The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) recently delivered a comprehensive five-day training workshop to expand its emergency response capabilities.
ARPANSA scientist, Callum Watson, said the training was informed by insights gained from an ARPANSA-led response to a radiological incident in Western Australia in January 2023 .
'One of the key learnings from that incident was the importance of real-time radiation measurement data transfer and effective field communications. This was integrated into the training curriculum,' said Mr Watson.
Conducted in collaboration with the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), ARPANSA participants gained extensive knowledge about how to use the Spectral Advanced Radiological Computer System (SPARCS).
SPARCS is radiation detection equipment and software that ARPANSA uses when responding to radiation emergencies. 'A capstone of the training was a two-phase simulated source recovery exercise. This practical exercise allowed participants to apply and practice their newly acquired skills in a controlled and realistic environment,' said Mr Watson.
The exercise also marked a leap in ARPANSA's technical capabilities - the Australian Government's primary radiation protection authority now has additional vehicle-mountable detector units capable of simultaneously transmitting real time data to a central platform for analysis and support.
ARPANSA senior executive, Dr Ivan Williams, says that regular training exercises like this keep ARPANSA at the forefront of radiological emergency management.
'This training not only improves our agency's technical prowess but also strengthens our collaboration with international partners, ensuring a cohesive and robust response to future incidents,' said Dr Williams.
ARPANSA is the Australian Government's lead agency for any national radiation or nuclear emergencies.
