Fellowship is the highest level of recognition and membership within ACHSM. Attaining Fellowship demonstrates the attainment of significant health leadership and management competencies.
At the ACHSM May 2024 Board Meeting, the Board considered a recommendation to require that members who wish to undertake Fellowship by examination should complete the Certification Program prior to applying to undertake Fellowship by examination.
This recommendation was approved by the Board for implementation from the 2025 Fellowship by examination cohort intake.
Fellowship is the highest membership category awarded in the College. It is a significant professional achievement and is awarded by the College to those individuals who have demonstrated to their peers that they have the knowledge, attitudes, conceptual and communication skills to be recognised as senior managers and leaders in the health and aged care industries.
Fellowship within the ACHSM is recognised both nationally and internationally and it demonstrates an ongoing commitment to excellence in health service management.
Fellows provide leadership across the spectrum of public, private and not for profit organisations, in the areas of acute, primary and long term care, and health improvement. Fellows are engaged in the areas of tertiary education and research, policy development and government service, professional services and project management.
The awarding of Fellowship to a College member recognises the commitment to research, continuing professional development and learning, and application of knowledge in health services management they demonstrate.
Fellowship candidature and examination
Following acceptance into the Fellowship Program, the expectations are that Candidates participate in Study Groups as part of the Fellowship process. The process of candidature has many benefits including:
Consolidating previous learning and experience.
Providing Candidates with a forum for debate and improving their knowledge relating to current leadership, policy and management issues in health and aged care.
Demonstrating a high level of commitment as a professional health and aged care leader and manager.
Peer learning, mentorship and development.
Demonstrating a commitment to excellence, professional development, and the ongoing evolution of the profession.
The Fellowship examination is a peer review process designed to enable the Candidate to demonstrate their competencies about contemporary health and aged care issues. In particular, it assesses the competencies in leadership and management and focuses on the ’Candidates' communication skills to the level that the College recognises are those of a senior health and aged care and community leader and manager.
The candidature and examination are designed to be practical, efficient, and cost-effective for the Candidates, examiners, and the College. The broad requirements to become a Fellow of ACHSM are set out in the ACHSM Fellowship Manual.
Background
Within the Australasian College of Health Service Management Fellowship is the peak membership level. It represents the recognition by your peers of your experience, competence and contribution to the profession of health leadership.
Acceptance into the Fellowship program is only available to those members of the College with 25 or more membership points. Most eligible candidates for fellowship are required to undertake a period of study through study group and pass an examination. However, a small number of members, or health service executives that are eligible for membership, who score more than 45 membership points, may qualify for the ‘alternate pathway’ to Fellowship.
