Services and support
Accreditation support program
Keeping services safe and accredited.
AMSANT’s accreditation support program provides practical help to member services to achieve and maintain clinical and organisational accreditation.
We work with services to embed accreditation into everyday practice—not just as a one-off “tick box” audit—and to link it with continuous quality improvement. Our goal is to make accreditation simpler, less stressful and more useful in supporting strong, culturally safe and community-controlled primary health care.
What we do
The accreditation support program focuses on the full accreditation cycle, from preparation through to on-site assessment, follow-up actions and ongoing reaccreditation. We help services understand what the standards are asking for and how to show their good work in a way that meets those requirements.
Support includes tailored assistance with site visits, mock audits, accreditation work plans, infectious disease plans, risk identification and broader quality and safety planning. We also provide advice on policies, procedures and quality management systems so that documentation is clear, up to date and aligned with clinical practice.
Why this program matters
Accreditation is formal recognition that a health service is meeting agreed safety and quality standards. For ACCHSs, it demonstrates strong governance, reliable systems and a commitment to continuous quality improvement and culturally safe care.
At the same time, accreditation can place a heavy load on services—especially in remote and regional communities where staff are already stretched. AMSANT’s accreditation support program helps ease this pressure by walking with services through the process, building local skills and ensuring that clinics can stay accredited while continuing to focus on looking after their communities.
Our focus areas
We support both clinical and organisational accreditation. This includes clinical accreditation under the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) 5th edition standards, and organisational accreditation such as ISO 9001 (2015) or QIC standards. We help services interpret these standards in their own context and integrate them into everyday work.
Our work includes reviewing and strengthening quality management systems, policies, procedures, manuals and registers; supporting infection prevention and control planning; and helping services to identify and manage key risks. We also link accreditation with CQI activities, so improvements are meaningful, sustainable and driven by the priorities of the service and community.
How we support member services
We provide a mix of remote and on-site support tailored to each member service. This can include pre-accreditation planning sessions, review of documentation, and practice “walk-throughs” to see how policies translate into everyday work.
Who we work with
The accreditation support program works with:
- ACCHSs across the Northern Territory
- CEOs, directors and senior leaders responsible for governance and quality
- clinic managers, practice managers and quality or risk staff
- clinical leaders such as GPs, nurses and Aboriginal health practitioners involved in accreditation
- external accreditation agencies and surveyors, and government partners where accreditation is required for funding.
Our impact
Through the accreditation support program, AMSANT is helping services to:
- achieve and maintain accreditation status across multiple sites and clinics
- strengthen quality management systems, policies, procedures, registers and databases
- improve readiness for accreditation visits through mock audits, work plans and targeted support
- embed continuous quality improvement as an everyday part of service delivery, not just for audit time.
Each year, AMSANT works with many sites to support accreditation, contributing to all member ACCHSs maintaining accredited status and reinforcing confidence in the quality and safety of community-controlled primary health care in the Northern Territory.
Current projects & initiatives
Accreditation planning and readiness support
helping services map out accreditation timelines, allocate responsibilities and prepare documentation and evidence ahead of assessments.
Mock audits and site visits
conducting practice assessments that mirror external accreditation processes, so teams know what to expect and can address issues early.
Quality management system reviews
reviewing and updating quality manuals, policies, procedures and registers to align with current standards and reflect how the service operates.
Infection prevention and infectious disease planning
supporting the development and review of infectious disease plans and related protocols as part of broader accreditation and quality work.
Risk assessment and advisory support
working with services to identify key clinical and organisational risks, and to develop practical strategies to manage and monitor them.
Resources & downloads
Sample accreditation work plans, policy and procedure templates, quality manual examples, checklists for RACGP and organisational standards, infectious disease planning templates and risk register tools are available. You can also include links to key accreditation standards and guidance documents that ACCHSs commonly use.
Get in touch
To find out more about the accreditation support program or to request support for an upcoming accreditation or reaccreditation, please contact:
We’re happy to talk with you about where your service is up to, what support you need, and how we can work together to keep your clinics strong, safe and accredited for the long term.