Training site accreditation

Accreditation of training settings is a joint process occurring between Specialist Medical Colleges, training providers, their training settings, and governing health departments. All parties have the shared goal of achieving high-quality specialist medical training that is responsive to the needs of the communities of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The context in which accreditation takes place is complex. It involves different legislative environments across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, a variety of training settings, and parties that have multiple obligations.

Changes are being made to the way in which ACEM accredits training sites in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

What is changing?

The FACEM Training Program must be delivered at ACEM accredited training sites in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Training site accreditation is currently completed in line with the ACEM Accreditation Requirements.

Over the next few years, ACEM will transition to a standardised accreditation approach including:

  • accrediting emergency departments against a common set of model accreditation standards (supplemented by college-specific requirements where required)
  • embedding procedural fairness in accreditation processes, including giving settings the right to respond to draft accreditation findings before a final decision is made.
  • use of a risk-based framework for accreditation decision making, ensuring decisions are proportionate and based on risk
  • use of common terminology for accreditation decisions and outcomes, providing clarity for settings as to their accreditation status and what this means across colleges.

Model standards will be outcome-based meaning training sites will be accredited based on their capacity to support trainees to meet outcomes of the Training Program.

Why is accreditation of specialist medical training settings changing?

In 2023, the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman (NHPO) released the report Processes for progress - A roadmap for greater transparency and accountability in specialist medical training site accreditation. The report provided a number of recommendations which collectively aim to:

  • increase consistency in how training settings are accredited across the 16 specialist medical colleges
  • improve transparency and clarity for health services in relation to expectations around accreditation
  • build trust and improve quality assurance in medical education by ensuring stakeholders have confidence in the system
  • foster improved collaboration between colleges and health services
  • improve data and reporting about accreditation.

Timelines

ACEM aim to implement model standards and procedures by February 2027. Significant work is already underway to prepare for this, which is guided by the ACEM AMC Model Standards Working Group. Key milestones will be met in the leadup to February 2027 to introduce elements of the standardised approach to key stakeholders involved in training site accreditation. ACEM will be in regular contact with key stakeholders as this progresses.

Key information and documentation

Implementation updates

Implications for training sites

The revised standards for site accreditation will change the way ACEM accredited training sites are reviewed from 2027 onwards. Training sites will remain accredited under the current standards until their next scheduled accreditation inspection post-2027 after which the revised standards will apply.

The criteria by which accreditation decisions are made may change meaning sites may need to demonstrate their capacity to facilitate specialist training in emergency medicine is different to what has been done previously. The revised standards introduce additional flexibility for sites to demonstrate how they meet standards compared to ACEM’s current approach to accreditation.

In the leadup to implementation of the revised standards, the College will regularly communicate updates and provide education to training site representatives on the transition from current approaches to accreditation to the revised standards. Further information on this will be provided in the coming months.

The College encourages training site representatives to review the key information and documents provided on this page and check back regularly for updates.

Implications for trainees

The revised accreditation standards are designed to support greater access to accredited training sites, which in turn will expand opportunities for trainee placements across a broader range of settings. By streamlining and strengthening accreditation processes, the College aims to increase opportunities for sites to achieve and maintain accreditation, thereby increasing the availability and diversity of training environments.

As part of this work, key details relating to the classification of training sites are also being reviewed. These changes may influence the types of training experiences available to trainees in the future and the way placements are structured across different settings.

The College encourages trainees to stay informed by reviewing the information provided on this page and checking back regularly for updates as the revised standards are finalised and implemented.

Contact

If you have any further questions about the introduction of the AMC Models Standards and Procedures for training site accreditation, please contact [email protected].

Frequently asked questions

  • What are college specific requirements?
  • What are the benefits of a standardised approach to accreditation?
  • When will the standardised accreditation approach be rolled out?
  • Will existing settings need to transition immediately to the new standards?
  • Will existing conditions still apply once the new standards are introduced?
  • How does the standardised accreditation approach support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and Māori communities?
  • Many colleges are bi-national. Do the changes also cover Aotearoa New Zealand?
  • What does the standardised accreditation approach mean for trainees and supervisors?
  • What does the standardised accreditation approach mean for training settings and health services?

 

 

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