Authorised Officer Program

The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the Department) may appoint authorised persons and inspectors under s.87 and s.88 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) respectively (collectively referred to as Authorised Officers).

An officer employed by a local government or relevant department of the Government of Western Australia may apply to be appointed as an Authorised Officer.

Authorised Officers are granted authority to exercise specified regulatory powers and functions to administer environmental legislation, including monitoring compliance, investigating alleged breaches and undertaking regulatory action. Authorisations may also be administered under other environmental legislation, including the Litter Act 1979 (Litter Act), as outlined below.

Guidance for Authorised Officers and site personnel

Information is available to support both Authorised Officers and site personnel in understanding how compliance and enforcement activities are undertaken in practice:

• the page Authorised Officers: powers and what to expect on site outlines the role, powers and conduct of Authorised Officers under the EP Act, and what is expected of site personnel
• a downloadable fact sheet provides a detailed overview of powers, responsibilities and relevant legislative provisions.

Authorised Officer training requirements

Environmental Protection Act 1986 and Unauthorised Discharges Regulations

Applicants seeking appointment as an Authorised Officer under the EP Act, including authorisation to investigate matters under the Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004 (UDR), are required to complete a single training and assessment pathway.

This pathway consists of:

• the EP Act Authorised Officer manual
• the UDR Authorised Officer manual
• a combined online assessment covering both manuals.

The manuals provide guidance on:

• operation of the UDR
• appointment of Authorised Officers
• powers, responsibilities and limitations of Authorised Officers
• identifying offences and appropriate regulatory responses.

Litter Act Authorised Officer training

The Department also administers Authorised Officer appointments under the Litter Act. Officers from local governments, the Department and other relevant agencies may be appointed as Authorised Officers to enforce litter legislation, including issuing infringement notices and investigating offences. The Department offers an online Litter Act Authorised Officer training module covering legislative powers, responsibilities, limitations, offence identification, and appropriate compliance and enforcement responses. This training forms part of the appointment requirements where Litter Act authorisation is sought.

How to apply

Applicants must download and complete the relevant application form on the page Authorised Officers: application for appointment under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. The form includes a checkbox for each legislative framework; applicants should select all applicable authorisations, including the Litter Act, to ensure the appropriate training and assessment requirements are assigned.

When an application for EP Act authorisation is received and accepted:

• the Department will email the applicant copies of the EP Act and UDR manuals
• provide instructions and links to complete the combined online assessment.

Applicants must read both UDR manuals before completing the online assessment.

Authorised Officers will be required to undertake biennial refresher training, as determined by the Department, to maintain a current understanding of legislative and regulatory requirements.

Steps to complete your application

1. Complete the application form, including:
   a. a recent passport-style photograph (JPEG or PNG) for identification card production
   b. manager certification of the application (where required)
2. Await confirmation from the Department that your application has been accepted
3. If you have selected Litter Act 1979 authorisation, complete the online Litter Act Authorised Officer training module as provided by the Department
4. Review the EP Act Authorised Officer manual and UDR Authorised Officer manual (where applicable) provided by the Department
5. Complete the combined online assessment after reading the manuals
6. Reply to the assessment email to confirm completion of the required modules.

When assessment completion is confirmed, an Authorised Officer identification card and covering letter will be issued and posted to the applicant.

Noise Regulations training

The training outlined below applies only to applicants seeking authorisation to investigate breaches of the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 (Noise Regulations).

The Department delivers Noise Regulations training face-to-face. The training runs over two full days and is provided at no cost to local government officers. A pre-requisite to this training is a fundamental understanding of the physics of sound.

Persons wishing to enrol must outline the training or education they have completed covering the physics of sound, such as environmental noise training or tertiary studies and provide documentation of completion. The course must be recognised by the Department. Where a potential attendee does not meet the pre-requisite, they will be directed to an appropriate, Department-endorsed physics of sound course.

New applicants investigating breaches of the Noise Regulations are requested to provide evidence of physics of sound training/education and completion of the Department’s two-day Noise Regulations Training.

Please send queries about Noise Regulations training to training@dwer.wa.gov.au

Handling of personal information

In performing their functions under the Environmental Protection Act 1986, Authorised Officers may collect and use personal information where reasonably necessary for compliance, investigation and enforcement activities. The collection, use and disclosure of this information is subject to applicable privacy and information-sharing requirements, including the Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024 (PRIS Act) principles. These principles require personal information to be handled lawfully, limited to what is necessary, used only for authorised purposes and protected from unauthorised access or misuse. See the Department’s Privacy Collection Notice for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions