Park management agencies operate under a strong regulatory framework, ranging from international conventions, national legislation and standards through to codes of conduct and voluntary best practice guidelines.

To carry out its mission, Parks Forum will promote and develop professional standards for park management. The Parks Forum Strategic Plan 2010-2015 articulates the long term goals of

- Increased use of best practice, standards and innovation in park management, and
- Accepted professional standards for park management.

To achieve these goals, the organisation will establish industry standards through endorsement of current standards or direct development. Promotion and communication of these products will help to build consistency across the parks industry.

Review of the regulatory environment across Australia and New Zealand showed a complex framework which differed across the two nations, the states and territories, through to local government levels. International conventions and best practice guidelines developed by NGOs add another dimension.
 
To better understand the diverse components of park regulation a Standards and Regulatory Framework was devised by the Performance and Standards Standing Committee and associated Working Group. The Framework presents the broad regulatory framework for parks, under which the laws and regulations that outline the legal requirements are detailed. These are complemented by policies, standards and guidelines.

During the 2011-12 financial year Parks Forum will begin to collate information on the regulatory tools along the path of increasing levels of compliance, from awards and best practice guidelines through to legislation. For example, international conventions like the Convention on Biological Diversity or Australian and New Zealand Standards like AS 2555–1982 for Supervised Adventure Playgrounds will be compiled. The level at which the regulation applies, whether at the organisational, industry or governmental level will also be identified.

A thorough understanding of the existing legislation and standards will help Parks Forum and its members to better understand where knowledge and procedure gaps exist or where current standards need to be better promoted. Together we can develop new professional standards where they are required.

You can view the Standards and Regulatory Framework by clicking below:

Standards and Regulatory Framework