Radiation Management Plans now mandatory for NSW dental practices

4 days ago
3 min read

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) requires all Radiation Management Licence (RML) holders to have a Radiation Management Plan (RMP) in place by 1 September 2026. This will become a mandatory condition of your licence.

While this introduces a new compliance requirement for dental practices across NSW, it also represents a broader shift towards more structured and accountable radiation safety practices at the clinic level.

Two people in an office setting, focused on paperwork and a calculator. Both wear glasses and business attire. A clock and computers are visible.

What is a Radiation Management Plan?

A Radiation Management Plan is a document that outlines how your practice:

✅ Safely uses X-ray equipment

✅ Protects staff, patients, and the public

✅ Complies with NSW radiation regulations

In practical terms, the Radiation Management Plan brings together the key elements of radiation safety within your practice into one clear and structured framework — one that should align closely with your actual workflows, equipment, and team, rather than sitting as a theoretical document that bears little resemblance to how your clinic operates.

What is required?

➡️ Prepare a Radiation Management Plan applicable to your specific practice

➡️ Ensure the plan is implemented and followed by all operators of the X-ray equipment

➡️ Keep the plan on file (it does not need to be submitted)

➡️ Be ready to provide it to the EPA if requested

Although the plan does not need to be submitted, it must be readily available for review at any time. The EPA does conduct random audits, and this will be one of the first documents requested. In practice, this means your Radiation Management Plan needs to be accurate, up to date, and actively followed by your team — not simply prepared and filed away.

Can you do this yourself?

Man in white coat and blue gloves ponders with dental tools in hand, against a plain white background, exuding a thoughtful mood.

Yes! The EPA provides a template for dental practices, which can be used to create your plan and is available on their website.

The template is a useful starting point, but tailoring it to your specific practice takes time and expertise. With the demands of running a busy clinic, it can easily get pushed down the priority list — and there is often uncertainty around whether the final plan has been completed correctly and would stand up to an EPA review, if requested.

The Radiation Management Plan is more than just a compliance document. When done properly, it forms the foundation of a robust radiation safety program within your practice, helping ensure ensure that dental teams, patients, and the public are protected from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.

How Gamma Tech can help

We can prepare your Radiation Management Plan on your behalf, ensuring full compliance with EPA requirements.

Four people in business attire gather around a table with a laptop, papers, and tablets, discussing and collaborating in a bright office.

How it works:

1️⃣ You complete our checklist and provide your existing compliance documentation.

2️⃣ We prepare your Radiation Management Plan based on this information.

3️⃣ You receive a clear, compliant document, ready for implementation in your practice.

What’s included:

➡️ RMP aligned with EPA requirements

➡️ Tailored to your practice & X-ray equipment

➡️ Incorporates existing compliance documentation

➡️ Foundation of a robust radiation safety program

➡️ Clear, practical wording for daily use

➡️ Ready to keep on file in the event of an EPA audit

➡️ Up to 2 revisions

With the 1 September 2026 deadline approaching, now is a good time for practices to review their current processes and begin preparing their Radiation Management Plan.

Need help preparing your Radiation Management Plan? Complete this form for a quote and to get started: www.gammatech.au/nsw-radiation-management-plan 💡