We are excited to share that SANE is the first organisation to receive government accreditation for digital mental health services!
Developed by the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Healthcare, the accreditation audit process conducted by the Institute for Healthy Communities Australia (IHCA) involved rigorous independent review of organisational programs, policies, program manuals, protocols and data security as well as independent feedback from participants using SANE services to verify alignment with the new National Safety and Quality for Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards.
Digital mental health refers to any mental health service accessed via phone, online, SMS, video conference or apps. The NSQDMH Standards are a formal benchmark outlining the level of care users should expect, therefore improving and standardising the quality of available digital mental health services and protecting those who use them from harm.
SANE CEO Rachel Green said: "This is a huge achievement, and demonstrates SANE’s commitment to safety and quality – speaking volumes to the strengths of being a lived experience-led organisation, strongly focused on partnering with the people and families who our services are co-designed to support, and demonstrates that our digital mental health programs meet the highest standards of safety and quality."
Australia is the first country in the world to offer government accreditation for digital mental health services. Whilst currently a voluntary process, it is planned for it to become mandatory for all Australian providers – public and private - by the end of 2024.
SANE is delighted to be the first organisation to undertake this process and, more importantly, the first to pass with flying colours.
According to the report provided by the NSQDMH independent evaluator, IHCA: ‘SANE presents as an outstanding organisation in terms of their visionary and robust leadership, governance and operational management; comprehensive documentation; high calibre of staff; focus on training and development; quality of services provided, and extensive evidence of engagement with people with lived experience in planning, developing and delivering services.’
Put simply, accreditation against the standards provides digital mental health users and GPs, clinicians, PHNs and other health providers assurance that SANE programs and services are gold standard for safety, efficacy and security.
The NSQDMH Standards accreditation comes on the back of SANE passing the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards in November last year, further reinforcing SANE’s commitment to quality and safety.
Learn more about the new Australian Digital Mental Health Standards and what it means for those living with mental ill health here
Access our range of accredited phone and online services here
