Understanding Lifestyle Medicine Accreditation in Australasia
Lifestyle Medicine is increasingly recognised as a critical part of contemporary healthcare in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. With non-communicable diseases placing significant strain on individuals, communities, and health systems, clinicians are looking for structured, evidence-based ways to address root causes rather than managing risk factors alone.
Lifestyle Medicine brings together the six pillars of healthy eating, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, social connection, and avoidance of risky substances with behaviour change science and an understanding of social and cultural determinants of health. It provides a practical, person centred framework for preventing, managing, and in some cases reversing chronic conditions.
As interest grows, many health professionals are asking what “accreditation” in Lifestyle Medicine means in this region and how ASLM’s Accreditation in Lifestyle Medicine (AALM) and Fellowship fit alongside university programs and other professional development pathways.
What do we mean by Lifestyle Medicine in this context?
Lifestyle Medicine in the ASLM context refers to the clinical and public health application of:
- Evidence-informed lifestyle interventions aligned with the six pillars
- Behaviour change and health coaching approaches
- Consideration of social, cultural, First Nations, and environmental contexts
- Collaborative, interdisciplinary care
It is not a stand-alone discipline that replaces existing professional registration. Instead, it augments the skills of doctors, allied health professionals, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, public health practitioners and others who are already registered or recognised in their own field.
Why accreditation matters
Formal accreditation signals that a clinician has undertaken structured, assessed learning in Lifestyle Medicine and demonstrated an ability to apply key concepts in practice. For patients and employers, it provides reassurance that Lifestyle Medicine is being delivered in a way that is:
- Evidence based
- Clinically responsible and integrated with usual care
- Informed by behaviour change and person-centred principles
- Cognisant of cultural safety and health equity
For practitioners, accreditation creates a shared language, clear competency expectations and a recognised pathway for ongoing development, including the ASLM Fellowship.
The role of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM)
ASLM is the peak professional association for Lifestyle Medicine in Australasia. Its role is to:
- Provide high-quality, CPD-approved education and training
- Support a multidisciplinary professional community
- Offer recognised accreditation pathways, including AALM and Fellowship
- Advocate for the integration of Lifestyle Medicine into health policy and practice
Through AALM, additional short courses, events, and the Fellowship program, ASLM aims to build a workforce that can safely and effectively embed Lifestyle Medicine into primary care, specialist practice and community settings.
ASLM Accreditation in Lifestyle Medicine (AALM)
AALM is ASLM’s flagship accreditation pathway. It is a comprehensive, CPD-approved online program designed for general practitioners and degree-qualified health professionals who want to integrate Lifestyle Medicine into day-to-day practice.
Key features include:
- Approximately 80 hours of staged, online learning across:
- Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine
- The six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine
- Practical tools for clinical application
- First Nations health and culturally safe practice
- Assessment through written tasks that require real-world application, rather than exams
- CPD accreditation through RACGP, ACRRM, RNZCGP and AMA CPD Home
- Recognition on completion as an ASLM Accredited Lifestyle Medicine Doctor or ASLM Accredited Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, depending on existing qualifications.
AALM is delivered fully online, with flexible pacing so clinicians can complete it alongside clinical and personal commitments. Learners also attend a minimum number of hours at ASLM events to consolidate learning and connect with the broader community.
How AALM fits with the wider education landscape
Many clinicians combine AALM with other education pathways:
- University programs
Graduate certificates, diplomas and masters programs in Lifestyle Medicine or related disciplines provide AQF-recognised qualifications. AALM may be recognised for credit in some partner programs through recognition of prior learning. - Short courses and workshops
Topic-specific CPD (for example Mediterranean diet, low-carbohydrate approaches in diabetes, gut microbiome, communication and culture) allows clinicians to deepen skills in priority areas or complement university study. - ASLM Fellowship
AALM contributes a significant portion of the points and the Foundations domain required for Fellowship of ASLM. Fellowship recognises sustained contribution and advanced practice in Lifestyle Medicine, and confers the FASLM post-nominals.
International certification and legacy pathways
ASLM has previously supported clinicians to prepare for and sit the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM) certification exam, and many members currently hold that credential. IBLM certification remains an internationally recognised standard and existing awardees retain their status.
ASLM’s current focus is on:
- AALM as the primary accreditation pathway in this region
- Maintenance of Accreditation through an ASLM-managed program rather than recurring high-stakes exams
- Fellowship as the advanced recognition of leadership and contribution in Lifestyle Medicine
For clinicians who already hold international board certification, AALM and ASLM’s Maintenance of Certification can provide a coherent framework for ongoing development that aligns with local systems and CPD requirements.
CPD and maintenance of accreditation
Accreditation is not a once-off event. To stay aligned with international standards, ASLM offers a Maintenance of Certification/Accreditation program so that clinicians maintain current skills without needing to repeat the entire course every ten years. Participation typically involves a combination of:
- Ongoing Lifestyle Medicine-relevant CPD
- Engagement with ASLM events and community
- Periodic review of practice against Lifestyle Medicine competencies
This approach supports reflective practice and keeps clinicians connected with emerging evidence and evolving models of care.
Who is AALM and ASLM accreditation for?
ASLM Accreditation in Lifestyle Medicine is suitable for:
- General practitioners and specialists
- Allied health professionals with a bachelor-level health qualification or higher
- Nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, OTs, physiotherapists, social workers and public health professionals who wish to bring Lifestyle Medicine into their existing scope of practice.
ASLM also provides Lifestyle Medicine education that may interest health coaches and other non-registered roles, although accreditation itself is reserved for degree-qualified health professionals.
The future of Lifestyle Medicine accreditation in Australasia
The demand for Lifestyle Medicine skills is growing across primary care, community health, and health system leadership. As Australian and New Zealand policies continue to emphasise prevention, mental health, culturally safe care and chronic disease management, there is a clear role for a workforce that is confident applying Lifestyle Medicine in diverse settings.
ASLM’s education pathways including AALM, short courses and Fellowship are designed to:
- Build foundational competence in Lifestyle Medicine
- Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration
- Support clinicians to respond to the realities of practice, including complexity, multimorbidity and health inequity
Accreditation in Lifestyle Medicine is ultimately about more than a title. It is about equipping health professionals with the knowledge, skills and community they need to help patients and communities live well, reduce the burden of chronic disease, and experience care that feels more human and more hopeful.
FAQs: Lifestyle Medicine Accreditation with ASLM
AALM is a structured, CPD-approved online program that equips degree-qualified health professionals with the knowledge and skills to apply Lifestyle Medicine in clinical and community practice. On completion, clinicians are recognised as ASLM Accredited Lifestyle Medicine Doctors or Practitioners, depending on their existing registration or qualification.
AALM is designed for registered or degree-qualified health professionals, including GPs, specialists, allied health practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, public health professionals and others with a bachelor-level health qualification or higher. If eligibility is unclear, clinicians can contact ASLM for individual guidance.
Yes. AALM is recognised for CPD with RACGP, RNZCGP, ACRRM and AMA CPD Home, and is structured to meet all three CPD activity types for GPs.
The course involves roughly 80 hours of online learning, plus ASLM event attendance, and can be completed at the learner’s own pace within a set maximum timeframe. Many clinicians complete it over several months alongside their usual workload.
On successful completion, graduates are endorsed by ASLM as either an ASLM Accredited Lifestyle Medicine Doctor or an ASLM Accredited Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, reflecting their existing professional background. These titles can be used in bios and practice descriptions, though they are not AQF post-nominals.
No. ASLM accreditation does not confer a licence to practise independently. It builds on and enhances an existing health qualification or registration and must be used within normal regulatory scopes of practice.
AALM contributes a significant portion of the points and the Foundations domain required for ASLM Fellowship. Many Fellows complete AALM as part of their Fellowship journey.
Yes. Some partner universities recognise AALM through recognition of prior learning towards postgraduate Lifestyle Medicine programs, such as graduate certificates, diplomas or masters degrees. Details vary by institution and may change over time.
Many ASLM members hold IBLM certification, obtained through previous pathways. ASLM no longer promotes or coordinates a local exam sitting. Existing IBLM certification remains valid for those who hold it, and AALM plus ASLM’s Maintenance of Accreditation provides a robust, locally relevant framework for ongoing development.
ASLM offers a Maintenance of Accreditation/Certification program, aligned with international practice, that enables clinicians to keep their accreditation current through ongoing CPD and engagement, rather than repeating the full course after ten years.
Further information, including eligibility, structure, fees and upcoming intakes, is available on the ASLM website under ASLM Accreditation in Lifestyle Medicine (AALM), or by contacting the ASLM Education team on education@lifestylemedicine.org.au
