Question 1

What is Responsible AI Australia certification?

Accepted Answer

It is an independent, human-reviewed trust mark for Australian businesses that use or build AI. We assess your AI practices against the eight Australian AI Ethics Principles, assign one of three tiers (Commit, Embed or Govern) and list your business on our public register.

The result is a verifiable signal to customers, partners and investors that your AI is used responsibly, backed by an assessment rather than a self-declared claim.

Question 2

Who should get certified?

Accepted Answer

Any Australian business that uses AI in its operations or builds AI products for others. You need an Australian Business Number (ABN) and to operate primarily within Australia.

If your business uses AI for decision-making, customer interactions, content or automation, certification demonstrates your commitment to responsible practices.

If you build or deploy AI for clients, certification shows your work aligns with recognised standards and the Australian AI Ethics Principles.

International businesses with Australian operations can contact us to discuss eligibility.

Question 3

Is this a government certification?

Accepted Answer

No. Responsible AI Australia is an independent certification body, not a government agency.

Our program is built on the Australian Government's AI Ethics Principles and is designed to anticipate where Australian AI regulation is heading, including evolving guidance from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Certifying now means your business is prepared if responsible AI practices become mandatory, particularly in high-risk areas.

Question 4

How much does certification cost?

Accepted Answer

Pricing is based on the size of your organisation. It starts at AUD $199 per year for teams of one or two people and scales to AUD $1,499 per year for organisations with more than 200 employees.

You only pay after your application is approved, so there is no cost to apply.

See the full pricing breakdown

Question 5

How does the certification process work, and how long does it take?

Accepted Answer

Apply through our website with your business details and ABN, upload your logo and complete a short questionnaire: 12 plain-language questions about how you use and govern AI. Simple answers will not disqualify you, and guidance is provided for every question. You then sign the Responsible AI Pledge.

An independent assessor reviews your application and may request a short video call. We assign your tier, and once payment is made your certification is issued and your profile appears on our public register.

The process typically takes two to four weeks.

Question 6

What do the Commit, Embed and Govern tiers mean?

Accepted Answer

The three tiers recognise increasing levels of responsible AI maturity. Commit recognises a foundational commitment through signing the Responsible AI Pledge. It is the right starting point for most businesses. Embed builds on the Pledge with a Responsible AI Policy and ethics integrated into daily operations. Govern is the highest tier and requires a governance framework covering risk management, oversight roles, impact assessments and accountability. We assess your tier based on your application, and you can move up as your practices mature.

Question 7

What is the difference between the Pledge and certification?

Accepted Answer

The Responsible AI Pledge is a free public commitment to the eight Australian AI Ethics Principles that any Australian can sign in about two minutes. It is personal and aspirational. Certification is for businesses. It is an independent assessment of how your organisation actually uses and governs AI, resulting in a verified tier, a badge and a listing on our public register. Signing the Pledge is also the first step of every certification.

Question 8

We only use everyday AI tools like ChatGPT. Is certification still relevant?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and this is exactly where most Australian businesses are today. If AI tools touch your customer communications, marketing content, hiring or decisions, your customers care about how responsibly you use them, even if your use feels lightweight. The Commit tier was designed as an accessible entry point for businesses at this stage, and we provide guidance to help you progress to higher tiers as your AI use matures.

Question 9

How can customers verify that a business is certified?

Accepted Answer

Every certified business receives a 'Certified by Responsible AI Australia' badge and a profile on our public register, which anyone can search. Profiles show certification status, tier and redacted questionnaire responses, so the claim behind the badge is always verifiable.

Question 10

Can AI agents verify our certification?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and we are the first AI ethics certification in the world to offer this. Every certification is machine-readable: AI assistants, search engines and procurement agents can verify your status in milliseconds through our free verification API, a cryptographically signed Australian AI Trust Credential and a live trust seal you embed with one line of code. As more buying decisions are made by AI agents acting for people, your certification stays visible where those decisions happen.

Question 11

Does certification need to be renewed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Certification is valid for 12 months. We start the renewal process automatically and notify you at least two months before expiry, so nothing sneaks up on you. Renewal confirms your business still meets its tier's requirements, with updated evidence requested where needed. If certification lapses, your certified status is revoked and the badge can no longer be used.

Question 12

How is our application data handled?

Accepted Answer

All application data is collected, stored and processed in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and our Privacy Policy. Sensitive information stays confidential and is used only for certification. Your public register profile shows redacted questionnaire responses, protecting commercially sensitive detail.

Question 13

What is the AI Incident Exchange?

Accepted Answer

The AI Incident Exchange is Australia's first public channel for reporting AI incidents and near-misses. Anyone can record a problem with an AI system in about five minutes, with no account required. Reports are confidential and de-identified, and feed pattern analysis so issues are found before they spread. If a report concerns a business we certify, it also triggers our formal complaints process. The business must respond within 28 days, and unresolved issues can lead to revocation of certification.

Question 14

Do you offer consulting or advisory services?

Accepted Answer

No, and that is deliberate. Responsible AI Australia is an independent certification body, so we do not sell consulting, remediation or advisory services to the businesses we certify. The body that judges a business should not also be paid to help it pass. Keeping that line clean is what makes the certification trustworthy. To help any business prepare, we publish free guidance, the Responsible AI Pledge and the Australian AI Ethics Principles.

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