This page provides general information about how on-site assessments are being managed in locations across Australia where COVID-19 public health orders are in place that prevent a scheduled on-site assessment proceeding.
Public health orders include – but are not limited to – quarantine, lockdowns, and cross-border travel restrictions.
QIP is being guided by rules imposed by various regulating bodies and government agencies. Our advice here is general in nature and subject to confirmation with respect to individual circumstances as well as frequent changes within the regulating context.
QIP clients can rest assured their Client Liaison Officer will be in contact to ensure all scheduled assessments are planned and carried out smoothly no matter their situation and/or location.
For QIP clients – if you have any queries or concerns, contact your dedicated Client Liaison Officer:
P 1300 888 329 | E info@qip.com.au
QIP Clinical Services for the National Safety and Quality Health Standards (NSQHS)
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) is considering short extensions to allow organisations to be assessed once lockdown has lifted or for the assessment to proceed in a ‘hybrid’ format.
A hybrid assessment is where part of an assessment team is on-site and part of a team is present using virtual access digital technology (that is, remotely). At least 50 per cent of the assessment team should be on-site.
The QIP Clinical Team is monitoring the various public health orders in place across Australia (including lockdowns of varying levels and different cross-border travel restrictions) and how they are affecting and/or will affect upcoming on-site assessments. The team is working directly with each of our NSQHS clients to consider and put in place options for the optimal way forward – whether that be a hybrid assessment or a short extension. Applications for each option are submitted to the Commission and approved on a case-by-case basis.
For more information, please refer to the Commission’s webpage Accreditation extension requests due to COVID-19 and a fact sheet providing Guidance on conducting hybrid assessments.
QIP Community and Health Services
The various regulating bodies responsible for each of QIP Community and Health Services’ program areas are, in some circumstances, considering short extensions to allow organisations to be assessed once lockdown has lifted or for the assessment to proceed in a remote or hybrid format.
The QIP Community and Health Services Team is monitoring the various public health orders in place across Australia (including lockdowns and cross-border travel restrictions) and how they are affecting and/or will affect upcoming assessments. Client Liaison officers are working directly with clients to consider and put in place options for the best way forward, which includes:
- On-site assessments can continue to take place in regions that are not under lockdown and assessors are not bound by either lockdown or travel restrictions.
- A remote assessment – this is where the entire assessment team carries out all of the assessment using virtual access digital technology (that is, remotely) and is an option when assessors are unable to enter a locked down region.
- A hybrid assessment is where part of an assessment team is on-site and part of a team works remotely. At least 50 per cent of the assessment team should be on-site.
The following table outlines assessment options by program area and state or territory.
These are subject to change at short notice. QIP clients can rest assured their Client Liaison Officer will work with them to ensure assessments take place within the constraints of the most up-to-date public health orders.
Program |
QLD, TAS, SA, WA, NT |
NSW, VIC, ACT |
| ATCA |
|
|
| ASES |
|
|
| NSMHS |
|
|
| QIC |
|
|
| Rainbow Tick |
|
|
| Program | ALL STATES AND TERRITORIES | |
| ARVAS |
|
|
| Coal Mine Workers’ |
|
|
| Diagnostic Imaging |
|
|
| NDIS |
|
|
| Suicide Prevention Australia |
|
|
| Program | VIC ONLY | |
| HSS |
|
|