The Australian Safeguards Support Program For International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards

For over 40 years, the Australian Safeguards Support Program (ASSP) has assisted the IAEA in areas such as developing safeguards technology and approaches, delivering safeguards training, and providing safeguards technical services. Under the coordination of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO), the ASSP aims to help the IAEA keep pace with evolving challenges in verification, as well as opportunities from emerging technologies and analytical techniques. The ASSP has helped develop new instruments for safeguards inspections (such as the Zebedee hand-held laser mapping device) and new safeguards approaches for facilities (such as centrifuge plants). Through the ASSP, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the University of Western Australia have also made long-standing contributions by analysing environmental samples from IAEA inspections as members of the Network of Analytical Laboratories. Today, the ASSP is one of 21 support programs established by member States and the European Commission. Currently, areas of focus for the ASSP include assisting the IAEA to update the Physical Model and related guidance for implementation of safeguards at the state-level, develop and deliver safeguards training (including online), refine open-source information collection and analysis techniques, and test potential robotic designs for inspections in nuclear facilities. This paper will outline Australia’s contributions to the continuous improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency of IAEA safeguards through the ASSP. It will also discuss how ASNO has helped bring the IAEA together with Australian government agencies, research institutes and universities with specialised expertise, simultaneously benefiting IAEA safeguards and helping Australia cultivate a core of professionals with expertise in related fields.