Assessors

About assessors

The Commission manages the accreditation of residential aged care services across Australia and the quality review of home services. This includes assessments of their performance against the Quality Standards through comprehensive audits and assessment contacts. These assessments are undertaken by registered quality assessors.

The Commission employs registered quality assessors and there are other registered quality assessors who are contracted to carry out assessments of aged care services.

How do I know if an assessor is registered?

Please refer to the Register of quality assessors, which is available for download on the Register of quality assessors webpage.

The Commission does not guarantee to provide work to all quality assessors on the register.

How does someone become a registered quality assessor?

To become a registered quality assessor for the Commission, you need to:

• be successful in a quality assessor recruitment or procurement exercise
• submit a valid registration application
• successfully complete the Commission’s Quality Assessor Training Program (QATP) and orientation program.

Current vacancies for quality assessor roles are advertised on the Commission’s Careers page. Registration application packs are provided to those successful in a quality assessor recruitment or procurement exercise.

The QATP and orientation program are only delivered by the Commission and only when recruitment/procurement occurs. The QATP course supports the Commission’s assessment methodology: to assess the performance of Commonwealth funded aged care services against the Aged Care Quality Standards. It is supported by pre-course and post-course activities and on-the-job learning. Competency-based assessments are also undertaken before completing the QATP.

All quality assessors must be registered under the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018. This is a requirement to undertake assessments of aged care services.

Assessors are registered for a period of 12 months and must apply for a further period of registration if they wish to continue to be registered.

The following guide outlines the steps for applying for registration as a quality assessor. 

• Quality assessor registration information sheet (PDF)
• Quality assessor registration information sheet (DOCX)

The following guide outlines the steps for applying for re-registration as a quality assessor.

• Quality assessor re-registration information sheet (PDF)
• Quality assessor re-registration information sheet (DOCX)

For more information about quality assessor registrations contact the Quality Assessor Registration on (07) 3740 5118 or email registrar@agedcarequality.gov.au.

Quality Assessor Registration Team
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
GPO Box 9819
Brisbane QLD 4001

Quality assessor code of conduct

Given the high standards of performance and integrity that are required in all interactions with providers, carers, consumers and their representatives, quality assessors must observe the following quality assessor code of conduct all times.

I will observe the assessor’s code of conduct as follows:

1. Act professionally and accurately report findings in a consistent and an unbiased manner.
2. Perform quality assessor functions and exercise of powers in accordance with the Commission procedures and policies.
3. Maintain professional standards of dress and behaviour and wear my registration badge when on the Commission assignments.
4. Respect the in-house rules of any organisation I am visiting and keep my mobile phone turned off or silent during all visits.
5. Maintain my competence and knowledge of contemporary practice.
6. Not misrepresent my own or any other individual’s qualifications, competence or experience, nor undertake auditing work beyond my expertise.
7. Disclose to the Commission any current or prior working or personal relationships that may be seen as a conflict of interest or that may influence my judgment.
8. Not enter into any activity which may be in conflict with the best interests of the Commission or that would prevent the performance of my duties in an objective manner.
9. Adhere to the requirements of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 and the Privacy Act 1988 and not discuss or disclose any information relating to an assessment of a provider's performance unless required to by law.
10. While conducting assignments for the Commission not represent any other business interests.
11. Not use my registration as an assessor to promote any business in which I may have an interest.
12. Not accept any inducement, commission, gift or any other benefit from any interested party.
13. Not communicate false, erroneous or misleading information that may compromise the integrity of any assessment of a provider's performance.
14. Not act in any way that would prejudice the reputation of the Commission, assessors or the process of assessing a provider's performance.
15. Cooperate fully with any enquiry in the event of any complaint about my performance as an assessor or any alleged breach of this code.

Quality assessor obligations

Quality assessors must:

1. Adhere to the Quality assessor code of conduct.
2. Complete any mandatory training required by the Commissioner.
3. Complete not less than 15 hours professional development annually as approved by the Commissioner, including any mandatory training.
4. Conduct a minimum of two comprehensive performance assessments as a quality assessor in the 12 months prior to the expiration of the registration.
5. Inform the Commissioner if convicted of a serious offence (murder or sexual assault or convicted of and sentenced to imprisonment for any other form of assault).
6. Comply with the Commission’s Vaccination Policy.
7. Comply with the Quality Assessor Conflict of Interest Policy.
8. Not have any current parallel engagement with the aged care or health care industry* unless otherwise approved due to circumstances specified by the Commissioner.
9. Remain employed or under a contractual obligation to perform the duties of a quality assessor for the Commission.

*Parallel engagement or parallel aged care or health care industry engagement means current:

1. ongoing, non-ongoing, temporary or casual employment in the aged care industry
2. provision of consultancy, advice, coaching, expertise or training within the aged care industry
3. ongoing, non-ongoing, temporary or casual employment in the health care industry where the predominant focus is on supporting aged care
4. ongoing, non-ongoing, temporary or casual employment in another industry where the predominant focus is on supporting aged care
5. ongoing, non-ongoing, temporary or casual employment with a state/territory government in a role which supports or is related to aged care
6. occupancy of a position on a board or governing body of an aged care provider
7. holding individual membership of an aged care peak or representative body.

Conflict of interest

Quality Assessors have an obligation to identify, disclose and manage any conflicts of interest, real or perceived, that may influence or be perceived to influence the decisions they take or advice they give in accordance with the Quality Assessor Conflict of Interest Policy.