Our goal is to support a safe, professional and thriving uncrewed systems industry in Australia.

As the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) expands across a wide range of civil applications—from infrastructure and agriculture to emergency services and environmental monitoring—the potential benefits to Australia are significant. To help realise these benefits, AAUS is committed to showcasing and supporting drone operators who uphold the highest standards of safety, professionalism, and ethical conduct.

Recognising the growing demand for trusted drone service providers, AAUS has developed an Accreditation Program for the Drone Industry—a practical, industry-led initiative designed to highlight and promote organisations who demonstrate excellence in their RPAS operations.

The program aims to:

• Elevate professional standards across the Australian drone industry
• Promote safe, ethical, and effective drone operations
• Provide recognition and credibility for individuals and organisations
• Encourage continuous learning, compliance, and best practice
• Support end-users in identifying and engaging high-quality, accredited operators
• Strengthen public trust and confidence in drone-enabled services
• Reduction of non-compliant operators who can damage industry reputation.

Through accreditation, AAUS is helping to build a future where the drone industry is not only innovative and dynamic, but also safe, respected, and valued by the wider community.

The AAUS Drone Industry Accreditation Program offers a range of practical and professional advantages for participating organisations:

• Industry Recognition – Gain an official AAUS credential that signals your commitment to safety, professionalism, and best practice.
• Exclusive Access to Resources – Stay ahead with access to up-to-date guidance, tools, and educational materials to support continuous improvement.
• Public Visibility – Be listed on a nationally-recognised, publicly accessible register of accredited operators—making it easier for clients and partners to find and trust you.
• Insurance Advantages – Unlock eligibility for discounted insurance premiums through industry-aligned products that reward professional standards and reduced risk.

• The framework for the accreditation program consists of three core pillars - Safety, Learning and Social License.
• It will be supported by an Accreditation Oversight Committee (AOC) and Assessment and Verification Panel (AVP).
• The framework will be adaptable and dynamic with annual reviews to make sure that it remains relevant to the Australian Drone Industry.
• Drone Industry participants will need to satisfy requirements in all three pillars to earn accreditation.

Safety is the cornerstone of a sustainable and respected drone industry.

The AAUS Accreditation Program places safety at the heart of professional drone operations, recognising that a strong safety culture is critical to building trust with the public, industry clients, and regulators.

By committing to safety, accredited organisations go beyond basic regulatory compliance. They demonstrate a proactive approach to risk management, operational integrity, and continuous improvement. This means implementing robust safety management systems, encouraging open reporting of incidents and near-misses, and regularly reviewing procedures to reflect evolving best practice.

Safety is not a one-time checklist—it is a mindset. Through ongoing training, engagement with safety data, and collaboration with staff, accredited operators foster environments where safety is shared responsibility, not an individual burden.

To maintain accreditation through a commitment to safety, participating organisations will earn points via a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) approach. Points will be allocated for a range of proactive safety management system activities.

COMMITMENT TO LEARNING

To maintain accreditation and support a culture of ongoing learning and improvement, participating organisations will engage in a structured CPD framework. Points will be allocated for a range of professional development activities, including:

• Completion of Relevant Training
  

• Participation in Recognised Events

Staff attending approved workshops, webinars, industry forums, or conferences will earn CPD points toward the organisation’s accreditation status.

Participating organisations will have the option of earning points via delivery of their own internal training.