Agency overview

Outcome

Increased innovation, investment and trade in Australia, and by Australians overseas, through the administration of the registrable intellectual property rights system, promoting public awareness and industry engagement, and advising government.

Purpose

Enabling Australians to benefit from great ideas by providing a world-leading IP system.

Strategic objectives

1. Impact

1.1 Increase trust and confidence by maintaining a high-quality, customer-centric, efficient IP rights system.

We strive to maintain a world-leading, high-quality IP system that instils trust and confidence.

We continually improve our processes to reduce costs and regulatory burden for our customers to make it easy for them to use our services.

1.2 Increase awareness of the IP system.

We produce high-quality, accessible and dynamic public education and engagement resources and initiatives to make it easy for individuals and small business owners to access and understand how IP rights can benefit them.

1.3 Increase our reputation, influence and contribution to the IP eco-system.

We are a valued steward of the Australian IP system, known for our strong domestic and international relationships, and our focus on data-driven decision making.

We continue to collaborate across government to provide advice, support growth, and ensure fit-for-purpose trade agreements.

We influence international IP frameworks and global trading partners to create consistency and confidence for Australians entering international markets and for international exporters who bring innovative products and services to Australian consumers.

2. Customer

2.1 Increase access to and benefits from IP rights ownership.

We make it easy to access IP rights through high-quality digital services and the registration of qualified and ethical IP attorneys.

Our robust IP rights system supports owners to trade with confidence in domestic and international markets.

2.2 Increase customer experience excellence in the delivery of IP rights services.

We help our customers understand how to submit compelling applications and provide them with transparent and considered responses on examination outcomes.

We provide innovative, seamless and convenient services through channels that are modern, accessible, secure and meet the diverse needs of our customers.

3. Capability

3.1 Create and continually improve capabilities that meet the current and future needs of the IP rights system.

We understand the capabilities required to maintain a high-quality IP system and to meet evolving customers' and stakeholders' needs through genuine engagement and consultation.

We create value for our customers and stakeholders by investing in and leveraging the capabilities of our people, culture, technology, data, processes and policies.

3.2 Build a workplace culture that is customer centric, empowered, inclusive and risk-engaging.

Our organisational culture and staff experience empowers us to reduce threats and seize opportunities by providing the right tools and support, promoting a sense of belonging, and encouraging us to engage with risk.

4. Innovation

4.1 Increase innovation and adaptiveness in our stewardship of the IP rights system.

We promote and celebrate innovation and we are willing to try, fail fast and apply the learnings.

We integrate innovative practices through our leadership, training and everyday work and look for opportunities to innovate through small and large changes.

4.2 Create innovative contemporary digital and data driven customer services and staff experiences.

We provide excellent customer and staff experiences through contemporary digital solutions and by using emerging technologies that automate and elevate our services.

We use data insights to drive continuous improvement in decision-making and service delivery.

Programs

1. IP rights administration and professional registration

Key activities

Administer patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder's rights legislation.

Administer the Trans-Tasman IP Attorney regime for Australian and New Zealand patent attorneys and Australian trade mark attorneys.

Performance measures

1. IP Australia’s timeliness, quality, satisfaction and availability commitments are met.

2. Process trans-Tasman attorney registration applications within 15 working days from the date that the application complies with registration requirements.

2. Education and awareness

Key activities

Deliver proactive outreach programs that inform and educate Australian businesses with emphasis on small and medium enterprises.

Build and leverage partnerships with government, industry partners and universities to promote the IP system and maximise impact.

Performance measures

3. Improved awareness of the IP rights system.

3. Advice to government and international engagement

Key activities

Provide high quality advice to the government on the development of IP policy and legislation.

Engage internationally, working with bodies such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and other IP offices to influence IP policy and practice.

Performance measures

4. Provision of high-quality advice to the Australian Government on policy, legislation, ministerial correspondence and briefs.

Significant initiatives

• Develop a new ICT Strategy as a roadmap to guide future ICT investment, aligning technology with our strategic objectives.
• Continue to innovate with AI and Automated Decision Making (ADM) tools in accordance with government requirements for their responsible use, enhancing our efficient and effective administration of the IP system.
• Continue to experiment with IP First Response, to provide guidance on IP enforcement and build greater confidence in the IP system for small business. IP First Response is a pilot tool that helps rights holders navigate a path forward by providing information on enforcement options.
• Assess options for disclosure of source in Australia's patent system, following the conclusion of the WIPO Treaty on IP, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge.
• Strengthen our agency's collaborative culture and build staff capability through the establishment of skills-based chapters that enhance opportunities for knowledge sharing, connectedness and continuous learning.
• Mature our approach to preventing, detecting and disrupting malicious and scam activities impacting users of the IP system, enhancing confidence in the system.