The full answer
Stage 1 is the document-review phase of a Certification audit. The auditor receives your evidence package — policies, registers, training records, sample service agreements — and assesses against the relevant Practice Standards modules. Stage 1 outcome is usually returned within 2-3 weeks. Pass Stage 1 and the auditor schedules Stage 2 (the site visit). About 70% of providers pass Stage 1 first time; the remainder typically have minor non-conformities that can be addressed before Stage 2.