ACIA Endorsed ACIMSS Quality Certification
The ACIMSS - An Overview
"Whilst preparing for our initial on-site audit, we found the standards to be uncompromisingly focused on client outcomes. The most significant effect of the process of achieving ACIA endorsed ACIMSS certification for our service is that our continuous improvement framework more strongly upholds positive outcomes for clients and their families." Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney
The Attendant Care Industry Management System Standard (ACIMSS) is a national quality management systems standard that has been specifcally designed by the attendant care sector, for the attendant care sector. Achieving ACIA endorsed certification to the ACIMSS is a rigorous undertaking that requires service providers to achieve demonstrable quality outcomes for service users.
The ACIMSS focuses on the key issues required to deliver high quality individualised attendant care in the community. It is applicable to any individual requiring low, moderate or high levels of support to live in their community and is not limited in scope to any one particular government department or funder.
The ACIMSS was developed by the industry for the industry, in collaboration with state and federal governments. Endorsed by the Joint Accreditation System for Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) in 2008, the ACIMSS was developed in response to the need for one agreed set of generic attendant care standards that specifically addressed the delivery of attendant care services, while at the same time providing a single, comprehensive quality certification system that addressed the needs of multiple funding bodies.
The Australian Government has quality requirements/standards for community care and veterans. Each state and territory has individual standards for disability services, and most funding bodies have their own quality requirements. Consequently, the ACIMSS is linked to the following frameworks and Acts:
- Home and Community Care National Standards (now the Community Care Common Standards)
- National Disability Service Standards (DSS)
- Aged Care Act 1997
- Department of Health and Ageing Community Care Quality Reporting
- Motor Accidents (Lifetime Care and Support) Act 2006
- Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
- NSW Privacy and Personal Information Act 1998
- Freedom of Information Act 1989
- NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000
- Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998
Who is Using the ACIMSS?
The ACIMSS can and is being applied to assess the quality of services being delivered to any individual requiring low, moderate or high levels of support to live in their community. The ACIMSS is continuing to be adopted by a range of government agencies that have cited the ACIMSS program as providing the necessary levels of assurance about a service provider’s competence to deliver care in the community.
ACIA notes the following funding bodies have either mandated that funded service providers achieve ACIA endorsed certification to the ACIMSS, or have endorsed and/or recognised the ACIMSS as a quality management system that meets their quality assurance needs:
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Lifetime Care & Support Authority (NSW)
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Ageing, Disability & Home Care (ADHC), NSW Department of Human Services
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NSW Health (Enable NSW)
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Victorian Transport Accident Commission (TAC Victoria)
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Tasmanian Motor Accidents Insurance Board (TAS MAIB)
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WorkCover NSW
ACIA has worked productively with the agencies listed above to ensure the ACIMSS is appropriate to the needs of a diverse set of funded programs. These agencies have indicated that the ACIMSS certification program ensures the quality of attendant care services provided adheres to best practice standards set by the industry, through a rigorous and independent certification program.
ACIMSS Enrolment & Standards Order Form
Enrolment Form - ACIA endorsed certification to ACIMSS
ACIMSS Standards Order Form - Standard and Guidelines
Register of ACIMSS Certified Service Providers
Click here to view the register of service providers that have achieved ACIA endorsed certification to the ACIMSS
Financial Support for ACIMSS Certified Service Providers
As part of ACIA’s ongoing commitment to ensuring attendant care providers are supported to meet the costs of achieving ACIA endorsed certification to the ACIMSS, ACIA has worked productively with a number of funding bodies to seek financial support for service providers who achieve ACIMSS certification:
NSW Lifetime Care and Support (LTCS) Authority
The NSW LTCS has committed to providing $7,500 to each panel approved panel provider who completes the ACIMSS Program. Contact ACIA for further details.
WorkCover NSW
ACIA also appreciates the assistance of WorkCover NSW, who has provided funds to ACIA to allocate to providers who achieve certification. Currently, providers who achieve ACIMSS certification, and are not eligible for the grant provided by the LTCSA, are eligible to apply for a grant of $5,500 (GST inc) from funds provided by WorkCover NSW to assist with the costs of achieving certification. See below for further details:
Application for WorkCover NSW Provider Grant
ACIMSS Processes & FAQs
This sections provides a range of information about the ACIA Quality Management System Program - ACIA Endorsed Certification to ACIMSS. For any further information, please feel free to Contact Us
ACIA Endorsed Certification to ACIMSS: Processes
Frequently Asked Questions re ACIA Endorsed Certification
Contains a list of frequently asked questions relating to the ACIA Endorsed Certification to the Attendant Care Industry Management System Standard
ACIA Quality Steering Committee Terms of Reference
The ACIA Quality Steering Committee was convened to provide advice to ACIA on the ACIA Endorsed Certification to ACIMSS from the perspective of attendant care funding bodies, service users and service providers.