The Australasian Radiation Protection Society (ARPS) is a professional society for people engaged in
radiation protection activities across medicine, science, industry, mining and related fields. ARPS was founded in 1975 and was renamed in 1997 to reflect increasing involvement from outside Australia, particularly New Zealand.
The Australasian Radiation Protection Society is the professional society for people working in radiation
protection across medicine, research, industry, mining, regulation and education.
Professional community
ARPS connects practitioners, researchers, regulators and organisations involved in radiation protection.
Across Australasia
The society supports members throughout Australia and New Zealand and promotes collaboration across the region.
Focused on practice and knowledge
ARPS supports professional standards, scientific exchange, publications, conferences and branch activities.
Founded
1975
Renamed
1997
Region
Australasia
Mission
ARPS promotes radiation protection practice by:
Professional standardsEstablishing and maintaining standards of radiation protection practice
Co-operationEncouraging collaboration among people engaged in radiation protection activities
Scientific meetingsSupporting meetings and events on radiation protection topics
PublicationsEncouraging publication and professional knowledge-sharing in the field
Understanding radiation protection
Where ARPS fits in radiation protection
From scientific evidence to everyday practice, radiation protection connects international organisations, national authorities and the professional community. Explore their roles and how they work together.
From evidence to practice
Select a box to explore
The professional communityExperience from practice contributes to international discussion and the development of radiation protection.
Arrows show influence or implementation—not authorityProfessional engagement & exchangeAdditional pathways appear on selection
Science and evidence
UNSCEAR
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation
Its role
UNSCEAR evaluates scientific evidence on sources of ionising radiation and the associated exposures, effects and risks to people and the environment. Its assessments provide an important scientific evidence base used throughout radiation protection.
How it connects
Its scientific evaluations contribute to the evidence considered by ICRP when developing radiation protection recommendations.
UNSCEAR evaluations are also taken into account in the development of international radiation safety standards.
IRPA maintains links with UNSCEAR for professional cooperation and exchange.
International Commission on Radiological Protection
Its role
ICRP develops recommendations and guidance for the system of radiological protection. Its work combines scientific understanding of radiation exposure and effects with ethical values, experience and societal considerations.
How it connects
Draws on scientific evidence, including assessments produced by UNSCEAR and the wider scientific community.
Its recommendations inform IAEA safety standards and can also inform national frameworks directly.
IRPA engages with ICRP to provide professional and practitioner perspectives on radiation protection recommendations and their practical application.
International recommendations and safety standards are implemented through national legal, regulatory and technical frameworks.
Its role
Australia and New Zealand each maintain their own systems for radiation protection. These systems draw on international science, recommendations and safety standards and translate them into legislation, codes, standards, guidance and regulatory requirements.
How it connects
Australia: ARPANSA develops national codes, standards and guidance with input from the radiation protection and regulatory community.
New Zealand: legislation and codes of practice establish the national ionising radiation safety framework.
Implementation and legal effect depend on the relevant jurisdiction. International publications do not automatically become domestic law.
The dotted ARPS connection represents professional input and exchange on radiation protection policy, codes and guidance, including engagement with ARPANSA.
Regulatory authorities apply radiation protection requirements within their legal jurisdictions.
Its role
Regulators administer radiation legislation and regulatory requirements through activities such as licensing, authorisation, compliance monitoring, inspection, enforcement and regulatory guidance.
How it connects
Australia: ARPANSA regulates Commonwealth entities; state and territory authorities regulate within their respective jurisdictions.
New Zealand: the Ministry of Health’s Office of Radiation Safety administers national ionising radiation safety legislation.
Radiation users and organisations put protection requirements into practice.
The dotted ARPS connection represents professional dialogue and exchange with the regulatory community, including Australian state and territory regulators.
IRPA connects radiation protection professionals through national and regional Associate Societies. It provides an international professional forum for sharing knowledge, experience, professional views and good radiation protection practice.
How it connects
Maintains international relationships with UNSCEAR, ICRP and the IAEA.
Supports consultation, professional input and exchange of practical experience.
ARPS connects the Australasian profession to IRPA as an Associate Society.
ARPS is the professional society for people working in radiation protection across Australia and New Zealand. Its members work across medicine, research, industry, mining, regulation, education, environmental protection and other areas involving ionising and non-ionising radiation.
How it connects
An Associate Society of IRPA, connecting members to the international radiation protection community.
Brings together practitioners across Australia and New Zealand through branches, conferences, technical exchange and member activities.
Supports professional knowledge and practice across both ionising and non-ionising radiation.
The dotted links to national frameworks and regulators represent professional engagement and exchange, including with ARPANSA and Australian state and territory regulators.
Reading the diagram: This is a simplified overview of the ionising radiation protection system. Arrows show how evidence and guidance inform the next area; they do not indicate organisational control. Dotted lines show professional engagement and exchange. The ARPS links to national frameworks and regulators include engagement with ARPANSA and Australian state and territory regulators. The ARPS–IRPA line represents Associate Society membership. ARPS also covers non-ionising radiation, which involves additional organisations and frameworks.
Key documents
Core governance and membership documents for ARPS.
