ABSDO is established under Standards Australia’s Company Constitution and Membership Rules.

Initially established as the Standards Accreditation Board (SAB) in 1995, ABSDO was reconstituted in 2007 as the result of a research report conducted by the Productivity Commission.

Power

ABSDO has the following powers:

• Accrediting other bodies in Australia to prepare and maintain Australian Standards for publication.
• Setting policies, rules, regulations and guidelines in relation to the preparation, maintenance, development, publication and approval of Australian Standards, including requirements for other bodies accredited to develop Australian Standards.
• Carrying out audits of accredited bodies to ensure compliance with all policies, rules and guidelines.
• Hearing and determining appeals in relation to Australian Standards and their development.

 

ABSDO Membership Rules

The ABSDO consists of up to ten persons including one appointed by the Board of Directors of Standards Australia, and up to six elected by the Council of Standards Australia, being up to three (3) members nominated by Councillors representing Members in Category A, up to three (3) members nominated by Councillors representing Members in Category B and up to three (3) members nominated by Councillors representing Members in Category C.

• Category A Members are those bodies/organizations involved in Government and as Regulators as approved by Council.
• Category B Members are those bodies/organisations involved in Manufacturing and as Suppliers as approved by Council.
• Category C Members are those bodies/organisations involved in Professions, Consumers and Others as approved by Council.

The members are elected for a term of three (3) years. The Board of Directors may appoint one Director of the Company to be a member but not the Chairman of the Standards Accreditation Board. The Chief Executive Officer of Standards Australia is entitled to attend meetings of ABSDO.