Overview

Prospective Students

ANMAC strongly advises prospective students to check the NMBA Approved Program of Study list prior to enrolling in an entry to practice nursing or midwifery education program. Completion of a program of study listed on the NMBA Approved Program of Study list provides a pathway to registration as a nurse or midwife in Australia (subject to also meeting other registration requirements). Completion of a program of study that is not listed as an NMBA Approved Program of Study may not provide a basis for registration as a nurse or midwife. ANMAC recommends that prospective students consider the requirements for registration prior to commencing a program of study.

Accreditation Services develop and review accreditation standards for nursing and midwifery programs of study in Australia. We then use the accreditation standards to determine whether programs of study for nurses and midwives seeking to practice in Australia meet the required education standards for enrolled nurses, registered nurses, midwives, eligible midwives and nurse practitioners. All education programs leading to eligibility to apply for registration as a nurse or midwife are subject to a national accreditation process. Accreditation of nursing and midwifery education programs is undertaken in the interest of public safety.

The accreditation process is robust, standards focused and risk-based. It aims to be timely, transparent, accountable, efficient, effective and responsive.

ANMAC is currently reviewing the existing risk-based procedures in order to enhance the accreditation process for education providers and other stakeholders.

The benefits of enhancing the current risk-based accreditation system include:

streamlining of assessment and monitoring procedures across the five year accreditation cycle
increasing efficiency and more effective use of education provider and ANMAC resources
increasing capacity to identify and manage risk arising from changing priorities in health and higher education
strengthening communication between education providers and ANMAC.

A risk-based accreditation process provides a platform for:

accurate and ongoing assessment and management of risks that impact on, or have the potential to impact on, the integrity of an education program
organisation of human, financial and material resources to assess and monitor individual education programs
information sharing and collaboration between ANMAC, education providers and other stakeholders.

As part of the risk-based accreditation process every nursing and midwifery education program undergoes a risk assessment.

The risk assessment takes into consideration areas such as:

previous experience in delivering a nursing or midwifery accredited program
history of compliance with accreditation standards
current conditions on the program imposed by ANMAC or other regulatory bodies
any substantiated complaints against a program
number of campuses where the program will be delivered
areas in the program that need strengthening as identified by the assessment team and relevant Accreditation Committee during the accreditation process.

The risk assessment may influence the program accreditation status and monitoring.

Program accreditation

Program changes

Monitoring

Review date:

Tuesday, 8 October 2019