ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

Our Vision

To provide for the safety of people and the environment by developing and administering regulatory processes to assure the safe use of radiation sources and safe operation of both prescribed radiation facilities and nuclear installations.

Our Values

Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection

• We are committed to establishing through regulation the conditions for safe operation of facilities and sources within our regulated community and advancing the protection of the health and safety of people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation.
• We are committed to identifying and applying international best practice in radiation protection and nuclear safety.

Security of High Activity Radioactive Sources:

• We are committed to developing and retaining suitable security expertise in order to support implementation of the national source security regulatory framework.
• We are committed to consulting with stakeholders in relation to implementation of recommendations of the COAG report on the security regulation of radioactive material.

Corporate Governance

• We will ensure that all regulatory advice is lawful, clear and consistent and based on the best available evidence.
• We are accountable to the Australian public and their representatives in the performance of our role.
• Our role is independent and we must manage any actual or perceived conflict of interest in the performance of that role.
• We will build community and stakeholder confidence in ARPANSA

Organisational Competency

• We are committed to achieving and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.
• We are committed to continuous improvement in the performance of our role.
• We are committed to identifying and applying international best practice.

Our Functions

Within the regulatory framework, the Regulatory & Policy Branch:

• assess applications for licences against accepted standards for radiation protection and nuclear safety;
• makes recommendations to the CEO on the issuing of licences;
• monitors compliance and undertakes inspections of licensed activities to confirm compliance with legislative requirements;
• investigates incidents; and
• takes any enforcement actions necessary to ensure compliance, safety of people and protection of the environment.

The framework applies to a very wide range of nuclear and radiation facilities and sources, including:

• nuclear installations such as the nuclear research reactor operated by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the replacement research reactor, large radioisotope production facilities and large radioactive waste facilities;
• prescribed radiation facilities such as particle accelerators and irradiators incorporating large amounts of radioactive material;
• radioactive materials as sealed and unsealed sources;
• ionising radiation apparatus; and
• non-ionising radiation apparatus, such as powerful UV equipment and Class 4 lasers.

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