Data Collection and Submission / Policies / About ACQA / Aged Care Quality Association - an Australian benchmarking, audit, indicator and analysis improvement program

The ongoing success and validity of ACQA is based upon the commitment and cooperation of its members. A core purpose of ACQA is to benchmark quality audit and indicator data across the aged care sector. Adherence to this policy is required by all members to ensure that the data quality submitted via the ACQA website is of the highest standard.

All members agree to abide by the following data collection and submission requirements:

1. All audits and indicators must be completed in accordance with the requirements of the guidelines published on the ACQA website. 1.1. NB: The guidelines will be updated from time to time and it is the responsibility of each member to ensure they are referring to current guidelines when submitting data.

2. Members must make every effort to ensure that all data submitted is accurate and valid.

3. All audits and indicators must be submitted onto the website by 5.00 pm on the 15th day of the month for which they are due. 3.1. NB: Failure to submit the required audit or indicator by the 15th of the month for which it is due could result in that member's data not being included in the corresponding report. 3.2. If the data is submitted late, it will be included in reports developed subsequent to its submission.

4. All members are required to submit all indicators each month. If there have not been any incidents for the corresponding indicator in a given month, the member is required to submit an indicator form that has a single blank row. (ie – ensure that the site information and month is correct, then submit the form.)

5. When completing Indicator Forms, members must: 5.1. Ensure that the correct Year and Month is entered onto the form 5.2. Ensure that the correct Site has been selected from the list 5.3. Enter information into all cells 5.4. Ensure that all free text fields are completed 5.5. Not use the term “As Above” (as it becomes meaningless when data is resorted in a database. To repeat information easily simply copy and paste the information into the following cells.) 5.6. Review the information in the form prior to clicking “Send for Publishing”

6. When completing Audit Forms, members must: 6.1. Ensure that the correct Year and Month is entered onto the form 6.2. Ensure that the correct Site has been selected from the list 6.3. Answer all questions 6.4. Review the information in the form prior to clicking “Send for Publishing”

7. Following submission of a form, if it is discovered that there is an error in that data, the member must edit the form, correct the error and resubmit the form. (Click on the “Edit” icon at the end of the row for the form that requires correcting.)

8. Any action taken within the organisation to address issues that were identified within an audit or indicator may be entered into the “Action Taken” field at the bottom of each audit and indicator form. (This field is for internal organisational use and is not used in the creation of reports.)

9. Once forms have been submitted (by the 15th of the month), a report on that data will be available by the last day of the following month (for monthly reports) or according to the schedule determined by the Management Committee from time to time.

10. All organisation members are required to review the data results and reports as they become available to evaluate their performance and implement any further improvements that may be required to ensure a complete Quality Process is implemented in each organisation.