We begin this month’s list by noting that accreditation is one of those things that often operates behind the scenes strengthening quality, protecting safety, and reinforcing trust across industries. It’s everywhere… even if most people don’t realise it. And because it isn’t always visible, assumptions and misconceptions tend to creep in.
Over the years, a few persistent myths have stuck around, ideas like “accreditation guarantees perfection”, “it only applies to big organisations”, or “it’s just another layer of paperwork”. These misunderstandings can undervalue the very real impact accreditation has in lifting standards nationwide.
In reality, accreditation is far from a one-and-done exercise. It’s dynamic. It evolves. It pushes organisations to grow, improve, and stay accountable, not just today but every day.
So, let’s clear the air.
We sat down with NATA’s Subject Matter Expert, Clair Lillee, to unpack some of the most common myths and spotlight the truths that prove why accreditation is more important than ever.
Here are the second five of the top ten myths—and the realities that set the record straight.
5. “Accreditation promotes uniformity and stifles innovation”
Some people think that you cannot be creative or agile if you are accredited.
The fact is that accreditation frameworks encourage innovation, but only as long as it is validated and documented. Many breakthroughs have come from within accredited environments.
Innovation without quality assurance is just a fancy way to say that “we winged it”. Accreditation emphasises continuous improvement rather than promoting a static approach.
An example that we all know of is the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. This development occurred within accredited and regulated research clinical and manufacturing environments, and the breakthroughs relied on good laboratory and manufacturing practices, and accredited ethical and safety review processes.
Accreditation ensured safety, trust, reproducibility, and speed, enabling an innovation that saved millions of lives. Accreditation did not slow progress in this case – it powered responsible innovation.
4. “Accreditation is a one-time achievement”
Some people think that once you get the accreditation certificate, you can then go and chill out. This mindset treats accreditation like a trophy – it is something you earn once, display proudly, and then move on from.
However, that is not how accreditation works. It is a continuous improvement cycle and not a one-off reward.
Accreditation is an ongoing process requiring continuous review and assessment to maintain standards, and ensure a culture of continuous learning and refinement. It is like going to the gym – the results only last if you keep at it. If you skip it, then things will start to sink.
3. “Accreditation is a technical assessment”
If accreditation is just a technical assessment, then assembling IKEA furniture is just following instructions. You always follow every step perfectly, but somehow there is always one screw left over.
Accreditation is technical, but it also involves interpretation, teamwork, mild existential crisis, and someone always muttering, “we’ve always done it this way.” Accreditation is as much more about culture, communication, and leadership as it is about technical competence.
2. “Assessors are out to get you”
Assessors are subject matter experts and not compliance cops. Their role is to support improvement, not punishment.
You can think of them as your quality conscious. They may be annoying sometimes but always helpful.
If something is not working, would you not prefer to hear about it from someone who is there to help you fix it before it becomes a bigger issue?
1. “Accreditation is only about documentation”
Some people think you can just show the auditors a big binder and that is the end of the entire accreditation process.
While documentation plays a role, accreditation goes far beyond paper. It is about how systems function in real life – it is also about embedding quality and safety into daily operations, behaviours, and culture.
Assessors look for evidence that systems work in practice and not just on paper. Remember that documentation supports evidence, but accreditation is really about performance, improvement, and outcomes.
Why bust these myths?
Myths like these can lead to resistance, inefficiency, and missed opportunities, so busting them helps shift the mindset from compliance to commitment. It also brings the focus back to what really matters: good practice and better service.
Replacing myths with facts supports a learning culture where feedback and improvement are seen as normal and positive. It helps build confidence, and empower your staff with the why behind the what.
When your staff understand and support the purpose of accreditation, they deliver care and service with greater confidence and transparency. This builds trust, credibility, and confidence.
Hopefully, by busting these myths, you now have a better insight into why accreditation is the scaffolding that lets innovation, quality, and trust flourish. Now you can be the reason your team embraces accreditation and not just endures it.
To learn more about how accreditation can help ensure quality, safety, consistency, and competence in everything that we do, visit our Accreditation section.