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 Reasonable Achievable (ALARA)
- issuing Radiation Licences and the registration of Radiation Sources in line with the Radiation Council (see below)
- 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 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
What’s new in occupational licensing – Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR)
Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) aims to make it easier for workers to operate interstate under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth) (MR Act). The ACT is a participating jurisdiction and entered the AMR scheme on 1 July 2021 along with New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory. Other States are likely to enter the scheme in 2022.
To allow time to implement AMR, people licenced to deal with a regulated radiation source from interstate are temporarily exempt in the ACT, but from 1 July 2022, interstate licensees can operate here without the need for additional registrations and fees. For interstate workers coming to the ACT, you will simply need to notify ACT Health of your intent to work in the ACT.
If you are licensed or registered in the ACT and plan to work interstate, you will need to check the rules and regulations in that state or territory.
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
Legislative Review of the Radiation Protection Act 2006
ACT Health undertook a legislative review of the Radiation Protection Act 2006 in late 2018 on whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid, and if the ACT’s approach to radiation safety is consistent with nationally agreed principles. Stakeholders provided detailed feedback as part of the review process.
The final review report was presented in the ACT Legislative Assembly in November 2018.
View a copy of the report.