CEO foreword
I am pleased to present the 2018–2022 Corporate Plan of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). I will, together with ARPANSA’s dedicated and highly capable staff, endeavour to deliver according to the targets outlined in this plan, with the aim of protecting the Australian community and environment from the harmful effects of radiation.
Radiation has always been a natural part of our environment. Every day we are exposed to radiation from natural sources as wide-ranging as outer space (cosmic radiation), the sun (ultraviolet radiation), bedrock (including radon gas entering homes and workplaces), and naturally occurring radioactive substances in food and drink.
In addition to natural sources, artificial sources of radiation have been introduced into our environment over the past century. The use of radiation in medical procedures is now the largest source of exposure to the population, and very powerful sources of radiation are used for cancer treatment. Radiation sources are used for a variety of purposes, such as materials testing and density measurement. Radiation is used in research and for production of medicines and for communication (radiofrequency radiation). There are also workplaces with elevated levels of radiation of either natural or artificial origin.
Exposure to radiation from natural sources and the use of radiation for justified and beneficial purposes necessitates actions to protect the health and safety of people and of the environment from the harmful effects of radiation. ARPANSA achieves its protection mission by various means. We regulate Commonwealth entities using radiation, including nuclear installations. We collaborate with the states and territories to develop policies, codes and guidance for national implementation. We engage with a range of stakeholders to enable them to make their own decisions in relation to radiation risks. We are involved in radiation research and provide services such as calibrations, audits and monitoring, for the purpose of protecting the community and environment.
We are looking forward to continuing our delivery of services to the Australian community over the next four years, and to deal with the challenges we may face in doing so.
Statement of preparation
I, Carl-Magnus Larsson, as the accountable authority of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), present the 2018–19 Corporate Plan, as required under paragraph 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. This corporate plan covers the reporting periods of 2018–2019 to 2021–2022.
Carl-Magnus Larsson
CEO of ARPANSA
Purpose
Vision
A safe radiation environment for the Australian community.
Purpose
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is the Australian Government’s primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety. Our purpose is to protect the Australian people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation, through understanding risks, best practice regulation, research, policy, services, partnerships and engaging with the community.
Objectives
The ARPANSA program of work entails six key strategic objectives that guide our priorities and contribute to delivering radiation protection and nuclear safety outcomes to the Australian community:
1. Protect the public, workers and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation
2. Promote radiological and nuclear safety and security and emergency preparedness
3. Promote the safe and effective use of ionising radiation in medicine
4. Ensure risk informed and effective regulation
5. Enhance engagement with community, industry and government
6. Enhance organisational innovation, capability and resilience.
Environment
Under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (the Act), ARPANSA regulates Commonwealth entities using radiation with the objective of protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation. Under the Act, ARPANSA also carries out a number of additional functions such as provision of advice, research and services, with the aim of promoting radiation safety across all Australian jurisdictions.
ARPANSA is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act), within the Health portfolio, and operates under the Public Service Act 1999.
ARPANSA works closely with medical, educational, environmental and scientific institutions, industries, and with its licence holders, to achieve radiation protection and nuclear safety outcomes for the Australian community. This includes engaging with community groups and other stakeholders with a legitimate interest in such matters. Our ambition is to be available and provide advice (e.g. our ‘Talk to a Scientist’ program), as well as to participate within our means and mandate in the public debate.
The use of radiation in medicine is the largest source of radiation exposure to the Australian population, and the range and complexity of techniques involving radiation in medicine is increasing. ARPANSA works with the medical sector to ensure that only justified imaging procedures are carried out, and that the radiation exposures from such procedures do not exceed what is required for a satisfactory diagnostic outcome. Approximately 50 000 Australians receive radiation therapy every year and the safety of such treatment is intrinsically linked to ARPANSA’s calibration and audit services, and to our maintenance of the primary national standard for absorbed dose.
The production of molybdenum-99 for nuclear medicine procedures in Australia is planned to be sustained and increased through the new Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Nuclear Medicine Facility, which has received a conditional license to operate from ARPANSA. The licensing decision was based on careful analysis of the safety and security of the facility, as well as on our ongoing assessment of the safety of the OPAL reactor used to produce molybdenum-99 through nuclear fission.
Our operating environment is currently influenced by discussions about final management of radioactive waste, including disposal. The Australian Government has initiated a process to establish a national disposal facility for low level radioactive waste and a storage facility for intermediate level waste held by the Commonwealth, intended only for management of waste of domestic origin. Siting, construction and operation of the facility requires licences issued by ARPANSA. We will continue our engagement with communities that have been identified as potential site(s) for the national facility.
Skin cancer incidence and mortality rates in Australia are among the highest in the world, posing a significant health burden and economic cost. Caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer and, if detected early, the vast majority of cases can be treated successfully. ARPANSA works with a number of stakeholders to promote ‘sun smart’ behaviours, with the aim of providing information and other services that will enhance people’s understanding of the risks associated with exposure to UV radiation, thus contributing to prevention of skin cancer.
Exposures to other sources of radiation found in our environment are generally low but variable. Their application and purpose, for example in medicine, industry and communication, is constantly changing. Scientific research is constantly seeking how these exposures may impact our health and the world around us. ARPANSA continually reviews emerging science about risks from ionising and non-ionising radiation and engages with stakeholders, including community groups, to inform about any such risks.
ARPANSA publishes Fundamentals, Codes and Guides in the Radiation Protection Series (RPS), which promote national policies and practices that protect human health and the environment from harmful effects of radiation. ARPANSA develops these publications jointly with state and territory regulators through the Radiation Health Committee (RHC), which oversees the preparation of draft policies and standards with the view of their uniform implementation in all Australian jurisdictions. To the extent possible and relevant for Australian circumstances, the RPS publications give effect in Australia to international standards and guidance. The sources of such standards and guidance include the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
As an advocate and leader in international best practice, ARPANSA will receive an IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service Mission in November 2018. This review will focus on Australia’s legal and regulatory framework against the IAEA safety standards. The mission will also report upon ARPANSA’s licensing, inspection and enforcement processes, as well as other national arrangements for radiation protection and nuclear safety. ARPANSA is working together with all states and territories in preparing for the mission, in order to allow for a fully representative review of regulation of radiation practices and nuclear installations in Australia.
Through our engagement with the IAEA, WHO, ICNIRP, ICRP and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), we integrate scientific knowledge and international best practice into our regulatory activities, advice and services, and into our promotion of national uniformity of policies and practices across Australia.
We continue to develop our people, governance, infrastructure and technology to ensure our processes and systems provide the appropriate capability to support the achievement of our strategic objectives in this operating environment. To that end, we are developing our Integrated Management System to cover all aspects of delivering radiation protection and nuclear safety outcomes to the Australian community.
Planning
Our corporate plan is a central part of our business planning, budgeting and reporting process and will support planning activities across the agency. The plan spans four annual reporting periods and will be updated each period. The plan is expected to evolve over coming years as the agency works toward its vision and adapts to emerging priorities.
This plan is directly aligned to the relevant outcomes and programs set out in the Department of Health 2018–19 Portfolio Budget Statements; specifically:
- Program 5.1: Protect the health and safety of the community through regulation.
The Department of Health has strategic regulatory policy and national leadership responsibility for radiation protection and nuclear safety with particular regard to the regulatory framework.
This plan is aligned with the six strategic objectives that will assist ARPANSA to protect the Australian people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation. The 2018–19 agency business plans and individual performance agreements are also aligned with this plan.
Figure 1: Overview of ARPANSA’s planning and performance framework
Performance
We recognise the importance of measuring our performance, and continue to improve the way that we measure success. In 2017–18 we undertook a comprehensive review of our non-financial performance measures, and we will continue to make incremental changes to our measures over the next four years, with the aim to embed best practice performance management, leading to more meaningful and reliable reporting on our achievements against our purpose.
ARPANSA’s planned performance for the next four years is contained in the 2018–19 Portfolio Budget Statements, as performance measures (performance criteria). These performance measures set out the high-level activities we will undertake in order to achieve our purpose, to protect the Australian people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation through understanding risks, best practice regulation, research, policy, services, partnerships and engaging with the community.
Our performance information in the corporate plan is presented under six objectives, the strategies we will employ to deliver on these, and the activities and projects that will aid in this delivery. This includes an outcome-based key performance indicator as required by the Commonwealth’s Regulator Performance Framework (the framework) which encourages regulators to undertake their functions with the minimum impact necessary to achieve regulatory objectives and to effect positive ongoing and lasting cultural change within regulators.
Under the framework, ARPANSA is required to undertake an annual self-assessment to identify the extent to which ARPANSA is achieving the performance indicators in the framework and highlight areas for improvement.
The evidence metrics ARPANSA will use to undertake the self-assessment against the framework can be found on our website1.
Progress against the measures and other commitments outlined in our corporate plan and agency business plans will be monitored and reported to our Strategic Management Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee on a quarterly basis. Our results for the year against the performance criteria detailed in this corporate plan will be published in our annual performance statement, as part of the 2018–19 ARPANSA Annual Report.
1. Protect the public, workers and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation
ARPANSA will gather scientific knowledge to inform its regulatory activities and provide evidence-based, risk-informed advice to the Australian Government and community. We will deliver this by providing expertise, specialised resources and services to support the protection of the public, workers and the environment from the hazards of both ionising and non-ionising radiation.
ARPANSA will continue to build partnerships to support the implementation of a national skin cancer prevention program, with the aim to raise awareness and influence the behaviour of the Australian public and workers in order to reduce the incidence of skin cancer in Australia.
Strategies
The strategies we will employ to achieve this objective are:
- conduct hazard identification and exposure analysis of radiation sources
- evaluate the health risks to public, workers and the environment
- mitigate the health and environment risks to public, workers and the environment.
Performance measures
We will demonstrate our performance through the following measures:
No | KPI | 2018-19 target | PBS page | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Percentage of time that UV monitoring network data is available to the public | >95% | Page 242 | >95% | >95% | >95% |
| 1.2 | Monitor radiation doses to occupationally exposed workers | Annual reporting of trend in radiation doses received by workers, determined from quantitative dose measurement, provides evidence of optimisation of radiation protection | Page 242 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 1.3 | Number of jurisdictional regulators committed to the mandatory submission of dose records to the Australian National Radiation Dose Register (ANRDR) by their licensees | 1 | N/A | 2 | 3 | 4 |
✔ indicates reporting periods where qualitative KPI will be measured against unchanged target
We will also demonstrate our performance through delivery of the following projects:
| No | Project | Description | Estimated completion date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | Radiation risk management | Publish a report outlining ARPANSA’s philosophy and approach to the assessment, characterisation and treatment of radiation risk to the public, patients, workers and the environment. | June 2019 |
| 1.5 | National radon action plan | The national radon action plan developed and implemented outlining the framework for hazard identification and risk mitigation to reduce radon-induced lung cancer in Australia | June 2019 |
| 1.6 | ANRDR redevelopment | Redevelopment of ANRDR to upgrade and improve the functionality of the existing worker portal. | June 2020 |
2. Promote radiological and nuclear safety and security, and emergency preparedness
ARPANSA will support a national approach to the secure and safe management of radiation sources, radiation facilities and nuclear installations. We will deliver this by supporting national and regional arrangements for preventing accidents and security events that may lead to radiation exposure and maintaining effective emergency response systems that protect the Australian community in the case of a radiological or nuclear event.
ARPANSA will also work collaboratively across government and all jurisdictions to address the recommendations made by the World Health Organization (WHO) (in regard to radiation emergencies) in Australia’s Joint External Evaluation Report.
Strategies
The strategies we will employ to achieve this objective are:
- prevent a nuclear or radiological event with safety or security implications
- prepare for a nuclear or radiological event
- respond to a nuclear or radiological event
- recover from a nuclear or radiological event.
Performance measures
We will demonstrate our performance through the following measures:
No | KPI | 2018-2019 target | PBS page | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | ARPANSA is prepared for a radiological or nuclear incident or emergency | Emergency preparedness and response systems for field, network and laboratory measurements, and information management and decision support systems are available, calibrated, tested and aligned with national planning. | Page 242 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 2.2 | Data availability of ARPANSA operated CTBTO2 International Monitoring System radionuclide stations | >95% | N/A | >95% | >95% | >95% |
✔ indicates reporting periods where qualitative KPI will be measured against unchanged target
We will also demonstrate our performance through delivery of the following projects:
| No | Project | Description | Estimated completion date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 | CTBTO International Monitoring System upgrades | Deliver, in cooperation with the CTBTO, upgrades to the Macquarie Island and Darwin radionuclide monitoring station. | June 2021 |
| 2.4 | ARGOS3 server upgrade | ARGOS server upgrades will increase ARPANSA’s capacity to respond during a nuclear or radiological incident. | June 2019 |
| 2.5 | Emergency exposure guide | Emergency exposure guide published and implementation strategy developed. | November 2018 |
3. Promote the safe and effective use of ionising radiation in medicine
Medical procedures in diagnosis, intervention and therapy are the largest source of ionising radiation exposure to the Australian population. ARPANSA seeks to ensure that the amount of radiation used for these essential procedures is as low as reasonably achievable, without compromising the clinical outcomes. We will deliver this by providing auditing and calibration services to clinics to support radiation protection of patients in diagnosis and therapy and surveying clinics to disseminate information on diagnostic exposure levels, with the aim of optimising patient protection.
Strategies
The strategies we will employ to achieve this objective are:
- ensure accurate delivery of radiotherapy in Australia
- encourage justification and optimisation of diagnostic procedures
- enhance medical professionals’ knowledge of ionising radiation.
Performance measures
We will demonstrate our performance through the following measures:
| No | KPI | 2018-19 target | PBS page | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Number of diagnostic reference level surveys per annual survey period. | 1400 | Page 243 | 1600 | 1600 | 1600 |
| 3.2 | Percentage of Australian radiotherapy providers subscribing in the national dosimetric auditing program provided by the Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service. | 80% | Page 243 | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| 3.3 | Number of hospital radiotherapy local dosimetry standards calibrated by ARPANSA against the national primary standard. | 15 | Page 243 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
We will also demonstrate our performance through delivery of the following projects:
| No | Project | Description | Estimated completion date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4 | New linear accelerator | Acceptance and commissioning of the newly installed linear accelerator. This will ensure that ARPANSA and Australia have the tools required to ensure the safe delivery of radiation therapy to the Australian population. | June 2019 |
| 3.5 | Medical code | Publication of a national uniform medical code for acceptance by the Radiation Health Committee. | December 2018 |
4. Ensure risk informed and effective regulation
ARPANSA is committed to the effective and efficient regulation of radiation sources, radiation facilities and nuclear installations across the full lifecycle. Using review and analysis we will continually improve ARPANSA’s regulatory processes for the benefit of Commonwealth licence holders, applicants and the Australian community. ARPANSA will work with state and territory jurisdictions to promote national uniformity in radiation protection policies and practices throughout Australia.
Strategies
The strategies we will employ to achieve this objective are:
- ensure compliance of Commonwealth entities with regulatory requirements
- ensure regulatory actions are proportionate to the risk
- provide timely and evidence based assessment of applications
- promote international best practice in regulatory policy and practices
- ensure communication with regulated entities is clear, targeted and effective
- contribute to the continuous improvement of regulatory framework and processes.
Performance measures
We will demonstrate our performance through the following measures:
| No | KPI | 2018-19 target | PBS page | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | Percentage of inspections conducted in accordance with established inspection schedule.4 | >85% | Page 244 | >85% | >85% | >85% |
| 4.2 | Regulator Performance Framework (RPF) annual self-assessment. | Meet or exceed 75% of ARPANSA’s RPF performance measures | N/A | >75% | >75% | >75% |
| 4.3 | Monitor doses to radiation workers at licensed Commonwealth facilities and influence the doses in a downward manner. | The radiation doses of the 100 most exposed workers at licenced Commonwealth facilities trend downwards over time. | Page 244 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
✔ indicates reporting periods where qualitative KPI will be measured against unchanged target
We will also demonstrate our performance through delivery of the following projects:
| No | Project | PBS page | Description | Estimated completion date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) Mission | Page 244 | Benchmark Australia’s radiation and nuclear safety framework against the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safety requirements, by participating in an Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission to Australia: • receive IRRS mission coordinated by IAEA, finalise action plan and commence implementation • ongoing implementation of action plan. |
June 2019 June 2020 and beyond |
| 4.5 | National uniformity program | N/A | Develop and implement a one and four year national uniformity program. | June 2019 and June 2020 respectively |
5. Enhance engagement with community, industry and government
ARPANSA is the Australian Government’s primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety; we have expertise in government policy and arrangements, stakeholder communications and engagement, and promoting national uniformity.
To aid us in the delivery of this objective we will continue to implement the ARPANSA brand strategy. We will enhance our relationships and profile across government, including to assist with national uniformity outcomes. International relations will also play an important role in our ability to deliver against this objective. We will refine our focus on securing valued international partnerships and continue to build our reputation with key international stakeholders.
Strategies
The strategies we will employ to achieve this objective are:
- ensure Australia’s international obligations for radiation protection and nuclear safety are met
- influence and collaborate with domestic and international partner organisations
- ensure effective stakeholder engagement
- communicate health risks and mitigation strategies for the public, workers and the environment.
Performance measures
We will demonstrate our performance through the following measures:
| No | KPI | 2018-19 target | PBS page | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | Compliance with international agreements and treaties. | Compliance with international conventions and codes through submitting national reports to review meetings as per schedule. | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 5.2 | Facilitate stakeholder engagement in decision making processes for major licence applications such as arranging public forums and community consultation meetings. | Stakeholders are consulted when license applications are received. | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
✔ indicates reporting periods where qualitative KPI will be measured against unchanged target
We will also demonstrate our performance through delivery of the following projects:
| No | Project | Description | Estimated completion date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 | National Radioactive Waste Management Facility (NRWMF) stakeholder engagement | Undertake stakeholder engagement activities for the proposed NRWMF prior to the receipt of a potential licence application. This will include at least two community visits per year and ongoing communication with interested parties via written correspondence and telephone. Additional activities may include the provision of new fact sheets and guidance material. | If, and when, a licence application to site a NRWMF is received |
6. Enhance organisational innovation, capability and resilience
ARPANSA will continue to build and maintain our internal capacity and capability to support our operational functions. We aim to create a dynamic environment that enables and encourages excellence in services, research, advice, regulation and the utilisation of knowledge.
Strategies
The strategies we will employ to achieve this objective are:
- develop and maintain a high performing workforce
- continually improve governance arrangements, systems and infrastructure
- effective use of digital technology, information and data
- build financial resilience
- promote innovation and research and development
- develop and maintain effective and integrated safety and security programs.
Performance measures
We will demonstrate our performance through the following measures:
| No | KPI | 2018-19 target | PBS page | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | Employee engagement score achieved in annual APS employee census.5 | > APS average | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 6.2 | Number of ARPANSA breaches identified in radiation safety and security compliance assessments.6 | 0 | N/A | 0 | 0 | 0 |
✔ indicates reporting periods where qualitative KPI will be measured against unchanged target
We will also demonstrate our performance through delivery of the following projects:
| No | Project | Description | Estimated completion date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.3 | Workforce Plan | Implementation of the Workforce Plan year two roadmap including further progress on activities associated with the learning strategy, diversity and inclusion strategy, communications and employee value framework, and governance and benefits measurement framework. | June 2019 |
| 6.4 | Integrated Management System | Design and implement a framework to establish an Integrated Management System (IMS). The IMS project will support ARPANSA to deliver products and services to the Australian community and Government in the most effective and efficient way. | October 2018 |
| 6.5 | Digital Strategy | Undertake a comprehensive review of the first two years of the Digital Strategy. Gather feedback from internal and external stakeholders, include advice from government and industry leaders, assess governance practices and achievements and incorporate insights into an updated version of the Digital Strategy. | June 2019 |
| 6.6 | Research and innovation strategy | During 2017–18, the Research and Innovation Strategy 2017–21 was released. Over the next three reporting periods, this strategy will be implemented to ensure high quality research and innovation within ARPANSA, to support its radiation protection and nuclear safety program as well as its regulatory activities. | June 2021 |
| 6.7 | Sustainability and funding review | During 2017–18 ARPANSA undertook a review of its sustainability and funding environment across the forward estimates period. In 2018–19, ARPANSA will implement the approved recommendations from this review and embed them into its business practices. | June 2019 |
| 6.8 | Energy efficiency initiatives | In line with the Energy Efficiency in Government Operations, ARPANSA will implement recommendations identified in the 2017–18 energy audit in the Yallambie site. | June 2019 |
Risk oversight and management
Radiation risk is central to ARPANSA’s role in the community, and thus risk management is a key element of ARPANSA’s business planning and is central to the way ARPANSA manages its operations. Effective risk management holds a focus on managing risk to ARPANSA’s performance outcomes, whereby risk management processes provide the link between ARPANSA’s stated strategic objectives and the operational business plans to achieve these objectives.
In 2017–18 ARPANSA established a new fit-for-purpose risk management framework (framework) to provide assurance that risk is appropriately identified, assessed, communicated and managed across all levels of the agency.
Our framework deals with three main types of risks:
- risks to our ability to carry out our statutory functions (such as funding, legal, government, policy, staffing level and competence obligations)
- risks to our people and assets (such as a safe work environment and practices, protective security, and asset management)
- radiation risks to the Australian people and environment (such as risks to workers, the public, patients undergoing medical procedures, and the environment), which ARPANSA is responsible for managing under the ARPANS Act.
In 2018–19, ARPANSA will continue to focus on enhancing our risk management culture by integrating risk management with our planning processes and improving our risk management training program to ensure staff are actively undertaking and understanding their roles and responsibilities under the PGPA Act.
Governance
Our governance structure enables consideration of risk in all core business decisions and supports informed decision making. Our core governance structure includes three statutory advisory bodies and two senior committees:
Advisory bodies
The CEO is advised by three statutory advisory bodies established by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (ARPANS Act):
Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council (Council)
The role of Council in relation to radiation protection and nuclear safety is to: identify emerging issues; examine matters of major concern to the community; consider the adoption of recommendations, policies, codes and standards; advise and report to the CEO, at the CEO’s request or as Council considers appropriate, on the above and any other matters.
Radiation Health Committee (RHC)
The role of RHC in relation to radiation protection is to: advise the CEO and the Council; develop policies and to prepare draft publications for the promotion of uniform national standards; formulate draft national policies, codes and standards for consideration by the Commonwealth, the states and the territories; from time to time, to review national policies, codes and standards to ensure that they continue to substantially reflect world best practice; and consult publicly in the development and review of such policies, codes and standards.
Nuclear Safety Committee (NSC)
The role of NSC in relation to nuclear safety and the safety of controlled facilities is to: advise the CEO and the Council; review and assess the effectiveness of standards, codes, practices and procedures; develop detailed policies and prepare draft publications to promote uniform national standards; and report to the CEO.
Senior Committees
At the strategic level the CEO is advised by two key committees:
Strategic Management Committee (SMC)
The SMC is strategically focused and looks forward to the medium and long term future of the agency rather than ongoing day-to-day business. The SMC considers the threats and opportunities that may influence the strategic direction of the agency and contributes at key times throughout the year to ARPANSA’s planning and performance framework.
Audit & Risk Committee
The PGPA Act requires Commonwealth entities to establish an audit committee. ARPANSA’s Audit and Risk Committee provides independent assurance and advice to the CEO on the agency’s financial reporting, performance reporting, system of risk oversight and management and system of internal control.
The relationship between the statutory advisory bodies and ARPANSA’s senior governance committees is illustrated in Figure 2 below.
1 For more information on our annual self-assessment of regulatory performance see our website: Regulator Performance Framework
2 The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) monitors for nuclear explosions on the Earth’s surface, in the atmosphere, underwater and underground through a network of waveform stations (seismic, hydroacoustic and infrasound) and radionuclide (particulate and noble gas) stations that form part of the CTBTO International Monitoring System. ARPANSA operates seven particulate radionuclide and two noble gas stations that are part of the CTBTO IMS.
3 ARGOS is the primary modelling tool used within ARPANSA for response to radiological incidents. It was extensively used during the Fukushima emergency response and is used in an on-going capacity during events such as nuclear warship visits.
4 This measure is one of ARPANSA’s twelve measures reported under the Regulator Performance Framework
5 Employee engagement is measured by the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) using the APS Employee Engagement Model. This model measures the relationship employees have with four dimensions of their work: the job they do each day, the team they work with, their immediate supervisor, and the agency they work for. For the 2017–18 reporting period the ARPANSA employee engagement score was 73%, compared with the APS overall average of 71%.
6 Breaches identified under the ARPANS Act and Protective Security Policy Framework
