Components of the Program 

EQuIP member organisations are guided by the ACHS through a four-year cycle comprising:

Self-Assessment
Organisations need to assess their achievements and outcomes regularly to improve performance. Using EQuIP  organisations can compare and continually review their performance against the ACHS standards. A self-assessment covering all 3 functions is undertaken prior to the first on-site survey, for new EQuIP members. This provides a starting point for comparative purposes to demonstrate improvement.

Self-Assessment Support Service
Twelve months after Organisation-Wide Survey and Periodic Reviews, organisations will be required to complete and return a self-assessment to the ACHS, including progress on recommendations from the previous survey. EQuIP Customer Services Managers are available to give advice and counsel on any issue of concern throughout the program including recommendations made by surveyors, difficulties encountered in improving services or areas where ideas or options require further discussion. A Report is provided for each Self Assessment and is designed to give helpful suggestions to organisations to improve the self assessment and for quality improvement generally.

Organisation-Wide Survey
An Organisation-Wide Survey is conducted by ACHS surveyors. They are experienced and trained industry peers who provide feedback on overall performance. The survey involves several components including:

A presentation made by staff to demonstrate their achievements and improvements in all major areas of the organisation's operations

Verification by surveyors of the organisation's achievements in relation to all the ACHS standards

Summation of the surveyors' findings, recommendations and guidance for future action.

Periodic Review
Periodic Reviews are undertaken twenty-four months after the Organisation Wide Survey by one or more ACHS surveyors, and are designed to further facilitate ongoing improvement and maintenance of achievements. Reviews include

Action taken in response to recommendations from the previous survey

Organisational performance in relation to the 14 mandatory criteria.

Survey Reports
Following each survey and Periodic Review a summary of the surveyors' findings is compiled to provide the organisation with

a detailed assessment of its performance against the ACHS standards and criteria.

identification of areas where performance is satisfactory or where further action is required.

positive comments in areas of high achievement.

suggestions and recommendations for improvement.

ACHS Accreditation
Organisations that successfully achieve the ACHS standards through participation in EQuIP are awarded ACHS accreditation. This official acknowledgement of an organisation's commitment to continuous quality improvement is awarded after the Organisation Wide Survey. As part of the EQuIP subscription organisations achieving ACHS accreditation will receive a Certificate of Accreditation and a sign under license from the ACHS.