About

The Australian Rail Industry Standards Organisation (ARISO) is the national industry-led technical standards body responsible for supporting the development of mandatory standards, leading harmonised national standards and supporting local standards that drive safety, interoperability and efficiency across Australia’s rail networks.

ARISO supports interoperability and harmonisation across the Australian rail industry, championing safety to improve productivity and efficiency. It works with operators, infrastructure managers, government agencies, constructors, maintainers, consultants, unions, regulators and suppliers to develop industry-recognised products which improve the Australian rail industry’s safety outcomes, reduce risk and add value.

ARISO’s capabilities provide a collaborative environment to shape solutions of national and industry importance. It provides expertise and knowledge sharing that encourages innovative thinking across the industry to meet current and future challenges. ARISO supports the rail industry to adopt and implement mandatory, harmonised and local standards and provides guidelines, codes and rules across operating contexts.

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) is responsible for the regulatory oversight of rail safety in every Australian state and territory, to promote and improve national rail safety and ensure the safety of the community.

ONRSR’s purpose is to enhance rail safety for the Australian community through targeted, risk-based regulation, and by proactively sharing insights and information arising from our work.

The Regulator independently administers the Rail Safety National Law and performs the functions and responsibilities, and exercises the powers conferred upon it by that law on behalf of all state, territory and federal Ministers for Transport and Infrastructure.

ONRSR’s risk-based approach to regulation applies four drivers – Monitoring, Investigating, Improving and Engaging – to achieve compliance and safety improvements.

ONRSR’s five strategic priorities for 2024-2027 are to:

• Leverage data and intelligence to enhance our approach to risk-based regulation.
• Ensure our people are valued, skilled and engaged.
• Cultivate strong and collaborative relationships with key stakeholders.
• Position ONRSR as a future-focused and sustainable regulator.
• Influence safety practices and build safety knowledge among rail transport operators.

Informa Australia is the nation’s leading event organiser connecting professionals with knowledge, ideas and opportunities. Our events include large scale exhibitions, industry conferences and highly specialised corporate training. Part of the global Informa Group PLC, listed on the London Stock Exchange (INF), the Australian office has access to the expertise, resources and learnings of the more than 11,000 colleagues across the larger organisation, working in more than 60 markets, with offices in London, Dubai, Sydney, Singapore and across the US.

Our purpose and driving motto is “Championing The Specialist” and our portfolio of events run across multiple industries and are conceived within Informa based on industry needs that we have identified or built through partnerships with industry associations and media titles. Rail is a specialist market for Informa Australia who also deliver the annual Rail Safety Conference in Australia.