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Radiation safety

Radiation license holders must make sure they comply with the principles of radiation protections by:

Radiation safety training

The Canberra Hospital offers an annual radiation safety course for medical practitioners in fluoroscopy.

The course is suitable for medical practitioners in cardiology, urology, gastroenterology, orthopaedics, pain management and related disciplines.

For more information about training contact us by phone 02 5124 9700 or email us at hps@act.gov.au.

Radiation Advisory Committee

The ACT Radiation Advisory Committee is established under the Radiation Protection Act 2006.

The committee provides expert and specialist advice to the Chief Health Officer on referred radiation safety matters, including licence and registration applications.

If you are submitting a new licence or registration application your application may be referred to the Committee during the application assessment process. We will notify you if your application is referred.

For more information about the committee phone 02 5124 9700 or email hps@act.gov.au.You can send us mail at Secretariat, Radiation Advisory Committee, Health Protection Service, Locked Bag 5005, Weston Creek ACT 2611.

Personal radiation monitoring

Personal radiation monitoring is required for anyone who is likely to be exposed to ionizing radiation in excess of 1 mSv in any one year.

If you are likely to be exposed to ionizing radiation as part of your work, you must comply with the current Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Code of Practice for Radiation Protection in the Medical Applications of Ionizing Radiation.

In addition to these requirements, in the ACT dental practices with oral panoramic (OPG) or cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) units must have ongoing area monitoring at the operator position.

Dentists and dental assistants must also be able to demonstrate that you have undertaken a minimum one-year period of appropriate radiation monitoring at the practice.

In the case of intraoral units, a personal radiation monitoring badge may be hung from each controller instead of staff having their own badge.  Using this method, the dose will not be attributable to a particular member of staff.

After 12 months and provided the dose reports indicate a negligible dose received by each staff member, or the badge at the intraoral unit controller location, this aspect of the monitoring can be discontinued.

Job roles that require personal radiation monitoring

  • Veterinarians and veterinarian nurses or assistants who deal with a radiation source.
  • Medical imaging staff who are likely to be exposed to ionizing radiation in excess of 1 mSv in any one year.
  • Radiation oncology staff who are likely to be exposed to ionizing radiation in excess of 1 mSv in any one year.
  • Soil technicians and those involved in industrial radiography.

The operators of baggage scanners and security devices utilising X-rays do not require personal radiation monitoring.

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 these 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
  • more information about registration and licence details are maintained on the ACT’s radiation register. The CHO is allowed to publish certain information held on the register if it is 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 by the ACT Health Directorate in 2018. Download the Review of the Radiation Protection Act 2006.

You can access the Radiation Protection Amendment Act 2022 for free the ACT Legislation Register.

You can contact us to learn more about the amendments.

Occupational licensing

Automatic Mutual Recognition scheme

If you are licensed to deal with radiation sources in the state you live in 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 out more information about AMR scheme 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 using the Check your occupation's eligibility for automatic mutual recognition online form.

If you are not eligible or don’t wish to use the AMR 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.

Find out more about Automatic Mutual Recognition.

Information sharing

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):

  • 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
  • information relating to the reason for taking or considering the action.

Under the Act, ACT Health must also share 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 Information Privacy Policy.

Contact us

For more information contact us by calling 02 5124 9700 or email us at hps@act.gov.au. You can send us a fax on 02 5124 5554.

You can visit us in person at Howard Florey Centenary House, 25 Mulley Street, Holder, ACT 2611.

This page is managed by: ACT Health Directorate