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Download the Accreditation Quality Assurance and Monitoring Policy (11 pages PDF)
This policy outlines the quality assurance and monitoring activities that we undertake. We do this to ensure your ongoing compliance with our standards, guidelines and policies.
The policy applies to all the programs and CPD accrediting organisations that we accredit.
To allow for the ongoing quality assurance monitoring of all accredited programs and continuing professional development (CPD) accrediting organisations.
Accredited CPD activities delivered by CPD activity providers are monitored through the CPD accrediting organisations.
This policy applies to all APC accredited programs and CPD accrediting organisations.
The Pharmacy Board of Australia (PharmBA) has authorised APC to accredit pharmacy programs in Australia.
We also accredit:
To allow for the ongoing quality assurance monitoring of accredited programs and CPD accrediting organisations, we undertake the following activities:
Table 1 Quality assurance and monitoring activities undertaken by APC
|
Pharmacy degree programs |
ITPs |
Pharmacist education programs |
CPD accrediting organisations |
|
NoC |
NoC |
NoC |
NoC |
|
Reporting |
Reporting |
Reporting |
Reporting |
|
Site visits |
Site visits |
Desktop audits |
Desktop audits |
|
Accreditation Marketing Policy monitoring |
Accreditation Marketing Policy monitoring |
Accreditation Marketing Policy monitoring |
Accreditation Marketing Policy monitoring |
|
Networking |
Networking |
Networking |
Networking |
|
Surveys |
Surveys |
Surveys |
Surveys |
|
TEQSA registration status |
ASQA/TEQSA registration status |
ASQA/TEQSA/other applicable registration status |
Site audits |
|
IWE data |
IWE data |
||
|
Regular meeting with Council of Pharmacy Schools (CPS) |
|||
|
Department of Education and Training data |
Frequency: As required when a program change is planned
Target: Accredited program providers and CPD accrediting organisations
An accredited program provider must notify us in writing via our NoC form of planned change(s) to any part of the program (including curriculum or resources), immediately when a change decision is anticipated (prior to the change being made). It is the responsibility of our AC to determine if it is a material (major) or minor change2, and if it warrants a reassessment of the accreditation status of the program. Reassessment of the accreditation status can take the form of an external review or a site visit.
A CPD accrediting organisation must notify us in writing of change(s) to any part of their accreditation process (including resources), immediately following a change decision. It is the responsibility of the AC to determine if this warrants a reassessment of the accreditation status of the organisation. Reassessment of the accreditation status can take the form of a site visit or desktop audit.
2 Please refer to our NoC form for definitions of what constitutes a material or minor change.
Frequency: Annually
Target: Accredited program providers and CPD accrediting organisations
Accredited program providers and CPD accrediting organisations are required to submit an annual report each year.
We provide a template which requests information which may include the following (or additional information as required), specific to the program/organisation:
Accredited program providers
Accredited CPD accrediting organisations
Annual reports are provided to the AC for discussion and decision. Information obtained from annual reports is used by us for quality assurance and monitoring purposes. The information will not be published on our website.
Frequency: As requested
Target: Accredited program providers and CPD accrediting organisations
The AC can decide to apply conditions and/or monitoring requirements (MRs) to an accredited program if there is:
Reporting submitted in response to ongoing conditions and MRs is requested by the AC via an Accreditation Outcome Notification (AON) and is provided to the AC for discussion and decision.
Frequency: Once per accreditation cycle or as required
Target: Accredited degree and intern training program providers
APC establishes an Accreditation Assessment Team (AAT) to conduct a site visit to ascertain the strengths and current challenges of an accredited program, as well as to identify any areas where a program may not adequately meet the accreditation standards.
An AAT for a degree and intern training program assessment normally consists of up to 3 assessors supported by an APC representative. Depending on the type of program being assessed, the roles might include:
The visit is conducted over several days and allows the AAT to discuss the program with stakeholders involved program delivery (e.g. academics, students/interns and preceptors). It also allows the team to assess the teaching resources and infrastructure of the provider.
The AAT prepares a draft report of their findings and the program provider is given the opportunity to correct any errors of fact, before the report is used by the AC to allow them to make an accreditation decision.
Frequency: Once per accreditation cycle or as required
Target: Accredited pharmacist education program providers and CPD accrediting organisations
APC establishes an Accreditation Assessment Team (AAT) to conduct a desktop audit for a program/organisation. The AAT will also conduct a videoconference with the provider/organisation.
An AAT can include up to 3 assessors supported by an APC representative. Depending on the type of program/organisation being assessed, the roles might include:
The videoconference is generally scheduled for up to 2 hours and allows the AAT to clarify any questions with the provider/organisation.
Frequency: Once per accreditation cycle or as required
Target: CPD accrediting organisations
Within the first 6 months of an organisation being accredited to accredit CPD activities on behalf of APC, a site visit is conducted at the main premises where CPD accrediting activity takes place.
The assessment is conducted by 2 members of the APC accreditation team (including at least one pharmacist). The purpose is to confirm alignment with the organisational requirements, any inconsistencies in the process of accrediting activities and any areas where improvement may be required.
A draft audit report is provided to the CPD accrediting organisation, inviting any correction of errors, before being submitted to the AC to allow them to make an accreditation decision.
Frequency: Annually
Target: Accredited program providers
As part of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS), all Australian interns are required to sit a written exam delivered by APC. As part of this process, we collect and collate information on IWE results according to degree program and ITP providers. The data is considered annually by the AC and can be used to inform accreditation decisions.
Results of graduates from both degree and intern training programs are benchmarked against the national mean and any outliers can be discussed by the AC. A provider identified as an outlier may receive a request from the AC for an explanation of the results.
Each accredited program is provided with the IWE results of their graduates/interns compared to the national mean annually for internal quality improvement purposes.
Frequency: Annually
Target: Degree providers
We request data on an annual basis from the Department of Education and Training (‘the Department’) regarding the actual student load information related to accredited Australian pharmacy degree programs.
Data collected from the Department is cross checked against submitted annual report data.
Frequency: Annually or as required
Target: Accredited program providers
We seek feedback from all accredited program providers via surveys on APC’s support and processes as part of our commitment to continuous quality improvement.
We also survey accredited program providers who have been the subject of an accreditation assessment (including a site visit) in the current calendar year, as well as the associated AAT.
We monitor survey results for trends and any complaints requiring further investigation. We share information with the AC where appropriate.
Frequency: As required
Target: ITP providers
The ITP Liaison Group is a quality improvement and communication mechanism to allow us to distribute, collect and discuss information related to ITPs with accredited ITP providers.
Frequency: Twice annually and as required
Target: Accredited program providers and CPD accrediting organisations
We monitor the websites and social media activities of accredited program providers and CPD accrediting organisations. This is to ensure that the advertising of programs, CPD accrediting organisations and accredited CPD activities complies with the requirements of our Accreditation Marketing Policy.
Any accredited program provider, CPD accrediting organisation or CPD activity provider found not in alignment with our policies will be formally requested to amend their publication and/or website within a reasonable timeframe. An accredited program provider or CPD accrediting organisation who does not remove any advertising breach(es) will be asked to give an explanation which will be provided to the AC for discussion and further action.
Frequency: Twice annually and as required
Target: Accredited program providers
We undertake an ASQA/TEQSA website scan twice yearly and as required to ensure that the ASQA/TEQSA registration status of each accredited program provider complies with the relevant accreditation standards.
We inform the AC of any conditions applied to an accredited program provider’s ASQA/TEQSA registration.
Frequency: Ongoing
Target: Accredited program providers and CPD accrediting organisations
We liaise with a wide range of stakeholders including education providers, pharmacy professional bodies and other health professions. Through relationships with these individuals and organisations, we can monitor changes in accredited programs, such as staffing changes, or levels of satisfaction with service provision such as CPD accreditation. Should the information lead to a need for further information, we contact the accredited program provider or CPD accrediting organisation involved formally.