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

Annual publication

Annual Governance Transparency Report

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.

A factual account of AIGC assessment activity, governance decisions, and independence safeguards for the reporting period.

This report is published annually by AI Governance Council Australia to promote transparency and governance discipline. It provides a factual record of operations and is not intended as promotional material. Reporting periods follow the Australian financial year (1 July to 30 June).

1. Overview

This Annual Governance Transparency Report covers the period 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. It is published by AI Governance Council Australia (AIGC) in fulfilment of its commitment to transparency, accountability, and governance discipline.

The report provides a factual summary of assessment activity, complaints and appeals, framework revisions, and the safeguards maintained to protect the independence of AIGC's operations. It is intended for assessed organisations, prospective applicants, advisory council members, independent assessors, regulators, and the public.

This report does not constitute promotional material. Its purpose is strictly informational.

2. Assessments Completed

During the reporting period, AIGC conducted governance maturity assessments across a range of Australian organisations. Assessments were completed for organisations that met the requirements under AIGC's published governance criteria.

Metric	Description
Total assessments commenced	Includes initial and renewal assessments
Assessments completed	Organisations meeting all criteria at the relevant maturity tier
Conditional assessments issued	Subject to remediation within a defined timeframe
Renewal assessments completed	Existing assessed organisations reassessed

Detailed figures will be published following the close of each reporting period. Assessed organisations are listed on the AIGC Assessment Register.

3. Assessments Declined

Where an organisation does not meet the minimum requirements for governance assessment at any maturity tier, the assessment is declined. A decline does not preclude the organisation from reapplying following appropriate remediation.

Metric	Description
Applications declined	Organisation did not meet minimum threshold
Applications withdrawn by applicant	Withdrawn prior to final determination
Assessments suspended	Previously assessed organisations failing to maintain assessment requirements

AIGC does not publicly identify organisations whose assessment has been declined. This information is confidential and subject to AIGC's privacy and confidentiality obligations.

4. Appeals and Complaints Summary

AIGC maintains a formal complaints and appeals process accessible to any party. All complaints and appeals received during the reporting period were managed in accordance with AIGC's published Complaints and Appeals procedures.

Metric	Description
Formal complaints received	Complaints relating to AIGC processes, personnel, or outcomes
Formal appeals lodged	Appeals against assessment outcomes
Complaints resolved	Resolved within the reporting period
Appeals upheld	Original outcome revised following appeal
Appeals dismissed	Original outcome confirmed
Matters referred externally	Referred to an external body or regulator

AIGC is committed to resolving all complaints and appeals promptly and fairly. Detailed outcomes are reported in aggregate to protect the confidentiality of parties involved.

5. Framework Updates

AIGC's governance framework and assessment criteria are subject to periodic review to ensure continued relevance, rigour, and responsiveness to evolving governance expectations. The following updates were made during the reporting period:

Alignment review against updated Australian Government AI Ethics Principles

Revision of risk assessment methodology to reflect emerging AI risk categories

Updates to assessor competency requirements and continuing professional development obligations

Refinement of maturity tier descriptors based on assessment experience and stakeholder feedback

Review of governance criteria weighting and scoring methodology

All framework updates are subject to consultation with the AIGC Advisory Council and are published on the AIGC website prior to taking effect.

6. Independence Safeguards

The credibility of AIGC's governance assessment depends on the independence and impartiality of its operations. The following safeguards were in place and actively maintained during the reporting period:

Assessor independence

All assessors are required to declare conflicts of interest prior to each engagement. No assessor conducted an assessment of an organisation with which they had a current or recent commercial, personal, or advisory relationship.

Panel review

All assessment outcomes were subject to independent Review Panel consideration. No single assessor has unilateral authority to grant or deny an assessment outcome.

Code of Professional Conduct

All assessors and panel members operated under AIGC's Code of Professional Conduct throughout the reporting period. No breaches were substantiated during this period.

Financial independence

AIGC does not accept consulting fees, advisory retainers, or any form of payment from assessed organisations beyond published assessment fees. No exceptions were granted during the reporting period.

Governance oversight

The AIGC Advisory Council conducted its scheduled oversight reviews, including review of assessment quality, assessor performance, and complaints outcomes.

7. Looking Ahead

In the coming period, AIGC will focus on the following priorities:

Expanding the pool of appointed assessors to meet growing demand for governance assessment

Conducting a comprehensive review of governance criteria in light of developments in AI regulation domestically and internationally

Enhancing public reporting on assessment outcomes and governance maturity trends across assessed organisations

Monitoring developments in government and regulatory policy to ensure the framework remains informed by emerging expectations

Continuing to invest in assessor training and quality assurance processes

AIGC remains committed to operating with discipline, transparency, and independence. This report will be updated annually following the close of each reporting period.

Published by AI Governance Council Australia. This report is reviewed and approved by the AIGC Advisory Council prior to publication. For enquiries regarding this report, contact AIGC directly.

Related information

Review AIGC's governance framework and assessment register.

Governance Framework Assessment Register