The way specialist medical training settings are accredited is undergoing significant reform across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. RACMA is part of this important transformation. 

Following the 2023 National Health Practitioner Ombudsman (NHPO) report Processes for Progress, Health Ministers directed the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to work with all 16 specialist medical colleges to implement a standardised approach to accreditation. This marks the most significant change to training accreditation in decades. 

You may have already heard about these changes from other colleges, as this is a cross-college initiative affecting all specialist medical training. 

Understanding training post accreditation 

Accreditation of training settings is a joint process between specialist medical colleges, training providers and health departments. All parties share the goal of achieving high-quality specialist medical training that is responsive to the needs of communities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. 

The context is complex, involving different legislative environments, diverse training settings and parties with multiple obligations. RACMA is working collaboratively with the AMC, health departments and other specialist colleges to strengthen transparency, consistency and collaboration in medical education. 

What is changing? 

The RACMA Fellowship Training Program accreditation of Training Posts is currently completed in line with the RACMA Training Post Accreditation Standards. 

From February 2026, RACMA will begin implementing a standardised accreditation approach that brings several key improvements: 

• Consistency across colleges: Training settings will be assessed against common standards, reducing duplication and confusion for health services managing multiple training programs
• Procedural fairness: Health services will have the right to respond to draft accreditation findings before final decisions are made
• Risk-based decision making: Accreditation decisions will be proportionate and evidence-based, using a consistent risk framework
• Common terminology: Clear, consistent language for accreditation decisions across all colleges.

The new standards maintain strong alignment with RACMA’s current accreditation requirements while providing greater flexibility for rural, regional and diverse training settings to demonstrate quality training delivery. Model standards will be outcome-based, meaning training posts will be accredited based on their capacity to support Candidates to meet outcomes of the Training Program. 

Why is accreditation changing? 

The NHPO report provided recommendations which collectively aim to: 

• increase consistency in how training settings are accredited across the 16 specialist medical colleges 
• improve transparency and clarity for health services in relation to accreditation expectations 
• build trust and improve quality assurance in medical education 
• foster improved collaboration between colleges and health services 
• improve data and reporting about accreditation. 

Timeline 

RACMA will implement the model standards and procedures from February 2026. Significant work is already underway, guided by the RACMA Accreditation Committee and engagement with the AMC. 

We will be in regular contact with relevant Members as we introduce elements of the standardised approach. 

What this means for training posts 

Training posts will remain accredited under current standards until their next scheduled accreditation inspection post-2026, after which the revised standards will apply. 

The criteria by which accreditation decisions are made may change, meaning posts may need to demonstrate their capacity to facilitate specialist training in medical administration differently than before. However, the revised standards introduce additional flexibility for posts to demonstrate how they meet standards compared to RACMA’s current approach. Accreditation monitoring arrangements are also being strengthened to ensure training settings continue to meet the accreditation standards throughout the accreditation cycle. 

In the coming months, the College will communicate updates about the transition to revised standards. 

Contact 

If you have any further questions about the introduction of the AMC Model Standards and Procedures for training post accreditation, please contact the RACMA Education team at accreditation@racma.edu.au