About AI Governance Council Australia

AI Governance Council Australia (AIGC) provides independent AI governance readiness assessment and governance risk and control review for Australian organisations. We help reduce AI risk, protect boards and executives, and meet Australia's evolving AI governance expectations.

Our Mission

To establish trusted, independent standards for responsible AI deployment in Australia, protecting organisations and the public from AI-related harms while enabling innovation.

Why AI Governance Matters

Board and Executive Liability: Directors face increasing personal exposure for AI decisions
Procurement Requirements: Major contracts now require evidence of AI governance
Insurance and Risk Transfer: Insurers are scrutinising AI practices in underwriting
Regulatory Trajectory: Australian regulation is intensifying across sectors

Our Services

AI Governance Assessment

Comprehensive independent assessment of your AI systems, policies, and risk management practices. We identify legal, ethical, and operational risks before they become problems. Our assessment includes technical review, policy analysis, risk identification, gap analysis, and a detailed remediation roadmap.

Governance Readiness - Early Stage

Foundational governance readiness assessment for organisations with early stage or pilot AI use. Demonstrates your commitment to responsible AI development from the start. Includes governance framework review and basic policy assessment.

Governance Readiness - Operational

For organisations with AI in production. Confirms active governance controls, monitoring processes, and risk management procedures are in place. Includes comprehensive system assessment, operational review, and ongoing monitoring requirements.

Governance Maturity Evaluation - Full Governance

Comprehensive governance maturity evaluation for organisations with high-risk or regulated AI use. Provides maximum assurance and oversight for critical sectors including healthcare, financial services, and government. Includes complete governance audit, ongoing oversight, and annual reassessment.

Our Role

We provide independent assessment and governance risk identification. Implementation remains the responsibility of the organisation or its advisors.

Assessment Levels

Our three-tier assessment framework matches your organisation's AI maturity and risk profile:

Level 1: Early Stage

For organisations with early stage or pilot AI use. Scope: Basic governance framework, foundational policies. Requirements: Board awareness, documented policies, basic risk assessment. Timeline: 4-6 weeks. Cost: $8,500 + GST.

Level 2: Operational

For organisations with AI in production. Scope: Active governance controls, monitoring processes. Requirements: Operational policies, risk management procedures, incident response. Timeline: 6-8 weeks. Cost: $15,000 + GST.

Level 3: Full Governance

For high-risk or regulated AI deployments. Scope: Comprehensive governance, ongoing oversight. Requirements: Complete governance framework, board oversight, continuous monitoring. Timeline: 8-12 weeks. Cost: Custom pricing.

Our Methodology

Our AI governance assessment methodology is built on five core principles: independence, evidence-based assessment, risk-based approach, Australian context, and practical implementation. We assess across six governance domains: strategy and accountability, risk management, data governance, model governance, transparency and explainability, and monitoring and review.

Governance Framework

Our governance framework is designed for Australian organisations deploying AI systems. It provides structured guidance across all critical governance domains while remaining flexible enough to adapt to your specific context.

Framework Components

Governance Structure: Board oversight, executive accountability, governance committees
Risk Management: Risk assessment processes, mitigation strategies, incident response
Data Governance: Data quality, privacy protection, security controls
Model Governance: Development standards, validation processes, change management
Operational Controls: Monitoring systems, performance metrics, audit trails
Transparency: Documentation standards, explainability requirements, stakeholder communication

Ethics and Independence

Independence is fundamental to our assessment process. We maintain strict separation from consulting services, technology vendors, and commercial interests that could compromise our assessments.

Our Independence Commitments

No commercial relationships with assessed organisations beyond the assessment engagement
Assessors have no financial interest in assessment outcomes
Transparent methodology available for public review
Regular external audits of our assessment processes
Clear complaints and appeals procedures

Priority Sectors

We focus on sectors where AI risk exposure and regulatory scrutiny are highest:

Healthcare

AI in diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient care requires rigorous governance to protect patient safety and meet regulatory requirements.

Financial Services

AI in lending, fraud detection, and investment decisions faces intense regulatory scrutiny and poses significant liability risks.

Government

AI in public services, law enforcement, and decision-making must balance efficiency with fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Resources

We provide comprehensive resources to help Australian organisations understand and implement AI governance:

Australian Government AI Ethics Principles
NIST AI Risk Management Framework
EU AI Act Overview
ISO/IEC AI Standards
Industry-specific AI guidance
AI governance templates and checklists

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an AI governance readiness assessment?

An AI governance readiness assessment is an independent evaluation process that confirms an organisation has implemented appropriate policies, controls, and accountability structures for responsible AI deployment.

Why do organisations need AI governance?

AI governance helps organisations reduce board and executive liability, meet procurement requirements, manage insurance exposure, protect reputation, and address increasing regulatory scrutiny.

What are the risks of not implementing AI governance?

Without proper AI governance, organisations face board and executive liability, procurement rejection, increased insurance costs, reputational damage, and regulatory enforcement action.

How long does an AI governance assessment take?

Timeline varies based on assessment level: Early Stage (4-6 weeks), Operational (6-8 weeks), Full Governance (8-12 weeks).

What assessment level do I need?

Choose Early Stage for initial AI use, Operational for AI in production, or Full Governance for high-risk AI deployments.

Is AIGC government-affiliated?

No, we are an independent organisation. While we align with Australian Government AI guidance, we maintain complete independence.

Contact Information

Request an AI risk assessment or executive briefing. We respond to all enquiries within 24 hours.

Email: info@aigcaustralia.com.au

Location: Australia

Available for: AI governance assessments, governance risk and control reviews, executive briefings, speaking engagements

Assessment Criteria Overview

Q: How long does an AI governance assessment take?

The assessment process involves five stages: governance review, policy alignment, independent assessment, maturity determination, and governance uplift roadmap. Timeline varies based on organisation size, AI complexity, and current governance maturity.

Q: What assessment level do I need?

Choose Early Stage assessment for initial or pilot AI use, Operational assessment for AI in production, or Full Governance assessment for high-risk or regulated AI deployments. An initial consultation can help determine the appropriate level.

Structured summary of the governance criteria used in AIGC governance assessments.

Introduction

Governance assessments conducted by AI Governance Council Australia evaluate governance maturity against AIGC's published framework. The assessment examines the extent to which an organisation has established, documented, and maintained governance arrangements for its use of artificial intelligence.

The focus of assessment is on governance oversight mechanisms — accountability structures, risk management integration, policy frameworks, review processes, and transparency — rather than the technical performance of individual AI systems.

The Five Pillars of Governance Maturity

AIGC governance assessments evaluate governance maturity across five pillars. Each pillar examines a distinct dimension of organisational governance.

Pillar 1: Accountability and Ownership

Board visibility

Evidence that AI governance matters are reported to, and visible at, board or senior leadership level.

Defined responsibility

Clear designation of individuals or roles accountable for AI governance within the organisation.

Documented governance structure

A formal governance structure that defines reporting lines, decision-making authority, and escalation pathways for AI-related matters.

Pillar 2: Risk Identification and Register Integration

AI risk identification

A documented process for identifying risks associated with the development, deployment, or procurement of AI systems.

Integration with enterprise risk registers

Evidence that AI-specific risks are recorded within the organisation's broader enterprise risk management framework.

Documented risk monitoring

Ongoing monitoring arrangements for identified AI risks, including review frequency and responsibility.

Pillar 3: Policy and Control Structures

Formal policies

Documented policies governing the use, development, procurement, and oversight of AI systems within the organisation.

Control documentation

Defined controls that operationalise governance policies, including approval processes, access controls, and usage boundaries.

Governance procedures

Documented procedures that support the implementation and enforcement of AI governance policies across relevant business functions.

Pillar 4: Oversight and Review Mechanisms

Periodic review

Scheduled review of AI governance arrangements, including policies, risk assessments, and control effectiveness.

Monitoring processes

Mechanisms for ongoing monitoring of AI system behaviour, governance adherence, and emerging risks.

Escalation pathways

Defined processes for escalating governance concerns, incidents, or material changes in AI risk profiles to appropriate decision-makers.

Pillar 5: Independent Review and Transparency

Internal review

Evidence of internal review or audit of AI governance arrangements, conducted independently of the teams responsible for AI deployment.

External review processes

Arrangements for external review of governance practices where appropriate, including third-party assessments or independent evaluations.

Documentation and reporting discipline

Systematic documentation of governance activities, decisions, and review outcomes, maintained in a manner that supports accountability and transparency.

Maturity Levels

AIGC governance assessments recognise three levels of governance maturity. Each level reflects the degree to which an organisation has formalised and embedded its AI governance arrangements.

Level 1: Early Stage

The organisation has begun to recognise the need for AI governance. Initial steps may include informal discussions, preliminary risk identification, or early-stage policy drafting. Governance structures are not yet formalised or consistently applied.

Level 2: Developing

The organisation has established foundational governance elements. Policies and risk identification processes exist but may not be fully integrated across the organisation. Oversight mechanisms are emerging but may lack consistency or formal review cycles.

Level 3: Formalised

The organisation maintains a structured and documented AI governance framework. Policies, controls, and oversight mechanisms are formally established, consistently applied, and subject to periodic review. Governance responsibilities are clearly defined and governance activities are documented.

The maturity level awarded reflects governance maturity at the time of assessment. It does not represent a permanent status and is subject to the assessment period and conditions specified in AIGC's assessment procedures.

Evidence Requirements

Organisations seeking a governance assessment must provide documented evidence to support their governance claims across each pillar. Evidence may include, but is not limited to:

Board papers, meeting minutes, or reports demonstrating governance visibility
Risk registers incorporating AI-specific risks
Published policies and documented procedures
Records of periodic governance reviews or audits
Organisational charts or governance structure documentation

The specific evidence required is determined by the scope of the assessment and the maturity level sought. Assessors evaluate evidence against AIGC's published criteria.

Important Clarification

An AIGC governance assessment does not constitute legal compliance approval or technical validation of AI systems. The assessment reflects an independent evaluation of governance maturity against AIGC's published framework at the time of assessment. It does not represent regulatory endorsement, statutory compliance, or a warranty regarding the performance, safety, or legality of any AI system.

Related information

Review AIGC's governance framework and assessment methodology.

View governance framework Assessment methodology