The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create challenges for the Australian health system. In some instances, this may impact the ability of general practices to participate in on-site accreditation assessments to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners' Standards for general practice 5th edition. 

To provide certainty for general practices and to facilitate accreditation assessments proceeding where possible, the following provisions for accreditation assessments apply during 2022: 

1. On-site assessment is to proceed, whenever safe and feasible. 
2. Hybrid assessment may occur where it is not possible for a full assessment team to be on-site. This assessment involves part of the assessment team being on-site and part of assessment team off-site. 
3. Off-site virtual assessment may be allowed in exceptional circumstances. All virtual assessments must be followed up with an on-site assessment.
4. Accreditation can be maintained, and the accreditation expiry date revised by up to six months. This option is available to general practices with assessments scheduled before 31 July 2022 that are experiencing COVID-19 related disruptions or unable to proceed due to public health orders imposing travel and border restrictions.

For more information and to find out how these arrangements apply to you, download the fact sheet on our National General Practice Accreditation Scheme page. 

If you have questions, please email advicecentre@safetyandquality.gov.au.