ACIS CERTIFICATION FOR ATTENDANT CARE PROVIDERS
Get ACIS certified with HCPA
HCPA helps community care providers understand the ACIS requirements, prepare their policies and evidence, and get ready for certification audit.
The Australian Community Industry Standard (ACIS) is a quality benchmark for community care providers supporting people with disability and acquired injuries. The current ACIS 5.0 Standard covers areas including rights and responsibilities, governance, clinical governance, service delivery, service environments and complex supports. ACIA confirms that ACIS 5.0 is the current JASANZ-endorsed Standard.
For providers looking beyond NDIS or aged care funding, certification can also support entry into personal injury and compensation-funded attendant care markets. Comcare, for example, strongly recommends the use of ACIA-certified attendant care providers.
Still deciding whether ACIS certification is right for your organisation?
ACIS certification can be particularly valuable for providers wanting to diversify into Comcare, workers compensation and other personal injury schemes where recognised quality assurance is important.
It can also complement an existing NDIS or aged care business. ACIA’s ACIS 5.0 equivalence policy allows auditors to take certain NDIS and aged care evidence into account when determining the audit scope. Certification bodies still determine whether equivalence is appropriate for an individual audit.
HCPA can help you assess whether certification fits your target market and what existing systems may already support the application before you commit to the process.
Who is suited to getting ACIS certified?
What does the ACIS certification process involve?
Certification is more than submitting an application. Providers need to demonstrate that their policies, operational systems and evidence align with the ACIS 5.0 requirements and can be verified through an independent audit.
1. Confirm the certification scope
Start by identifying the services your organisation delivers, the client groups you support and the markets you want ACIS certification to help you enter.
This is also the point to consider whether existing NDIS registration or aged care accreditation may affect the audit scope. ACIA’s ACIS 5.0 equivalence policy recognises relevant evidence from these standards when determining audit scope. If the organisation is targeting Comcare attendant care or another personal injury scheme, HCPA can also help identify the separate scheme-entry requirements that may apply.
ACIA administers ACIS, while certification audits are completed by approved Conformity Assessment Bodies under its JASANZ-endorsed certification scheme. You can view ACIA’s approved certification bodies.
2. Align policies with ACIS 5.0
The organisation needs policies and procedures that reflect how care is actually delivered, not simply a generic manual prepared for audit.
HCPA reviews existing documentation against the ACIS 5.0 requirements and identifies gaps across areas such as governance, clinical governance, workforce management, insurance, risk, incident management, service delivery and record keeping.
Where policies already exist, they can be updated and strengthened. Where the organisation is starting with limited documentation, HCPA can provide a structured framework for the provider to customise around its own services, workforce and operating model.
3. Prepare the audit evidence
The audit looks for evidence that the organisation’s documented systems are being used in practice.
Depending on the provider, this may include staff files, qualifications, insurance, governance records, clinical documentation, training evidence and records showing how services are delivered and monitored. Existing NDIS or aged care evidence may also be relevant where ACIA’s ACIS 5.0 equivalence provisions apply.
HCPA conducts a gap review and mock-audit preparation so the team can identify missing evidence, test how well staff understand the systems and address issues before the formal assessment.
4. Complete the ACIS audit
Once the organisation is ready, it completes the formal certification audit with an approved certification body.
The assessment can include review of organisational documents, staff and client records, interviews and evidence showing that service delivery aligns with the ACIS standards. ACIA’s ACIS 5.0 audit framework provides further detail on the areas assessed.
If the auditor identifies nonconformities, that does not necessarily end the certification pathway. HCPA can help the organisation interpret the findings, prepare corrective actions and supporting evidence, and work through remediation towards certification.
Why work with HCPA to get ACIS certified?
ACIS certification is most useful when the certification scope reflects the services and funding markets the provider actually intends to pursue.
HCPA helps providers understand where ACIS fits, what separate scheme-entry requirements may still apply and how much of their existing NDIS or aged care documentation may already be relevant.
HCPA reviews the organisation’s documentation, completes a gap analysis, supports remediation and prepares the team for audit so the business is not approaching certification as a paperwork exercise alone.
Backed by HCPA’s Compliance Guarantee
Eligible HCPA registration services are backed by the Compliance Guarantee. If approval is not achieved due to HCPA’s compliance work following three attempts, HCPA provides a full refund and you keep the work completed.
How HCPA helps you get ACIS certified
Understand the opportunity
Review the target personal injury schemes and how ACIS certification fits the organisation's broader service strategy.
Assess certification readiness
Compare existing policies, systems and operational evidence against ACIS 5.0 and identify what needs strengthening.
Prepare for the audit
Complete documentation updates, evidence preparation and a mock audit so the organisation approaches certification confidently.
Progress to certification
Support audit responses and nonconformity remediation, then help the provider understand the next scheme-entry steps where required.
Our experience helping businesses enter regulated markets
businesses supported
industry consultants
first-time approval rate
client revenue generated
HCPA works with providers across regulated health, disability and community care markets where certification affects how services can be funded or referred.
For ACIS applicants, that broader experience is useful because existing NDIS, aged care and care-delivery systems may already provide part of the evidence needed to demonstrate quality.
HCPA can help identify what can be retained, what needs to change and what needs to be prepared specifically for the ACIS audit and intended scheme pathway.
Frequently asked questions about ACIS certification
What is ACIS certification?
ACIS stands for the Australian Community Industry Standard.
It is a JASANZ-endorsed quality standard for community care providers supporting people with disability and acquired injuries. The current ACIS 5.0 Standard covers areas including rights, governance, clinical governance, service delivery, service environments and complex supports.
ACIA administers the standard, while independent approved certification bodies conduct the certification audits.
How does my organisation obtain ACIS certification?
The process generally starts with an application to ACIA and access to the ACIS Standard and self-assessment material.
The provider then prepares its systems and evidence before completing an audit through an approved ACIS certification body.
HCPA adds a readiness stage before the formal audit, reviewing the organisation’s policies and evidence, closing gaps and running mock-audit preparation.
Who should consider getting ACIS certified?
ACIS is particularly relevant to providers delivering attendant care or looking to enter personal injury and compensation-funded markets.
Comcare strongly recommends ACIA-certified attendant care providers, while other schemes may recognise ACIS within their own provider requirements.
Existing NDIS and aged care providers may also pursue ACIS where they want to broaden their service portfolio.
Is ACIS certification mandatory?
Not universally.
ACIA advises that ACIS certification is mandated or recommended by a number of personal injury schemes, so the requirement depends on the scheme and type of work the provider wants to pursue.
For example, Comcare strongly recommends certified attendant care providers, while state-based compensation schemes can have their own accreditation and registration conditions.
Can an existing NDIS provider use its current policies and audit evidence?
Potentially, and this can make preparation more efficient.
ACIA’s ACIS 5.0 equivalence policy recognises areas of overlap with the NDIS Practice Standards and aged care standards when determining audit scope.
That does not mean NDIS registration automatically equals ACIS certification. HCPA reviews the existing evidence to identify what can be relied on and what remains ACIS-specific.
How long does ACIS certification take?
There is no single end-to-end timeframe that applies to every provider.
Timing depends on how prepared the organisation already is, its service scope, certification-body availability and whether the audit identifies nonconformities requiring corrective action.
ACIA publishes minimum ACIS 5.0 audit durations, but preparation and remediation sit outside that audit time.
A provider with well-developed policies and usable evidence can therefore progress differently from a business building its governance systems from the beginning.
What should I prepare before starting ACIS certification?
Start by gathering the documents that show how the organisation is actually governed and how services are delivered.
This can include policies and procedures, clinical governance material, workforce and staff records, insurance and service evidence. Existing NDIS audit evidence may also be useful for some providers.
The useful first step is a gap analysis so the business knows what is already suitable before creating unnecessary new documents.
Do I need to become an ACIA member to get ACIS certified?
No. ACIA membership is optional.
ACIA offers different member and non-member pricing, with ACIA membership providing discounts on some certification-related resources and services.
Because fees change, providers should check current ACIA pricing rather than relying on an older certification budget.
What happens during an ACIS audit?
The audit looks beyond whether the organisation has a policy manual.
The ACIS audit can involve review of policies and records, staff and client files, interviews and evidence showing that service delivery reflects the systems described by the provider.
This is why HCPA includes mock-audit preparation rather than stopping once the documentation has been written.
What happens if the auditor identifies a nonconformity?
A nonconformity does not necessarily mean the certification pathway ends.
The provider will need to address the finding and provide suitable corrective evidence within the applicable process.
HCPA can help interpret the finding, identify what needs to change and prepare the response so the organisation can continue progressing towards certification.
Does ACIS certification help a provider get more referrals?
It can strengthen the provider’s credibility and visibility, but it does not guarantee work.
ACIA maintains a public ACIS Provider Register, allowing funders, clients and referral sources to identify certified organisations.
Independent certification can also be valuable in markets where referral sources want confidence that a provider has been assessed against a recognised quality standard.
Does ACIS certification automatically let me work with Comcare or a state workers compensation scheme?
No. Certification and scheme entry are related but separate steps.
For example, Comcare strongly recommends ACIA-certified attendant care providers, while state schemes can have their own provider registration and evidence requirements.
In Victoria, providers should check the current TAC disability service provider registration requirements rather than assuming ACIS certification alone provides access to the scheme.
Related ACIS resources
[Insert Ladder Content from Hub page: Compliance, Growth]
Maintain ACIS compliance
Preparing for surveillance, recertification or corrective action?
Grow your ACIS business
Ready to generate more funded-care referrals?
Build relationships with claims managers and professional referral partners while strengthening the workforce, intake and invoicing systems needed to accept more funded work.
Start growingWhat Our Clients Say
Amazing service and incredibly friendly, helpful staff. We engaged HCPA for our NDIS registration, and they guided us step by step through the entire process from start to finish. Thanks to their professionalism and support, we successfully completed our NDIS Registration Audit on the first attempt with zero non-conformities. I highly recommend HCPA to anyone looking to become an NDIS service provider. Thank you so much to the entire HCPA team for helping us achieve our goal!
Very professional and engaging. Explanation of the complicated process was made easy to understand by Vincent
A big thank you to Shayan Raghib !! for all his hard work and support through helping us with our registration and audit process, he was contactable at all times quick responses for emails/phone calls and any info that required from our team, highly recommend for anyone thinking of completing the SAH/aged care registration.
Had help to register with DVA from Raymund who is very knowledgeable and proffesional. We are so grateful.
Shayan has been absolutely fantastic throughout the whole process. He is professional, patient, and incredibly efficient — the kind of person who makes complicated things feel simple. He helped us a lot, followed up quickly, and always made sure everything was moving in the right direction. Truly appreciate his support and highly recommend him to anyone who wants someone reliable, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. Thanks Shayan — you made the process much smoother than expected!
I’ve had an incredible experience with HCPA. A massive thank you to Edwin, who was easily the best person to work with. He helped me from start to finish and made the whole process seamless. If you need NDIS provider service, ask for Edwin he truly cares about his clients!
HCPA company is a very professional company with a highly dedicated team of experts who truly knows what they are doing. From the moment we started planning our journey to become a DVA provider, HCPA took the time to explain everything clearly and helped us understand the whole process and DVA requirements in a way that was easy to follow. Honestly, signing up with HCPA was one of the smartest decisions we have made. We are also very grateful to have Raymund as our consultant. From the very beginning, he has been approachable, supportive, and easy to work with. He guided us step by step throughout the whole process and made everything feel much easier and less overwhelming. Starting a business can honestly be stressful and daunting, especially when dealing with applications and compliance requirements. But having Raymund as our consultant really helped lessen the stress and anxiety. He was always there to answer our questions, explain things clearly, and reassure us whenever we felt unsure. What we truly appreciated was his dedication and willingness to help, even after hours when we needed clarification about our application. That level of support really made a big difference for us. Aside from being very professional and knowledgeable, Raymund is also kind, patient, and has a great sense of humour, which made the whole experience more comfortable and positive. We highly recommend HCPA and Raymund to anyone looking for guidance in becoming a DVA provider. You will definitely be in good hands with a team that genuinely cares and supports you throughout the journey.
Great team, very prompt and helpful
Very polite and knowledgeable gentleman
Very quick and easy on boarding process with Jhanine. Great prompt communication and clarity throughout.
Working with Raymund was a fantastic experience from start to finish. His knowledge and timely communication helped us with the process immensely.
Vincent has been really excellent and supportive throughout my application process. He followed up and followed through.
Working with Reegan Brown from HCPA, fantastic assistance and provided all the resources needed. Kingsley Audu has also been working closely for the past few weeks, very driven and informal individual with a great work ethic.
The support and guidance I have received from Raymund Jovs Carcido has been incredible. Raymund is very knowledgeable, professional and without a doubt, kind and patient! I would definitely recommend HCPA for anyone looking to start on this journey.
I have good experience with this organization.Raymund has done excellent job to see this project to this stage. Thank you.
Edwin has been very helpful throughout the process of registration until finally I have registration to provide NDIS targeted supports. Thanks to Edwin for his detailed and supportive work that enabled the process to go smoothly. I recommend HCPA to those who want to venture into allied health space privately.
Mark is my contact at HCPA, and he consistently goes above and beyond for my business. He checks in with me weekly to see how my NDIS registration is progressing. He’s calm on the phone and genuinely listens—even when I’m venting. Find yourself a Mark at HCPA for your NDIS or aged care business journey.
Edwin was phenomenal in providing the consulting service. He was very clear and guided me step-by-step and overall I am very satisfied
I had a consultation with NISHTA and she was so knowledgeable and helpful. She has provided me resources that are very pertinent to NDIS. She also assisted me in the business side of it. Very grateful and glad I had consulted with her and HCPA!
Edwin is my go to person always there to help. Thank so much -jelyn davis
Prompt responses & result driven
Raymund provided exceptional support to Carespace during our application for DVA and onboarding onto the platform. His approach throughout the process was consistently professional, patient, and genuinely understanding of our needs. He took the time to clearly explain each step, responded promptly to questions, and ensured we felt supported and confident at every stage of the application and onboarding process. His calm and respectful manner made what could have been a complex process feel well‑managed and straightforward. We greatly appreciate Raymund’s expertise, commitment, and client‑centred approach, and we would highly recommend him to any organisation seeking reliable and knowledgeable support.
From the first time i contacted HCPA my experience has been wonderful. The follow up is excellent, the service is professional and i feel very supported. Thank you
Great support, prompt response and action I recommend this organization
Very professional advice based upon the experience. I am on my way to become a DVA provider and an Aged care associate provider with the help of Andrew and Justin. You guys are amazing 👏
Fantastic experience from start to finish. The team provided great support throughout my registration process, and my consultant Bianca was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and responsive. They made a complex process feel much easier. Highly recommend their services.
I have been guided and supported by Mr Fayez, a very experienced HCPA Consultant over the last one month in my new journey to start up a service provider business. Fayez had been very thorough about his service, supportive in nature ,great with his communication and clarifying my questions. It has been a successful process with the guidance of Fayez to step into my first ever adventure in business world. I sincerely appreciate the open communication, relentless efforts and clarity HCPA offer its customers. Many Thanks.
Nishta Trikka at HCPA has been instrumental in shaping my business through ongoing consultations. Her insights are practical, data-driven, and tailored to my goals, helping me navigate complex decisions with clarity. I’m currently in sessions, and I appreciate her consistency, responsiveness, and the concrete steps she’s guiding me to take. Highly recommend Nishta and HCPA for thoughtful, results-focused coaching and support.
Being part of the HCPA has added real value to our practice. The advice and resources they offer have helped us improve internal processes and maintain quality care. Their team is knowledgeable, approachable, and clearly experienced in the healthcare field.
Andrew at HCPA was incredibly helpful in guiding me through the process of registering an NDIS business. He made everything clear and easy to understand. His professionalism, patience, and in-depth knowledge made, what could have been a stressful process, a smooth and straightforward application from start to finish. His an absolute legend and deserves a raise.
I was greatly supported by my DVA Analyst Raymund Jovs Carcido. He prompt in replying to my emails and phone calls. With Raymund’s hard work and crossing all obstacles he assisted me in securing my DVA registration and set up. I would recommend anyone to go with HCP for DVA registration.
Patience with no forced selling
I had a really positive experience working with HCPA. They were knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely helpful throughout the entire process. They took the time to explain everything clearly and made what could have been a complicated journey feel smooth and manageable. I always felt supported and well-guided. Highly recommend!
I am very new to a business, and have found Jack and Raymund extremely helpful. I'm sure I cannot progress without them.
Raymund was a great consultant. He not only helped us with DVA Service Provider registration and onboarding but also more importantly helped set up and provided guidance and expertise required to kickstart our business. Raymund was very professional and always forthcoming. Bedurya Community Care is very fortunate to have Raymund’s services. Thank you.
Very friendly and caring always available when needed to answer questions was always dealing with Edwin Castro thank you for all your support
Vincent has been a great support from my first initial contact, throughout my NDIS registration, out-of-cycle audit, mid-term audit, and for over a year of follow-up communication since our registration. From the start, he has been professional, approachable, and very knowledgeable. He consistently takes the time to explain things clearly, offers ongoing support, and provides encouragement that makes the process feel manageable. His positive attitude and willingness to help have made a real difference, and I would confidently recommend him to others navigating the NDIS process.
Overall experience was immeasurable with the support from Raymund Jov Carcido from the start. He used to regularly follow up until we are satisfied with all our questions. This is the first time we are starting this business. So Raymund gone through every single paperwork and other process clearly for us to understand the process. We are still learning so I am hoping to get things sorted out according to the requirements. I would definetly recommended HCPA and their service worth the time and support from them.
The service provided was very professional with high standards. Mr Edwin supported me through the process of getting all relevant documents ready for the audit. He scaffolded information and ensured that I understood the audit process. Whilst getting the procedure document delayed this didn't impact on the overall experience and that I was able to submit this in a timely manner. I will recommend HCPA to my friends who would like to register as NDIS providers.
Raymund Jovs Carcido was exceptional in helping me set up my DVA business. He guided me through the entire process with clarity, professionalism and patience making what could have been an overwhelming experience feel manageable and well-structured. His knowledge of the DVA requirements, business compliance and documentation was invaluable. Raymund was always approachable, responsive and genuinely invested in my success. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to establish or grow a DVA-related business—his support made a significant difference.
Monica was very thorough and knowledgeable. We feel supported in our NDIS journey
From helping us obtain our registration, to continued consulting support, HPCA has been wonderful; particularly Monica Trisal! Thank you for the information and support that has been so vital for our progression.
Thank You Dear Mark Magbanua Your outstanding work and the values your company upholds have been truly inspiring. I deeply admire the dedication and quality you bring to the industry. It’s professionals like you who set the standard, and I hope we continue to learn from and collaborate with you as we grow. Thank you once again — your impact genuinely makes a difference. Warm regards, Essam Soliman
Great service and staff are professionals. Raymond walked with me in every steps by following up with calls and emails. he is good
I am a newly NDIS-registered provider, and HCPA assisted me in preparing all required compliance documentation for registration. Their expert guidance, particularly from Nishta, was invaluable throughout the audit process. I only had one consultation with Nishta for my Stage 1 audit, yet the depth and clarity of information she provided equipped me well enough to successfully pass Stage 2 as well. As a result, I became fully NDIS-registered just over two months after the audit. I am now considering ongoing consultation with Nishta and HCPA, as their support has given me confidence to run my business with strong compliance, credibility, and clarity. I highly recommend their services to new and emerging healthcare providers.
Raymund Jovs Carcido was incredibly helpful throughout my DVA application process. He took the time to explain everything clearly, answered all my questions with patience, and made what could have been a stressful process feel straightforward and manageable. His knowledge, professionalism, and genuine support made a huge difference, and I felt confident knowing my application was in good hands. I’m very grateful for his assistance and highly recommend Raymund to anyone needing help with their DVA claim.
I was happy with my consultation with Ferdinand. He explained everything to me in terms I could understand & gave me different outcomes. He was not pushy & gave me time to think.
Great support and highly responsive.
We can’t thank Fayez from HCPA enough for the support he gave us. He went above and beyond to make sure we had the right information and fully understood our options. He was kind, knowledgeable, and always happy to help. Such a positive experience; highly, highly recommend Fayez!
Gemma consistently demonstrates a high level of efficiency and excellence, with prompt responses and strong ongoing support.
Friendly no pressure discussion
Fantastic service
Very Professinal service
Victor's professionalism and clarity in explaining the options and steps highly impressed me.
Luca was very informative; and able to put together my vision and align within his expertise. I was impressed
I have been working with Raymund past 5 months with registering our business for DVA community Nursing. Raymund guided us with every step, he showed wide knowledge and understanding of DVA and process involved. My journey from start till now has been very smooth without stress. Raymond made sure, i was updated with every process. I am very happy with the service received and Thank you Raymund for guiding us throughout the process. I cannot thank you enough for your professionalism and expertise you have shown😊
Hi HCPA Fayez was very understanding and very knowledgeable he explained himself very good well done. Keep up the good work.👌
Our experience with HCPA for the DVA application process was very positive. The service was professional, well-organised, and communicated clearly at every stage. We felt well supported throughout the journey, and the process was managed efficiently and respectfully by Vincent and team. I appreciate the high standard of service received and would confidently recommend it to others.
From start to finish, Gemma made the process so much easier. Her attention to detail is excellent, and she was always quick to respond to my endless questions with patience and professionalism. Gemma's strong understanding of the early childhood sector was evident throughout and ensured the licence approval process was handled smoothly and efficiently. Gemma made what could have been a stressful experience feel straightforward and manageable. I highly recommend Gemma for licence approval support.
With the two very helpful and friendly calls I have received since I enquired online for information, I am very happy with the thought of working in this field to provide technical and outdoor garden work for clients potentially moving forward.
