Environment
Australians’ intellectual property is an important economic asset. IP Australia plays a critical role in supporting the government’s vision for economic growth, productivity, and job creation. Australian businesses are looking to the IP system to support their competitiveness and resilience amid a changing global outlook. Research and analysis are an important foundation for our work. They strengthen the evidence base for government decisions on productivity, innovation, investment and trade.
With the Australia–European Union Free Trade Agreement now concluded, new arrangements are being developed to strengthen intellectual property protections for geographical indications. This system will support the protection of European products and will be open to be used for Australian regional products, including those of First Nations peoples.
We are making progress on our First Nations Strategy and preparing for the implementation of the Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge Treaty, subject to government decisions, to ensure the IP system better recognises and protects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ interests. The treaty has the potential to strengthen respect for traditional knowledge, improve transparency in the patent system through disclosure of genetic resources and associated knowledge, and support a more inclusive and equitable framework. Together, these initiatives could help deliver tangible benefits for First Nations communities while maintaining the IP system’s integrity for all Australians.
Advances in AI are transforming how ideas are developed, shared and commercialised, how government services are delivered, and how we work. These changes matter as they introduce new challenges and expectations for the IP system. In response, we are adopting AI in a planned and accountable way, with clear transparency and risk controls, including publishing an Artificial Intelligence transparency statement that outlines how technology is used and managed, and consulting widely on broader system effects of AI.
To support Australian businesses to make informed decisions about their IP, we have increased our organisational focus and resourcing for public education and awareness activities. This is in response to growing demand for clear, practical guidance to help businesses navigate an increasingly complex innovation and digital environment, where understanding and managing IP is critical to competitiveness and growth. We are increasing IP literacy through targeted partnerships and tailored engagement. We are also helping individuals and businesses build the practical skills to understand and manage their IP over time. Through digital initiatives such as TM Checker and IP First Response, and structured education and awareness activities, we are helping customers with timely, consistent and trusted guidance at critical points.
The IP system remains vulnerable to periodic increases in scam and malicious activity targeting its users. Recently, there has been an increase in scam and malicious activity targeting users of the IP system. As stewards of the system, it is vital our customers have confidence in the integrity of our system and the services we provide. We will continue to monitor, detect and where possible disrupt or prevent scam activities that may impact our customers. This includes strengthening our efforts to educate and raise awareness of scams through direct engagement with stakeholders such as the attorney profession, identifying and monitoring for trends in scam activity so we can respond quickly, and referring matters to appropriate authorities, including Scamwatch within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and law enforcement agencies.
Economic conditions can affect demand for IP rights and, in turn, our financial sustainability. As a government regulator and cost-recovered agency, we charge fees for our IP rights services in accordance with the Australian Government Charging Framework. We ensure our fees are transparent and recover the costs of administering the IP rights system in Australia.
Our approach is guided by the Australian Government’s regulator performance framework, including the Minister’s Statement of Expectations and our Statement of Intent, which support transparent, risk-based and customer-focused administration of the IP system.
Cooperation
In administering the Australian IP system, we need to connect with stakeholders at home and overseas. These connections help us shape the IP system in Australia’s national interests.
We play an essential role in providing advice to government on the development of IP policy and legislation, working in conjunction with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) which coordinates whole-of-government IP policy. We work with the Attorney-General’s Department, with responsibility for copyright policy, and other organisations and relevant government agencies to support IP-related issues in other policy areas like health, computing, agriculture, design and research commercialisation. We strive to work across government to deliver on priority and transformational work, including contributing to the Australian Government’s Closing the Gap commitments.
Australia’s national economic and security agenda depends on strong and resilient industries that use critical and innovative technologies. These technologies produce profits and secure many sectors including Australia’s cyber, defence, space and clean energy capabilities. We use our data capability and IP expertise with analytics and economic insight to help researchers, businesses and policymakers make these industries more robust, agile and globally competitive.
We contribute to Australia’s system of trade and relationships with trading partners. We support the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in negotiating IP chapters in Free Trade Agreements. We also provide support to other IP offices, including through the WIPO Funds-in-Trust program, which receives funding from DFAT’s Aid for Trade program. These activities help to create consistency for Australian exporters who can have increased confidence that their IP is protected in international markets.
Capability
Our ability to achieve our outcome, purpose and strategic objectives depends on strong policy, integrity, security, people, data, technology and innovation capabilities. These capabilities support the proper, effective and efficient administration of IP rights, enable us to respond to changes in our operating context, and support the delivery of trusted, accessible and contemporary services. Over the life of this plan, we will maintain and strengthen these capabilities through effective governance and workforce planning, targeted investment and a focus on continuous improvement, collaboration and innovation supported by secure technology systems. Overall, this supports our purpose and Strategic Objectives 2.1 and 2.2 by enabling the delivery of modern, accessible and secure services that increase access to IP rights and improve the customer experience.
Strategic policy and international engagement
Our strategic policy and international engagement capability helps us support a robust IP system and advance Australia’s interests domestically and overseas. It includes policy and legislative advice, international engagement, stewardship of the IP system, and activities that improve awareness and understanding of IP. We will strengthen this capability through high-quality policy advice, implementation of key reforms and international commitments, strategic engagement with domestic and international partners, and targeted awareness activities that support Australians to protect and commercialise their ideas. This supports our purpose and Strategic Objective 1.3 by strengthening our stewardship of the IP system and promoting innovation, trade and economic growth.
Integrity and security
Our integrity and security capability helps us maintain the trust of our customers and stakeholders in how we administer IP rights, make decisions and deliver services. It covers the systems, controls, behaviours and oversight that help us act with integrity, protect our people, information and systems, manage risk and deliver trusted and secure services. We will strengthen this through building staff capability, reinforcing accountability, and improving how we identify and manage integrity and security risks across the organisation. This supports our purpose and Strategic Objective 3.1 by helping us deliver reliable services, make well informed decisions, and administer the IP system with confidence and integrity.
People
Our people capability helps us deliver our purpose and respond to change across the IP system. It includes workforce planning, leadership, specialist expertise, learning and development, and a culture that supports performance, inclusion, integrity and accountability. We will strengthen this capability through our People Strategy 2024–27, with a focus on skills development, flexibility, connection, belonging and integrity. This supports our purpose and Strategic Objectives 3.1 and 3.2 by ensuring we have the skills, expertise and culture needed to deliver trusted services, make sound decisions and steward the IP system well.
In line with the APS Strategic Commissioning Framework, IP Australia has identified the following job families as core work: communication and marketing, engineering and technical, human resources, accounting and finance, portfolio program and project management, administration, information and knowledge management, legal and parliamentary, monitoring and audit, policy, senior executive and service delivery.
In 2026–27, IP Australia will undertake steps to embed the APS Strategic Commissioning Framework and strengthen capability. This will include enhanced reporting and communications and maintaining clear expectations for hiring and procuring managers. IP Australia will continue to strengthen its capability to deliver core work and reduce reliance on contractors through a workforce planning approach that identifies capability needs and informs succession planning and targeted recruitment when required. This will be supported by knowledge transfer requirements that build and retain capability.
Data and technology
Our data and technology help us administer IP rights, deliver secure and user-focused services, improve decision-making, and support efficient operations. It includes information and communications technology, information management, data governance, analytics, AI and ADM. We will strengthen this capability through delivery of our ICT Strategy 2026–30, with a focus on modernising our systems and platforms, improving how we manage and use data, and governing emerging technologies in ways that support service quality, integrity and public trust. This supports our purpose and Strategic Objectives 3.1 and 4.2 by ensuring the delivery of contemporary, reliable, secure and efficient services and strengthening administration of the IP system.
Innovation
Our innovation capability helps us improve how we deliver value to customers and respond to change across the IP system. It includes the frameworks, governance, leadership and practices that support risk-based experimentation, continuous improvement and scalable innovation across the agency. We will strengthen this capability through clear governance, a portfolio approach to investment, and support for staff to test new ideas, learn from experience and embed innovation in everyday work. This supports our purpose and Strategic Objective 4.1 increasing innovation and adaptiveness in our stewardship of the IP system.