In the event of an emergency, please dial 000.
The Radiation Safety section of the Health Protection Service (HPS) helps enforce the principles of radiation protection. This includes the process of Justification, Optimisation and Limitation.
We are responsible for the following outcomes:
- ensuring radiation exposures to the community are As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)
- issuing Radiation Licences and the registration of Radiation Sources
- regulating the use, supply and service of ionising and non-ionising radiation sources in medical, research and industrial applications
- regulating the safe use, transport, storage and disposal of radioactive substances
- providing scientific and technical advice about radiation safety to the ACT community, the Chief Health Officer, and the Minister for Health
We also manage the Radiation Protection Act 2006 and the Radiation Protection Regulation 2007 .
Please contact us for more information on 02 5124 9700 or hps@act.gov.au. Our fax number is 02 5124 5554.
Find us at the Howard Florey Centenary House, 25 Mulley Street, Holder, ACT 2611.
Radiation safety news and updates
Amendment of the Radiation Protection Act 2006
The Radiation Protection Amendment Act 2022 commenced on the 10 September 2022, updating the Radiation Protection Act 2006 and the Radiation Protection Regulation 2007.
The Amendment Act introduced the following changes:
- the ACT Chief Health Officer (CHO) is responsible for decisions about applications for licences, source registrations and regulation activities
- the Radiation Advisory Committee replaced the ACT Radiation Council. The Committee will provide expert advice to the CHO on radiation safety matters
- all owners of regulated radiation sources require radiation management plans and are required to appoint Radiation Safety Officers
- improved registration and licence details maintained on the ACT’s radiation register and allowance for the CHO to publish certain information held on the register if beneficial to public interest
- improved ACT Health regulation of radiation safety with a focus on education and engagement, and the introduction of improvement and prohibition notices to address significant radiation safety risks
ACT Health will continue to engage with registration owners and licensees to assist them in achieving their radiation safety obligations.
The Amendment Act is a result of a legislative review of the Radiation Protection Act 2006 (the Act) by the ACT Health Directorate in 2018. View a copy of the report.
Free access of the Amendment Act is available on the ACT Legislation Register: Radiation Protection Amendment Act 2022.
To learn more about the amendments, please contact the Health Protection Service on (02) 5124 9700 or email hps@act.gov.au.
What’s new in occupational licensing – Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR)
If you are licensed to deal with radiation sources in your home state (where you live or complete most of your work activities), you may be eligible to work in the ACT under the Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) Scheme.
The AMR scheme allows workers who hold an occupational registration or licence in one Australian state or territory, to work in other Australian states or territories without needing to apply for a separate licence or pay additional fees.
Find more information regarding AMR for people living in the ACT.
You will need to set up an ACT Digital Account and notify the ACT Government of your intention to work in the ACT via an online form.
If you are not eligible or don’t wish to use the Automatic Mutual Recognition Scheme but you wish to work in the ACT, the Mutual Recognition Scheme may be another option for workers from another state wishing to work in the ACT.
To learn more about AMR, visit the Access Canberra website for additional information and guidelines, or to speak to someone about AMR, contact the Health Protection Service on 5124 9700 or hps@act.gov.au.
Information sharing provisions under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth) (MR Act)
Under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth), ACT Health must share information with other local registration authorities in States and Territories that cover the activity including:
- information in connection with a person’s automatic deemed registration (ADR), including:
- the person’s name and address;
- information identifying an individual’s ADR;
- the fact that disciplinary action, including preliminary investigations that might lead to criminal, civil or disciplinary proceedings, is being taken in relation to the ADR;
- whether suspension or cancellation of the ADR would be subject to an appeal; and
- information relating to the reason for taking or considering the action.
- information authorised or required under local licensing legislation for the registration.
ACT Health will manage your personal information in a manner consistent with the ACT Health Directorate Information Privacy Policy. The Privacy Policy is a requirement under the Territory’s Information Privacy Act 2014.
For the most up to date information on AMR and how it applies in the ACT please follow the link below:
https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/s/article/automatic-mutual-recognition-tab-overview