Centres are assessed against the standards and requirements of the scheme by a reviewer from their state peak (in the case of NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia) or Community Legal Centres Australia (for centres in the ACT, Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania). There are seventeen standards which cover governance and organisational management, service delivery, accessibility and client feedback.
Centres that successfully undergo the assessment process are awarded accreditation for three years; they must meet accreditation requirements including regular reporting on any agreed improvement plan.
Community Legal Centres Australia meets monthly with the Regional Accreditation Coordinators from the peaks in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia to discuss the status of assessments in their state, any trends and issues identified, and implementation nationally. We also provide ongoing support to the Regional Accreditation Coordinators and State Accreditors and assist with recruitment and induction.