Introductory statement

I, as the accountable authority of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), present the 2018–19 Annual Performance Statement of ARPANSA, as required under paragraph 39(1)(a) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). In my opinion, this annual performance statement is based on properly maintained records, accurately reflects the performance of the entity, and complies with subsection 39(2) of the PGPA Act.

Carl-Magnus Larsson

Accountable Authority

11 September 2019

Purpose

ARPANSA’s vision and purpose are supported by a commitment to achieving six strategic objectives. ARPANSA's vision, purpose and strategic objectives can be found in ARPANSA at a glance.

Overarching analysis of performance against ARPANSA’s purpose

ARPANSA’s Corporate Plan 2018–22 provides the underlying framework for this annual performance statement. The corporate plan brings together the measures and projects that support the achievement of ARPANSA's purpose and strategic objectives.

Over the course of the 2018–19 reporting period, ARPANSA achieved or partially achieved 30 measures and completed two projects. We made many steps forward to contribute to delivering enhanced radiation protection and nuclear safety outcomes to the Australian community and environment. Highlights include:

• publishing a range of codes and guides to ensure the adoption of international best practice
• accepting and commissioning a new linear accelerator to ensure continued dosimetric certainty for patients undergoing advanced radiation therapies
• receiving the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission in November 2018, which reviewed the regulatory framework for radiation protection and nuclear safety of the Commonwealth of Australia and corresponding arrangements in states and territories
• visiting Kimba, Quorn and Hawker in South Australia for engagement activities with local community members and government as part of stakeholder engagement work for the proposed National Radioactive Waste Management Facility
• implementing the recommendations from the internal review into ARPANSA’s sustainability and funding environment to maintain our financial position for the purposes of continuously improving delivery against statutory obligations.

Summary of results

A summary snapshot of ARPANSA’s non-financial performance results against performance measures and initiatives are provided in the table below. Detailed performance measures, results and analysis of performance are presented on the following pages of this annual performance statement.

1. Protect the public, workers and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation

Analysis of performance against purpose and program objectives

In 2018–19, ARPANSA continued to provide advice, specialised resources, and services to support the protection of the public, workers and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising and non-ionising radiation.

ARPANSA achieved this by:

• publishing the Australian National Radiation Dose Register (ANRDR) in Review, the annual report of the ANRDR in July 2018. The ANRDR holds dose records for approximately 44 000 radiation workers. This currently includes full coverage of workers from all state and territory-licensed uranium mining and milling operations, and partial coverage of workers from Commonwealth licence holders, state and territory regulatory bodies, and the mineral sands mining and processing industry. The ultimate goal is for the ANRDR to cover all occupationally exposed workers in Australia.
• publishing the Code for Disposal of Radioactive Waste by the User, Radiation Protection Series (RPS C-6) in September 2018. This code sets out the levels for disposal to landfill, and discharge to sewer and the atmosphere below which no authorisation is required from the relevant regulatory authority. The code was approved by the Radiation Health Committee prior to publication
• publishing the Code for Disposal Facilities for Solid Radioactive Waste (RPS C-3) in October 2018. This code describes the objectives for protection of human health and of the environment, drawing upon international best practice in relation to radiation protection and radioactive waste safety. An applicant is required to demonstrate through a safety case that the proposed disposal facility will achieve the level of protection anticipated by this Code. A ‘safety case’ draws upon the organisational and technical arrangements put in place, the nature of the waste to be accepted, the characteristics of the site, the design of the facility including engineered barriers, and the arrangements for its construction, operation, closure and post-closure stages
• publishing the Analysis of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) Health Complaints Register Data 2017–2018 in July 2018. This register, first published in 2003, collects reports of health concerns related to possible electromagnetic radiation field exposures in the range of 0–300 GHz. Members of the public who believe they have suffered ill-effects as a result of exposure to electromagnetic radiation can lodge a written complaint to the register.
• uploading historical ultraviolet radiation (UVR) index data covering the period 2007 to 2016 onto the data.gov.au website in October 2018. ARPANSA measures solar UVR at 12 sites around Australia and four sites in the Australian Antarctic territories. The UVR index data generated by the network is used to raise awareness in Australia of the levels of UVR exposure in conjunction with messaging on the health risks associated with excessive sun exposure
• publishing the Code of Radiation Protection Requirements for Industrial Radiography (RPS C-4) in October 2018. Industrial radiography is widely carried out across Australia, involving many practitioners who work in more than one jurisdiction. This code sets the specific radiation protection requirements in Australia for the protection of occupationally exposed persons and the public in planned exposure situations involving industrial radiography.
• determining a population weighted dose to the Australian public due to cosmic radiation, both ground-level exposure and exposure due to air travel. This will inform evidence-based advice produced by ARPANSA
• revising the Code of the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (RPS C-2, Rev 1) in March 2019. The objective of the code is to uniform requirements for the transport of radioactive material in Australia by road, rail and those waterways not covered by maritime legislation.

2. Promote radiological and nuclear safety and security, and emergency preparedness

Analysis of performance against purpose and program objectives

ARPANSA’s commitment to test the adequacy of emergency preparedness arrangements and capability by participating in exercises both internally and with other agencies has remained strong in the 2018–19 reporting period.

This was demonstrated through participation in a number of exercises and proficiency tests, including:

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) emergency preparedness convention exercises from 16–18 October 2018 and again on 12 June 2019. Exercises are held to test the operational arrangements of the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
• the emergency exercise ‘Hail Caesium’ which was jointly held with the Department of Health on 25 October 2018, with participation from the Department of Home Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Maritime and Safety Authority, Department of Defence and others. Arrangements were tested for various emergency scenarios involving radiological accidents.

The Australian Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) radionuclide laboratory was in service for the entire reporting period, and 26 atmospheric monitoring samples were received from overseas monitoring stations and independently analysed. Analysis verified the measurements obtained from those stations, and adds to the credibility of the international monitoring system. Other ARPANSA activities that promoted radiological and nuclear safety and security, and emergency preparedness included:

• operating and maintaining the Australian CTBT radionuclide laboratory in Melbourne and seven radionuclide air particulate monitoring stations that are part of the CTBTO International Monitoring System. Australia’s stations are located in Melbourne, Perth, Townsville, Darwin, the Cocos Islands, Macquarie Island, and Mawson Base (Antarctica). Two noble gas monitoring facilities are co-located with the air particulate monitoring stations in Melbourne and Darwin. During the reporting period, ARPANSA provided data to the CTBTO more than 95% of the time. Such a high level of data availability means that Australia is providing a highly reliable component of the verification regime. During the final quarter ARPANSA was also awarded a contract by the CTBTO to take over the operation of two additional particulate monitoring stations, RN26 at Nadi, Fiji and RN39 at Kiritimati, Kiribati. This followed an internationally competitive open-tender process conducted by the CTBTO. The operation of these stations will transition from the current operators to ARPANSA early in the 2019–2020 financial year
• attending a multi-agency chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives (CBRNe) responder education workshop on 17 April 2019. This was coordinated by Victoria Police and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade aimed to define individual agency CBRNe responder standards to operate in a potentially contaminated environment. The workshop was attended by the Country Fire Authority, Department of Health and Human Services Victoria, Ambulance Victoria, ARPANSA and the Australian Defence Forces
• jointly hosting the radiological assessors regional training course with the IAEA and the United States of America Department of Energy in Melbourne on 20–24 August 2018. The course content included field monitoring and assessment techniques for use during a nuclear or radiological emergency. Twenty participants from nine countries in the Australasian region included representatives from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. There were also participants from all Australian jurisdictions
• publishing the Guide for Radiation Protection in Emergency Exposure Situations (RPS G-3) in May 2019. This guide describes the actions needed to reduce any adverse health effects to both members of the public and workers in emergency exposure situations.

3. Promote the safe and effective use of ionising radiation in medicine

Analysis of performance against purpose and program objectives

In 2018–19, ARPANSA promoted the safe and effective use of ionising radiation in medicine. The main work programs, diagnostic reference level (DRL) surveys, dosimetry auditing by the Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service (ACDS) and the maintenance and dissemination of the primary standard for ionising radiation are all designed to proactively mitigate patient risk.

All programs have been developed with and operate successfully through ongoing interaction and engagement with the medical professionals and clinical staff who perform and supervise the treatment and imaging procedures. ARPANSA promoted the safe and effective use of ionising radiation in medicine by:

• completing 3853 DRL surveys, an increase of 40% from 2017–18 and exceeding the 2018–19 target by a considerable margin. The high number of surveys submitted is an indicator of a strong engagement with the DRL program for computed tomography (CT). We estimate that at least one in every three computed tomography scanners across Australia contributed data for this program. As a result our data are likely to be a good representation of practice across the country, ensuring that published DRLs appropriately reflect current practice
• servicing 100% of Australian radiotherapy providers under the ACDS national dosimetric auditing program. The ACDS is a national independent dosimetry auditing program, providing quality assurance for radiation oncology facilities and patients
• maintaining authorisation from the National Measurement Institute to maintain the primary standards of absorbed dose and air kerma for ionising radiation
• calibrating 28 dosemeters for radiotherapy providers against the primary standard. A properly calibrated dosemeter is critical in ensuring that a linear accelerator delivers the correct amount of radiation for each radiotherapy treatment it provides. This ensures that the patient receives the safest and most effective radiation treatment possible
• accepting and collecting commissioning data for the new linear accelerator. The new linear accelerator allows ARPANSA to provide auditing and calibration services that are relevant for current radiotherapy providers. This ensures best practice is maintained for radiotherapy delivery, supporting safe and effective radiotherapy in Australia
• presenting the revised Medical Code to the RHC in March 2019 for endorsement. The Code for Radiation Protection in Medical Exposure (RPS C-5)
• developing dosimetric audit processes for the stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) technique. SABR delivers highly focused doses of radiation to very small areas of the body. SABR is a very precise treatment suited to small tumours such as those in lung, spine, liver and lymph nodes. SABR treatments typically involve one to five treatment sessions, in contrast to a standard course of typically 30 sessions, meaning fewer trips to the hospital for the patient. (see Case study 4: stereotactic ablative radiation therapy project)
• developing occupational radiation safety educational material for medical personnel in facilities of all sizes. The draft Radiation Protection of Medical Personnel package has been revised and is now being reviewed by key stakeholders. The package will support appropriate training in radiation protection for staff in medical facilities and will be a resource for the community to use into the future. Development of the package has involved wide engagement with the medical radiation community, which is important in continuing to raise awareness of radiation protection and supporting the safe and effective use of ionising radiation in medicine.

4. Ensure risk informed and effective regulation

Analysis of performance against purpose and program objectives

ARPANSA is committed to the effective regulation of radiation sources, radiation facilities and nuclear installations across the full life cycle, as well as national uniformity and compliance with the Regulator Performance Framework (RPF).

ARPANSA has undertaken a number of activities to support effective regulation in Australia including:

• hosting an IAEA IRRS Mission to Australia from 4 to 16 November 2018, based out of the agency’s Melbourne office in Yallambie, with significant input from ARPANSA's Sydney-based regulatory staff. The mission reviewed Australia's federal system of radiation and nuclear safety regulation, with active participation from regulatory bodies in all Australian jurisdictions, making it the largest multi-jurisdictional mission undertaken. This international peer review of Australia’s nuclear and radiological regulatory framework provided international feedback to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of this framework for nuclear, radiation, radioactive waste and transport safety, and emergency preparedness and response activities
• publishing its Annual self-assessment of regulatory performance in December 2018. This assessment found a high level of commitment to the RPF and identified improvements from the previous reporting period
• holding the annual Licence Holder Forum in Canberra at the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources on 29 September 2018 with the highest attendance to date. The feature topic of the forum was ‘risk’ in response to ARPANSA inspection findings that suggested that risk management, and the effectiveness of risk communication to workers, deserved more attention
• issuing permits for the importation and exportation of radioactive material to and from Australia under Regulation 4R of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 and Regulation 9AD the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958. Under these regulations, the Minister for Health has authorised ARPANSA officers to issue import and export permits. During the reporting period ARPANSA approved 236 urgent permits, 806 standard permits, 41 export permits, and 48 twelve-month permits for radioisotopes during the reporting period
• undertaking a comprehensive review of ARPANSA’s regulatory guides to ensure up-to-date guidance is available to licence holders. ARPANSA’s regulatory guides can be accessed via the ARPANSA website.

5. Enhance engagement with community, industry and government

Analysis of performance against purpose and program objectives

ARPANSA has strengthened engagement with community, industry and government during the reporting period through a number of activities and initiatives, including:

• visiting Kimba, Quorn and Hawker communities in South Australia for a series of NRWMF engagement activities and responding to questions throughout the year from interested community members and government. Due to the number of visits undertaken over the past three years, ARPANSA has been able to establish effective relationships with community members that enable contact outside of face-to-face visits. Based on these contact channels and noting a delay in the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science-led site voting process, ARPANSA made the decision to visit each community only once during the reporting period
• continuing to drive and influence international safety standards in radiation protection and nuclear safety, and engaging internationally through active participation in various committees:
  • Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, the CEO of ARPANSA, was elected vice president of the Eighth Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS). Australia is a contracting party to the CNS, and submits national reports on nuclear safety. The Eighth Review Meeting is scheduled to be held in 2020. During the reporting period, ARPANSA compiled the Australian national report to CNS. ARPANSA, working in consultation with the Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation, completed the report, and will submit it to the IAEA by the 15 August 2019 deadline.
  • Dr Gillian Hirth, Deputy CEO and Chief Radiation Health Scientist, was appointed as Chair of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for the 66th and 67th sessions. This is a position Dr Hirth will hold until the next election at the commencement of the 68th session in 2021. Dr Hirth has been involved with the work of the Committee since 2012 and has been a member of the Committee’s Bureau since December 2016 as the Committee’s Rapporteur, a position undertaken during the 64th and 65th sessions.
  • ARPANSA staff members attended all safety standards committee meetings during 2018–19 with the exception of one meeting of the Transport Safety Standards Committee.
• increasing public engagement and broadening audience reach through communication activities including:
  • responding to 75 media enquiries in 2018–19, an increase from 36 in 2017–18. It is estimated that a significant proportion of this increase can be attributed to ARPANSA’s proactive communication including advice on 5G, laser-based cosmetic treatments, the brain cancer study and installation of UV sensors. In addition, enquiries have been driven by external factors such as a safety incident at ANSTO and public interest in the TV series Chernobyl
  • updating ARPANSA's social media strategy to better target the public audience and ensure information and advice is consistent and accessible. Through this approach, we have increased social media engagement. Compared to 2017–18, Facebook followers have increased by 163% and Twitter followers have increased by 34%.

6. Enhance organisational innovation, capability and resilience

Analysis of performance against purpose and program objectives

ARPANSA’s supporting functions provide insight and expertise to the agency on a daily basis. By integrating this expertise with developing practices and approaches, and aligning these with the strategic objectives of the agency, we provide the internal capability needed to successfully build and deliver innovative and streamlined programs and services.

During the reporting period ARPANSA has enhanced organisational innovation, capability and resilience through a number of activities and initiatives.

• ARPANSA achieved an employee engagement score of 73% in the 2019 APS employee census, in comparison to the APS average of 71%.
• ARPANSA’s Workforce Plan 2017–21 sets out how best to place people’s capability, performance and productivity to enable achievement of strategic objectives. In this second year of operation ARPANSA has continued to implement a variety of programs and initiatives in line with key people management strategies that support the workforce plan, including the:
  • Learning strategy
  • Diversity and Inclusion strategy
  • Health and Wellbeing strategy.

The positive impact that the activities undertaken as part of the Workforce Plan has had is evidenced by key results in the three employee engagement indices that are assessed by the APS employee census: engagement index, employee wellbeing index and innovation index. All categories were on par with, or higher than, results from last year, and all were higher than the average across the APS.

• During the reporting period ARPANSA focused on developing cooperative relationships with key universities and other partner organisations to support the research and innovation program. This has resulted in placements for summer school, third-year and honours students at ARPANSA to support key research projects.
• ARPANSA successfully implemented the first phase of the IMS project in October 2018, which involved integrating elements such as quality, safety, security, risk compliance and corporate governance. ARPANSA’s regulatory processes will be integrated during the second phase of the IMS project. ARPANSA commenced a project to design and implement an integrated management system in October 2016. The objective of the IMS is to connect all of ARPANSA’s systems and processes into one complete framework to support the achievement of strategic objectives.
• A review of the Digital Strategy commenced in 2018–19 with the objective to align ARPANSA’s strategy with the Digital Transformation Agency’s Vision 2025 which was released in November 2018. The review was partially completed in this reporting period and will be finalised in 2019–20.
• Several recommendations from the sustainability and funding review were implemented during the reporting period including the delivery of the following initiatives:
  • completion of pricing reviews for several services including UV and radiofrequency calibrations
  • development of a robust overhead allocation methodology to understand and apply corporate overheads to various business segments
  • revision of fees and charges for regulatory services have been approved by the Government. The revised fees and charges will be operational from 2019–20
  • delivery of a service model highlighting the current and future state of ARPANSA's Radiation Protection Services with a detailed plan of action to strengthen financial sustainability, digital technologies and customer-centric approach
  • implementation of an online payment portal for customers to digitally pay the invoices via credit card
  • development and approval of a detailed plan to further enhance ARPANSA's systems and platforms to achieve greater efficiencies and automation.