Terms and Conditions

Australasian Institute of Clinical Governance By-Laws

1. Website and Portal Disclaimer

In these By-Laws:

1.1  Board means the Board of HEAL;

1.2 By-Laws means these By-Laws;

1.3 Committee means a committee established by the Board under these By-Laws;

1.4 Directors means the directors of HEAL;

1.5 HEAL means Health Education Australia Limited (HEAL) ABN: 12 142 105 771;

1.6 Institute means the Australasian Institute of Clinical Governance (AICG) which is a Division of HEAL;

1.7 Terms of Reference means the Terms of Reference applicable to each Committee as determined by the Board from time to time.

1.8 the Institute is governed by the HEAL Constitution and any term used in these By-Laws and not otherwise defined has the same meaning given to it in the HEAL Constitution

1.9 in the event of any inconsistency between any provision contained in these By-Laws and any Constitution of HEAL, such Constitution will prevail to the extent of such inconsistency.

2. Purpose of the Institute

2.1 General Purpose

The Institute formed in direct response to an identified need for healthcare professionals to strengthen their skills in clinical governance to reduce the occurrence of adverse events. The Institute is committed to improving patient safety and quality care through health professional development and education programs in clinical governance competencies.

2.2 Vision and Mission

Vision: Safe and quality care through excellence in clinical governance

Mission: By empowering healthcare providers through clinical governance education, we improve safety and quality of patient and consumer care

3. Purpose of the Institute

In accordance with clause 28.3 of the Constitution of HEAL and any other power enabling the Board to do so, the Board has established the following Committees under these By-Laws:

(a)    AICG Committee
(b)    HEAL/AICG Education Committee
(c)    Member and Events Committee
(d)    AICG Expert Advisory Committee.

The purpose, functions and responsibilities of the Committees as well as the regulations for their ongoing review are specified by the Board and set out in respective Terms of Reference which will be reviewed from time to time:

4. Membership

4.1 Membership Categories

The Institute has four membership categories, namely:

(a)    Individual Member;
(b)    Corporate Member;
(c)    Graduate;
(d)    Fellow;

4.2 Rights and entitlements of Institute Members

Institute members are not members of HEAL. The Board may determine what information, publications and invitations Institute members are entitled to receive. Institute members do not have the right to receive notice of general meetings or to attend or vote at general meetings of HEAL. The rights of an Institute member are not transferable and end upon ceasing to be an Institute member.

4.3 Eligibility for Membership
4.3.1 Individual Member

(a)    To apply for membership of the Institute as an Individual Member, it is desirable that an applicant meet one of the following criteria:

  • works in the healthcare industry in a clinical or non-clinical role
  • is a student of a health professional qualification or similar
  • demonstrates an interest in clinical governance and the improvement of consumer safety and quality care, for example:
  • is a current committee or board member of a health related organisation
  • is an academic in a health related faculty/field
  • has past work experience in the healthcare industry

(b)    To be eligible and/or to renew membership into the category of Individual Member an Individual Member must pay an applicable membership fee.

4.3.2 Corporate Member

(a)    To apply for membership of the Institute as a Corporate Member, the applicant must meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria:

  • be a provider of healthcare services;
  • support the healthcare industry and its consumers;
  • have specific knowledge or experience with healthcare services;
  • have the ability to contribute to the betterment of the healthcare system; or
  • support the purposes of the Institute. 

(b)    To be eligible and/or to renew membership into the category of Corporate Member a Corporate Member must pay an applicable membership fee. 

4.3.3 Graduate

(a)    Admission to the Institute as a Fellow is by application or invitation only.

(b)    By Application: The applicant must satisfy all criteria and process as set out in the ‘AICG Graduate and Fellowship Rules’ as at the date of application and:

  • have successfully completed the Certificate in Clinical Governance
  • have successfully completed the Fellowship program
  • have provided three (3) industry references in support of demonstrated experience working in clinical governance
  • have completed at least three (3) consecutive years in a clinical governance related role as a clinician and/or a manager.

(c)    By Invitation: The AICG Committee may at any time invite a person to become and admit such a person as a Fellow on the grounds that the person has the requisite knowledge, experience, good standing and professionalism befitting a member of the category of Fellow of the Institute. The applicant must satisfy criteria and process as set out in the AICG Graduate and Fellowship Rules as at the date of invitation and will be required to provide:

  • three (3) industry references in support of demonstrated experience working in clinical governance
  • evidence of at least five (5) consecutive years in a clinical governance related role as a clinician and/or a manager.

(d)    To be eligible to and/or to renew membership into the category of Fellow an existing Fellow must pay an applicable membership fee.

4.4 Membership Application, Duration and Renewal

(a)    Persons seeking membership of the Institute in any category of membership must complete and sign the Institute’s Membership Application Form (including in electronic form) and satisfy the applicable eligibility criteria for the relevant category of membership specified in these By-Laws.

(b)    In addition, persons seeking membership as a Fellow of the Institute, must also comply with the requirements to apply for membership in the AICG Graduate and Fellowship Rules.

(c)    A person seeking membership of the Institute in any category must:

  • support the purposes of the Institute; and
  • agree to comply with these By-Laws.

(d)    Any application for membership must be accompanied by the entrance fee (if any) specified by the Institute from time to time.

(e)    Membership is for a period of 12 months commencing on the date that the application for admission is accepted, and lapses if not renewed immediately.

(f)    Renewal of membership is subject to:

  • The payment of any fee determined by the Institute; and
  • Fulfilment of any applicable mandatory CPD requirement set out in By-Law 4.6.
4.5 Membership Application Determination

The AICG Member and Events Manager must determine, having regard for the application form and the criteria set out in these By-Laws, the acceptance or rejection of an application, renewal or upgrade of membership of the Institute within a reasonable timeframe. Any submission in this regard will be processed no later than 30 days (other than for Fellow) following receipt by the Membership Manager. In the case of an application or upgrade to the category of Fellow, the period of 30 days shall be suspended for the duration of any period when an application is referred to the AICG Committee for consideration and response. The decision of the AICG Committee is final and is not subject to review by the applicant. The AICG Committee is not required to give reasons for its decision. For all other decisions, the Membership Manager may, in their absolute discretion, approve or reject an application for membership. The Membership Manager is not required to give reasons as to why an application was rejected. The decision of the Membership Manager is final, conclusive and binding on the applicant.

The applicant will be notified as to whether the application has been approved or rejected. If the application is rejected, the Institute must return any entrance fee paid by the application. An unsuccessful applicant may apply again for membership after 12 months. If the application is approved, the applicant becomes a member of the Institute as of the date the application was approved by the Membership Manager.

4.6 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Requirement – Graduate and Fellow Category

(a)    A member admitted to the category of Graduate and Fellow must fulfil mandatory CPD requirement as a pre requisite for renewal of their membership into their existing membership category.

(b)    A member may fulfil their mandatory CPD requirement by obtaining the requisite number of CPD points (as set out in the AICG Graduate and Fellowship Rules) from a combination of activities including (but not limited to):

  • Courses, conferences, programs or activities that pertain to clinical governance competencies contained in the Institute’s Clinical Governance Framework

(c)    Each member required to fulfil the mandatory CPD requirement is:

  • Responsible for keeping their own records evidencing their compliance with the mandatory CPD requirement; and
  • Required to indicate at the time of renewal of their membership that they have fulfilled the mandatory CPD requirement prior to their annual renewal date.

(d)    If at the time of renewal of their membership a member indicates compliance with the mandatory CPD requirement, their membership will be automatically renewed into their existing membership category.

(e)    If at the time of renewal of their membership a member indicates that they have not fulfilled the mandatory CPD requirement, then a member is ineligible to renew their membership category and instead will be eligible to apply for renewal into a category that does not require mandatory CPD as a requirement.

(f)    The Institute may, in its absolute discretion, make enquires of any member (random audit) to which mandatory CPD is a requirement to determine whether the member has fulfilled the requirement.

(g)    Following a random audit, if a member is found not to have fulfilled the mandatory CPD requirement, then the member will be ineligible to renew their membership into their existing membership category and will instead be eligible to apply for renewal into a category that does not require mandatory CPD as a requirement.

(h)    In some circumstances, at the discretion of the AICG Committee, a period of grace may apply during which the member will be renewed into their existing membership category and will have the opportunity to accrue additional CPD to address the shortfall.

4.7 Cessation of Membership

(a)    A member ceases to be a member of the Institute, if the member:

  • after payment of any due or outstanding annual fees, resigns in writing;
  • ceases to meet, in full or in part, the eligibility criteria to become a member in the relevant category;
  • fails to pay the annual fee as and when it falls due or any contribution of other moneys due to the Institute;
  • in the case of a natural person, dies or ceases to have legal capacity;
  • in the case of a body corporate, is de-registered or wound up; or
  • becomes insolvent, bankrupt, under administration or makes any arrangement or composition with its creditors generally.

(b)    The cessation of a member’s membership does not entitle the member to a refund of any entrance fee or annual fee.

(c)    Memberships are non-transferrable

(d)    A person whose membership has lapsed for six (6) months or more may reapply for membership of the Institute and in that circumstance must satisfy the membership criteria set out in the following By-Laws:

  • 4.3 Criteria for Membership and,
  • 4.6 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Requirement.

(e)    If a person’s membership lapses for less than six (6) months it can be reinstated with their CPD history and mandatory requirement continue as if no such lapse occurred.

4.8 Disciplining Members

(a)    The Board may suspend or expel a member for conduct which, in the opinion of the Board, is unbecoming of a member or prejudicial to the interests of the Institute or HEAL, including

  • refusing to support the purposes of the Institute or HEAL; and
  • refusing to participate in the activities of the Institute which are done in furtherance of the Institute’s purposes.

(b)    The Board may investigate the conduct of a member and any member who is the subject of a review must provide reasonable assistance to the Board.

(c)    If the Board is satisfied that there are sufficient grounds for taking disciplinary action against a member, the Board may consider what action to take, if any, against the member, including:

  • taking no further action against the member;
  • reprimanding the member;
  • suspending the member’s rights and entitlements for a specified period; or
  • expelling the member.

(d)    The suspension of a member’s rights or the expulsion of a member by the Board in accordance with these By-Laws takes effect immediately after the Board has made its decision.

(e)    The member must be informed of the Board’s decision in writing within 14 days.

(f)    The decision of the Board is final and binding on the member. A member cannot appeal a decision of the Board made in accordance with this By-Law 4.8.

5. Post Nominal

5.1 Subject to clause 5.3 below, in order for a person to be eligible to use a post-nominal, they must be admitted as a member in the relevant category. Members are entitled to use the corresponding post nominal, as long as their membership remains current and the member has paid the respective membership fee.

The following post nominal can be applied to:

(a)    Individual Member    AICGM

(b)    Graduate                    AICGG

(c)    Fellow                          AICGF

5.2 Use of a Post Nominal

(a)    The use of the post nominal by a member is subject to:

  • the member continuing to meet the eligibility criteria in the applicable class of membership;
  • the member’s payments being up to date, including the annual fee; and
  • the member being compliant with their annual CPD requirements (if any).

(b)    A member whose membership of the Institute ends for any reason in accordance with these By-Laws must not represent that they are a member of the Institute or use the applicable post-nominal.

5.3 The Director of AICG, after consulting the CEO of HEAL, may confer the right to use the post-nominal “AICGG” upon any person or group of persons who has or have successfully completed a specified form of studies provided by the Institute but who is or are not members of the Institute.

6. Complaints/Dispute Resolution

The AICG is committed to a high level of service delivery to our members. In the event that a member wishes to access our complaints/disputes we provide the following process.

6.1 Internal Complaints/Dispute Resolution

The following contact details are available to any member who would like to lodge a complaint with the AICG Member and Events Manager by:

If a member chooses to write, via email or mail, with a complaint, they will receive a written acknowledgement within 48 hours of receipt of the complaint. The complaint will be investigated with the relevant parties to find a fair and reasonable solution, and if appropriate, determine a fair and reasonable remedy. The member will be informed of the decision and the reasons for the decision in writing within 30 days of receipt of the initial complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved in 30 days, the complainant will be:

  • Informed of the reason for the delay, and
  • Provided with a date a decision can be reasonably expected.
6.2 External Complaints/Dispute Resolution

If the complaint remains unresolved or not resolved to the member’s satisfaction, the member can lodge a complaint with the relevant state Ombudsman or seek independent advice.

Victoria, Australia       https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/complaints/make-complaint