April 2026

At Standards Australia, our work is guided by a commitment to building capability, supporting industry and strengthening regional and international collaboration.  

Building pathways for the next generation

Initiatives such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Young Professionals Programme and the International Standards Olympiad are creating meaningful opportunities for teenagers and early career professionals to engage with standards and understand their real-world application.  

These programs help build awareness, capability and future leadership across a new generation of standards contributors.

It was wonderful to see so many applications received to be Australia’s inaugural representatives at this year’s Standards Olympiad to be held in South Korea. Following the review of the applications and a rigorous interview process, I am excited to confirm that two school teams have now been selected for the Olympiad - Loyola College and Methodist Ladies College.

We look forward to seeing their ideas develop and to supporting their progress as they deepen their understanding of how standards shape innovation, safety and everyday life.

Supporting regional collaboration in the Pacific

We were honoured to recently host the inaugural meeting of the Pacific Islands Standards Committee Kava Technical Committee in April. 

This first meeting brought together Pacific leaders and technical experts, with support from regional partners, to progress a Pacific-led, harmonised approach to kava quality and safety. Importantly this standard will be designed by the Pacific, for the Pacific.  

This collaboration reinforces the role of standards in enabling sustainable trade, strengthening consumer confidence and supporting regional resilience. We look forward to seeing this work develop, and I extend my sincere thanks to all who organised and attended this important meeting.

Partnering with industry on emerging risks

In addition, the commencement of work on the Lithium-ion Industry Handbook demonstrates our continued collaboration with industry to address emerging safety and operational challenges.  

The free of charge industry guide is being developed in collaboration with the Association for the Battery Recycling Industry (ABRI) and Powering Australia. This work aims supports safer packaging, storage and transport practices and reflects the practical role standards play in responding to evolving technologies and industry needs.  

Together, these many initiatives reflect the breadth and impact of Standards Australia’s work.  

By investing in young people, supporting our regional partners and working closely with industry, we are strengthening the foundations for a safer, more sustainable and more innovative future.

We invite young professionals and emerging leaders to apply for two exciting development opportunities: IEC Young Professionals Programme and NEXTgen.

IEC Young Professionals Programme 2026

This free, one year programme is designed for early career professionals working in the energy or electrotechnical sectors. It provides a unique opportunity to learn how international standards are developed, connect with peers from around the world, and gain first-hand insight into the work of the IEC. Applications close 15 June 2026.

Applications open

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NEXTgen 2027

NEXTgen supports emerging professionals to build capability in standards development through practical experience, committee engagement and cross industry collaboration. Participants gain valuable insight into how standards are developed and applied in real world settings, deepening their understanding of standardisation and its contribution to industry and the wider community.

Submit your Expression of Interest

Delivered in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the week marked the first meeting of the Pacific Islands Standards Committee TC3 Kava Standards. The program combined formal committee sessions with practical capacity building workshops, strengthening regional expertise and collaboration.

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Standards Australia is pleased to announce the two schools selected to represent Australia for the first time at the International Standards Olympiad, to be held in South Korea.  Congratulations to Loyola College (VIC) and Methodist Ladies’ College (WA), whose students have secured places in this prestigious global competition.

Meet the teams

Australia’s sustainability transition will ultimately be defined not by targets, but by execution. Drawing on perspectives from parliament, industry and technical experts, the paper identifies six areas where standards can have the greatest impact.

Download the paper

Standards Australia commenced work on a Used Lithium‑ion Battery Packaging and Transport Guide. This free of charge industry guide is designed to help commercial businesses collecting any type of end-of-life lithium batteries understand the next steps in safely sending the batteries to a recycler.

Developed in collaboration with the Association for the Battery Recycling Industry (ABRI) and Powering Australia, the guide will look to provide clear, consistent, practical direction for the packaging and land transport of used lithium‑ion batteries.

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Learn more about our international initiatives and how to get involved.

Check out the latest standards development in your industry.

Explore emerging themes and projects that advance safety and drive economic growth in Australia and across the region.

Help us keep Australians safe! Our public comment phase provides an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to make valuable contributions.

Draft standards open for comment