Far North Queensland) artist, Kylie Hill. It explains why choosing an accredited general practice can support safe, quality care. We recognise that no single resource can fully reflect the diversity of First Nations peoples, cultures and experiences. This poster is an important step, and we look forward to continuing to listen, learn and work alongside First Nations peoples to further support culturally safe primary care and improve health and wellbeing.”
Why should I choose an accredited practice?
By choosing an accredited general practice, you are offered peace of mind that the practice you are visiting is proven to have met certain safety and quality requirements.
Our scheme and the standards focus on the general practice itself and not the general practitioners working there.
General practitioners (medical doctors), no matter where they work, must meet many safety and licensing requirements before they can offer care. This means going to a general practice that isn’t accredited to the standards doesn’t mean the general practitioner you’re seeing isn’t safe. You can look up if a general practitioner is licensed with the Medical Board.
Why would a general practice not be accredited?
There are various reasons why a general practice may not be accredited, including:
- accreditation may be seen as time-consuming
- general practice staff may not have the time to support preparation activities
- benefits may be unclear for practices that deliver safe, quality services
- some general practices may currently be preparing for accreditation
- the general practice may not be eligible for accreditation.
How do I know a general practice is accredited?
Our register of accredited general practices lists general practices and Aboriginal medical services that are accredited through our scheme.
The register is updated monthly with assessments completed the prior month. For example, a general practice that’s assessed and accredited in June will appear in the register in July.
Our register of registered general practices lists general practices and Aboriginal medical services that have registered themselves to become accredited. While they are not yet accredited, registration demonstrates their intent to achieve accreditation and maintain high standards for their patients.
Can I ask my general practice to be accredited?
Yes, you’re welcome to ask a member of your general practice team whether they are accredited, or whether they are considering becoming accredited.
Accreditation under our scheme gives you and the general practice itself reassurance that the services provided meet the expected standards of safety and quality.
If your general practice is accredited, you may see an accreditation certificate displayed in the practice, such as at reception or in the waiting area. This certificate confirms that the practice has been independently assessed against the standards.
Where can I get more information?
You can view more about the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme or email us directly for questions or to provide feedback.