Overview
Building capability and confidence through modern, practical regulatory learning.
The Professional Regulator is NRCOP’s flagship professional development program for regulators across all spheres and jurisdictions. It establishes a shared foundation of contemporary regulatory practice, strengthening professionalism and capacity nationwide.
This flexible learning experience begins with Foundation, the first course in a progressive series designed to support regulators at every stage of their career. Participants start with core principles and advance through deeper levels of expertise and leadership.
Alongside the online modules, learners can enrich their experience through a series of interactive seminars, expanding on key themes and fostering peer-to-peer learning.
At a glance
Flexible Learning Designed for Regulators
Modules
Six online modules (mandatory)
Modules are self-paced
90 minutes per module & 30 minutes for each knowledge quiz
12 months to complete
No fixed start date: commence the program at a time that suits you and your organisation.
Seminar Series
6 online seminars (elective)
Learn with regulatory peers from across jurisdictions and regulatory domains
90 minutes per seminar
12 months to complete
Seminar cycles are repeated several times throughout the year, allowing regulators to fit in all six seminars across their busy schedules
Module One: Who Regulates and Why?
After completing this module you will be able to:
explain why contemporary regulation matters
identify who regulates in contemporary Australia
describe the major styles, tools and concepts of regulation in use in Australia today
know the regulatory approaches used by your organisation
Module Two: Licensing as Regulation
After completing this module you will be able to:
understand the legal environment in which Australian regulators work
identify and explain regulators’ authorising environment and the use of authorising tools, including licensing, permitting, accrediting and registering
apply these practical insights to real-life examples in complex regulatory environments
Module Three: Understanding and Achieving Compliance
After completing this module you will be able to:
understand different explanations for, and approaches to compliance
consider and analyse the variety of reasons that may lead to non-compliance
identify a range of options and strategies in the regulator compliance toolkit
Module Four: Using Information to Regulate
After completing this module you will be able to:
understand the many ways information can inform regulatory best practice
identify key strategies for effectively gathering and using information, including evidence-based strategies and regulatory intelligence
reflect on how to effectively collect and utilise information to align and support regulatory objectives
Module Five: Regulatory Communication
After completing this module you will be able to:
identify the different kinds of regulatory communication and their value for regulatory practice
understand when and how to use specific regulatory communication strategies, including lessons from case studies of successes, mistakes and failures
refer to examples for mapping and planning regulatory communication plans and stakeholder engagement
Module Six: Regulatory Professionalism and Ethics
After completing this module you will be able to:
reflect on the specific attributes and responsibilities of a professional regulator, considering them in relation to previous modules
develop a broad appreciation of issues related to ethics and ethical decision-making for regulators
comprehensively demonstrate foundational professional competencies, reflecting on essential elements of effective regulatory practice
Participant
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Professional Regulator Program?
The Professional Regulator: Foundation program aims to provide professional development for regulators, regardless of regulatory sphere or jurisdiction, that provides a common foundation of current, modern regulatory practice, increasing the professionalism and capacity of regulators around Australia.
The Professional Regulator: Foundation program is the first part of a four-level program:
The Professional Regulator: Foundation – open for enrolment
The Professional Regulator: Extension
The Professional Regulator: Expert
The Professional Regulator: Leader
The additional three levels will be developed following feedback from the NRCoP community.
Who should participate in the Professional Regulator: Foundation program?
This professional development program is for all early, mid to senior level regulators from all disciplines (federal, state and local government).
If you are new to licensing and approvals, compliance, working with regulated entities, using regulation, applying risk frameworks, managing regulatory comms — this course is for you!
What will I learn?
The course is a practical six module online self-paced professional learning program. It will take you approximately 90 minutes to complete each module (plus 30 minutes for end-of-module knowledge tests). Once enrolled, you will have 12 months to complete the six modules. You choose the pace that best works for you.
The program includes 6 seminars (90 mins each) that will provide you with an opportunity to interact with your peers to discuss common regulatory issues and approaches. The seminars are facilitated by expert regulators and will be delivered online. Seminars are run on a rotational basis and repeated later in the year so if you miss one you will have the opportunity to participate at a later date.
When can I enrol and how long does the program run for?
This course has an open enrolment with no set closing date. You can enrol at any time to commence the program.
When you enrol, you will have 12 months to complete the six online modules and to participate in the 6 seminars.
Who should do the course and how do I register?
All regulators, whether you work in an organisation that is a corporate member of the NRCoP or not, are able to enrol in the Professional Regulator: Foundation program.
Registrations are open now.
How much does the course cost?
The program will cost $775 + GST for regulators who work in an organisation that is a corporate member of NRCoP.
All other regulators are able to enrol in the program at a cost of $2250 + GST
How do I check whether my organisation is a corporate member?
My agency/organisation is not listed as a corporate member. How do I become one?
How many hours will each module take to complete?
Each module takes approximately 90 minutes to complete (plus 30 minutes for end-of-module knowledge tests). It is not necessary for you to complete the entire module in one sitting. You can save what you have done and return to it at a later stage.
Each seminar runs for 90 minutes. We recommend that you participate in the seminars but these are elective. You can complete the course without participating in the seminar program (or all the seminars).
What do I need to know about the course materials and the seminar program?
Everything you need to complete the course will be provided to you. The modules are self-paced, and you can progress at a speed that suits your work schedule. The seminar series consists of six themed seminars and are offered in cycles that are repeated several times throughout the year with 4 time/date options available for each seminar in each cycle. These sessions will enable you to connect and work with your regulatory peers across a range of contemporary issues. This allows for busy regulators who can’t find time to attend one seminar to catch it later on during the year.
You can view the seminar schedule and book the sessions you wish to attend when you access The Professional Regulator portal.
If you are no longer able to attend a seminar, you should cancel your booking so that the space is freed up for someone else to book.
How do I provide my feedback to ANZSOG on the course?
Surveys will be circulated at regular intervals during the program and after it concludes to collect your feedback.
Can I contact ANZSOG if I have any further queries about The Professional Regulator program?
Yes – contact the NRCoP team at Regulators@anzsog.edu.au.
Skateholder Engagement Kit
Equip Your Team with the Right Information
Partnership with ANU RegNet
Strengthening Regulatory Practice Through Collaboration
The National Regulators Community of Practice (NRCoP) has partnered with the Australian National University’s (ANU) School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) to deliver a new professional development program for regulators. RegNet is a world-class academic centre renowned for its pioneering research and education on regulation and governance.
How to Enrol
Ready to take the next step?
My organisation is a NRCoP Corporate Member
1. Click on link
2. Confirm whether your organisation is a corporate member by finding your regulatory organisation on the Corporate Member list. You will also find a discount coupon which you can use at the checkout to get the discount rate for members.
3. Click ‘BUY’
4. Create an account (fill in your details here) Click ‘SIGN UP’
5. Go to ‘COMPLETE YOUR PURCHASE’ (NRCoP corporate members insert your discount coupon at this stage) and insert your credit card details to finalise the purchase.
6. You will be able to view an order receipt immediately, and you will also receive a tax receipt direct to your email.
7. You can get started with the modules immediately. A new round of seminar dates will become available in the coming months.
My organisation is not a NRCoP Corporate Member
1. Click on link
2. Click the ‘BUY’ button and proceed straight to creating your account.
3. Click ‘BUY’
4. Create an account (fill in your details here) Click ‘SIGN UP’
5. Go to ‘COMPLETE YOUR PURCHASE’ and insert your credit card details to finalise the purchase.
6. You will be able to view an order receipt immediately, and you will also receive a tax receipt direct to your email.
7. You can get started with the modules A new round of seminar dates will become available in the coming months.