Excellence in Professional Regulation
We live in a regulated world. Whether you're aware of it or not, society is dependent upon regulations to make sure we can go about our lives safely and effectively. Let's take an ordinary activity like your weekly grocery shop as an example. To get to the grocery store, you get in your car. Your car has to comply with safety regulations such as seatbelts and airbags to keep you safe.
It also has to conform to environmental regulations to limit air pollution. The fuel in your tank has to comply with regulations on chemical content and performance, and the price of that fuel has to conform to competition regulations. All of these regulations and you haven't even started the car yet. On the way to the shops, you have to comply with road regulations like driving on the left hand side and stopping at red lights.
The location of the supermarket has to comply to planning regulations, and so does the parking lot. Even the price you pay for parking is based on local government regulations. The supermarket building itself has to comply with a range of building regulations things like engineering standards, building heights, plumbing. All the fresh produce you buy conforms to food safety regulations such as pesticide and bacteria limits.
Milk and meat have to conform to specific food safety regulations, too. Some items have specific requirements about the ingredients they contain. All items for human consumption have to conform to labelling regulations that target the ingredient and nutritional profiles. Any ingredients sourced internationally have to comply with import regulations and biosecurity laws, and the transport used to get these items on the shelves are subject to safety regulations.
Your checkout operator is governed by various employment regulations, including superannuation and minimum rates of pay. Paying for your groceries on card is also governed by financial regulations, including a limit on credit card surcharge amounts. Even the bags you use to carry your groceries are regulated and in some places only reusable bags are available. An ordinary activity like your weekly grocery shop only begins to scrape the surface of the way in which we encounter regulations every day.
It is woven into the function and fabric of our society. We live in a regulated world.
Program Overview
Download the Regulatory Practice Program Overview
Regulatory Program Overview (PDF - 158.56 KB)
Foundation level
Practitioner (Mastery) level
Courses / Resources
Additional Resources
Frameworks
Regulatory Policy, Practice and Performance Framework
This framework applies to Commonwealth entities that perform policy and/or regulatory functions, recognising many agencies may perform both. The framework is a better practice approach to regulation, to drive modern, fit-for-purpose regulation that achieves intended outcomes.
Tools and templates
Regulator Performance (RMG 128)
This guidance will assist Commonwealth entities that perform regulatory functions, including both standalone regulators and those located within policy departments.
Professional Practice Support
A set of coaching resources designed to support individuals and teams in developing their regulatory practice in three primary categories: interpersonal skills necessary to be an exemplary regulatory professional; organisational maturity and effective culture around regulation; and regulatory judgement enablers to drive best practice.
Research
Regulation As Public Service, Public Servants As Regulators
A 2021 working paper discussing aspects of regulation the author, Jeroen van der Heijden, has identified as essential understanding for public servants.
Fundamentals of regulatory design (webinar)
Professor Malcolm Sparrow demystifies various prescriptions for regulatory conduct, clarifies your options and generates usable ideas on being a ‘risk based regulator’.
Assessing the Regulatory Challenges of Emerging Disruptive Technologies
This 2021 academic article aims to help understand the regulatory challenges posed by disruptive technologies and develop generalizable propositions for government responses.