Getting started

Joining the Program

If you are thinking about participating in a quality improvement or accreditation program, you should contact the Licensed Provider which covers the area where your health or community service is located. The licensed provider’s representative will offer telephone advice and/or an information session for staff and management.

Remember, your organisation doesn’t have to be highly advanced or knowledgeable in quality systems to benefit from the Program. You will be assisted to learn and improve your organisation by participating in it.

The QIC Standards and Accreditation Program will give you an across-the-board report card on your organisation’s quality performance every three years, a process to identify quality improvement priorities leading to an implemented Quality Work Plan, and support to build continuous quality improvement in your organisation over time. The Program is more than an accreditation review every three years. It is a proven continuous quality improvement method. QIC therefore requires you to join the Program rather than simply sign up for an accreditation review.

Joining the Program involves contracting with one of our Licensed Providers to meet the Program Requirements as well as receive the benefits. A contract is for three years, with fees payable in installments specified by the Licensed Provider.

When you join the program you will receive:

• the right to participate in the Program, through your Licensed Provider for three years
• a copy of the QIC Health and Community Services Standards 6th Edition
• a preparation session with the Licensed Provider
• electronic Quality Journal template for recording your self assessment against the Standards
• comprehensive Interpretive Guide
• an accreditation review against QIC Standards, by trained peer reviewers who will visit your site/s for 2-5 days
• if you meet the program requirements, an Accreditation Certificate and use of the QIC logo for a 3-year period for promotional purposes
• an attractive accreditation poster
• monitoring and support from the Licensed Provider on the preparation and implementation of a Quality Workplan
• opportunity for staff to become trained peer reviewers.

Licensed Providers

QIC awards accreditation, owns and maintains its Standards and coordinates the Accreditation Program. It licenses the auditing (‘review’) role to three organisations in Australia and one in New Zealand, referred to as QIC’s ‘licensed providers’. Licensed Providers should be contacted if you want to inquire about:

a) joining the QIC Program, including costs
b) Program requirements
c) the progress or scheduling of an external review
d) becoming a QIC reviewer or attending reviewer training.

Each Licensed Provider has a catchment area, so an organisation will work with the licensed provider covering the state, territory or (in the case of New Zealand) country where it is located. In the case of Queensland and Northern Territory, the Licensed Provider role is shared between IHCA, QICSA and QMS.

For names and contact details of Licensed Providers, simply click on the map below where the organisation is located.