A statutory scheme located within the Australian Government
Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), NICNAS
provides for an ongoing, consistent approach to the protection of human health
and the environment from the effects of industrial chemicals. NICNAS is part of the Therapeutic Goods Administration
(TGA) Group of Regulators. It was previously located within the Office of Chemical
Safety (OCS), however during 2006-07 steps were taken to formally separate
NICNAS from OCS.
Figure 1 provides an overview of the team-based organisational structure of NICNAS. The Director is a
statutory office holder with specific functions and powers under the Act. In
the exercise of these functions, the Director is directly responsible to the
Minister for Health and Ageing through the Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister.
NICNAS is structurally organised into three streams, two of which undertake
activities under the Act, namely chemical assessments and regulatory activity
(including compliance). The business management and communication stream
supports these two streams.
NICNAS’s skill base is diverse with a high proportion of staff
holding professional qualifications. Approximately 60 per cent of NICNAS staff
have scientific qualifications, reflecting the major focus on assessment of the
impact of industrial chemicals on human health and the environment.
Three non-statutory committees made
up of experts provide governance advice to NICNAS: the Community Engagement
Forum (CEF), Industry Government Consultative Committee (IGCC) and the States
and Territories Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Group. See Management and
accountability for additional information about these groups.
Figure 1: NICNAS organisational chart
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Senator
the Hon Brett Mason Parliamentary Secretary to MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND
AGEING
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IGCC
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Leader:
Science Strategy
Vacant
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Leader:
Regulatory Strategy
Roshini Jayewardene
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Leader:
Business Strategy and Communication
Nick
Miller
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