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ACHS Improvement Academy Celebrates its 10th Anniversary!
Discover the story of our growth and transformation.
In 2026, the ACHS Improvement Academy proudly marks 10 years of supporting healthcare professionals to lead meaningful improvement in quality and safety.
What began as an initiative to strengthen improvement capability has grown into a vibrant learning community spanning organisations and countries. We are proud to celebrate what we have built together with faculty, learners, partners, organisations, and the wider healthcare community.
10 Years at a Glance
Since its launch in 2016, the Improvement Academy has supported more than 41,000 participants, with the aim to develop the skills, confidence, and practical tools needed to drive meaningful improvements in quality and safety. That impact has accelerated over time. Participation grew from approximately 1,400 learners in 2016 to over 4,100 learners in 2025.
The Improvement Academy has worked with more than 3,000 organisations across multiple countries, supporting healthcare services at every stage of their improvement journey and extending its influence well beyond Australia.
The Improvement Academy will be the first of its type in Australia... we understand that the Australian healthcare workforce deserves a very strong, contemporary educational offering. One that will translate into improved changes in the workforce and what it has to offer patients.
- Former ACHS President, John Smith at the Improvement Academy Launch Ceremony, 2016
Expanding How We Learn
When the Improvement Academy first launched, learning looked very different. Education was delivered primarily face‑to‑face, with trainers travelling interstate to work directly with clinicians, managers and healthcare leaders. Early courses focused on foundational quality and safety training, including core programs in clinical governance, quality improvement methodologies, and patient safety principles.
In response to sector needs, specialised courses such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Open Disclosure (OD) were introduced, quickly becoming popular offerings due to their practical relevance.
COVID‑19 marked a turning point. Learning shifted online, transforming necessity into opportunity and collaboration with learners, faculty and partners helped shape the Academy’s direction. Virtual delivery extended the Academy’s reach, increased accessibility, and enabled participation across organisations, locations and time zones. This evolution continued with the launch of the Masterclass series in May 2021, beginning with Quality Controls Cost with Dr Brent James, a renowned international expert in healthcare quality improvement, patient safety, and clinical practice management. Later we expanded into expert‑led learning supported by international perspectives on system redesign, workforce transformation, AI and virtual care.
Pictured: Improvement Academy Launch, L to R: Mr John Smith PSM (ACHS President 2016), Dr Christine Dennis (ACHS CEO 2016), Dr John Wakefield, Associate Professor Bernie Harrison, Mr Michael Roff
Over the decade, the Academy has delivered 470 sessions across 20 topics through public and custom programs, Masterclasses, free webinars, e‑learning and Member benefits growing a community of committed learners. The launch of the e-learning portal in 2025 marked a significant milestone, expanding access and flexible learning to even more healthcare professionals in Australia and globally and is set to grow more into 2027.
The challenges facing the sector changed again post COVID and were no longer limited to process improvement and patient safety alone. Digital transformation, workforce pressures, changing consumer dynamics, and the emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence are reshaping how care is delivered and how improvement leaders need to think.
Again the Academy and its community of contributors expanded its focus beyond tools and methods, placing greater emphasis on leading change in complex systems. Today we offer courses in leading change, artificial intelligence, partnering with consumers, human factors and more.
As the Improvement Academy enters its next decade, we remain committed to building the capability, confidence and connections needed to improve healthcare. We will continue working alongside our community to respond to emerging challenges, champion innovation and support safer, better care.
This milestone belongs to you, we thank everyone who has contributed to the journey, including our staff, faculty, partners, learners and community. We invite to you to connect with us, celebrate with us and continue shaping the future of healthcare improvement with us.
If you have a story, experience or achievement to share from your time with the Improvement Academy, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at improvementacademy@achs.org.au.
