Scheme requirements
Each of our programs must be conducted in a certain manner and following specific processes, as outlined in various legislative and other stakeholder documents. The requirements for each scheme can be downloaded below and form part of Your Proposal. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact our team.
Human Services Quality Framework (HSQF)
The HSQF is the quality framework used for assessing human services providers in Queensland. The framework and standards apply to service providers funded under service agreements (or other arrangements) with various Queensland Government departments. Service areas include child protection placement, housing and homelessness, domestic and family violence, disability, mental health, drug and alcohol, and other community services.
NDIS Practice Standards (Certification)
The NDIS Practice Standards outline the standards that must be met by registered NDIS providers to provide services and supports to participants in the NDIS scheme. Service providers that are currently or are intending to provide higher risk services are required to undergo a certification audit. This includes service providers claiming funding for supports such as support coordination, assistance with daily living, positive behaviour support, and specialist disability accommodation.
NDIS Practice Standards (Verification)
The NDIS Practice Standards outline the standards that must be met by registered NDIS providers to provide services and supports to participants in the NDIS scheme. Service providers that are currently or are intending to provide services that are considered lower risk are eligible to complete the verification audit pathway. Services covered by verification audits include plan management, therapeutic supports, household tasks, home modifications, and exercise physiology.
Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation Scheme (AHSSQA)
Includes:
- National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHSS)
- National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards (NSQPCH)
- National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards (NSQDMH)
All of the standards within the AHSSQA have been designed to both protect members of the public from harm when accessing health care services and improving the quality of health care services in Australia. Each of the standards include actions related to Governance and Partnering with Consumers. The rest of the actions have been developed to include all relevant aspects of clinical safety and models of care. The requirement to be accredited to any of these standards is dependent on the type of health service, and local regulators.
Human Services Standards (HSS)
The Human Services Standards (HSS) apply to human services providers in Victoria. Services areas covered by the HSS include child protection and family services, family violence service delivery, housing assistance, and some disability services. Providers are also required to maintain certification to a separate governance standard, such as ISO 9001:2015, the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS), the NDIS Practice Standards, or the National Safety and Quality in Healthcare Standards (NSQHS).
Disability Employment Services / Supported Employment Services (DES/SES)
The DES/SES scheme is a framework that has been designed to give people with a disability greater confidence in the outcomes employment services can achieve for them and ensure all services meet a set of standards for Disability Employment Services. Service providers in the DES/SES scheme are required to be assessed to the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS).
National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS)
The National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS) are focused on person-centred approaches and choice and control for people with a disability. The six standards in the NSDS include rights, participation and inclusion, individual outcomes, feedback and complaints, service access, and service management. Service providers delivering support under the DES/SES program are required by the Department of Social Services to be assessed to the NSDS.
National Standards for Mental Health Services (NSHMS)
The NSMHS cover standards that can be applied to all mental health services, and include a focus on rights and responsibilities, safety, consumer and carer participation, diversity, and governance. The Standards have been designed so that they can be applied across a broad range of mental health services in Australia, including bed-based and community mental health services, clinical and non-government sectors, the private sector, primary care, and general practice.
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems Requirements
With more than a million organisations worldwide certified to ISO 9001, certification is globally recognised as the benchmark for measuring the quality management systems of organisations. Certification to ISO 9001 provides a public statement that an independent organisation has assessed your organisation and found it to be an organisation that, because of its business processes, operates to benefit customers, employees, funders, shareholders, and suppliers.