Independent research commissioned by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) has found that NATA accreditation contributes between AUD $488 million and $712 million to Australia’s economy each year, while also supporting confidence in goods, services and regulatory systems across multiple industries.
The study, conducted by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and titled Beyond Compliance: The Economic and Social Value of NATA Accreditation in Australia, found accreditation improves productivity, supports market access and strengthens trust in technical information.
According to the report, nearly 90 per cent of accredited organisations surveyed said NATA accreditation was fundamental to their success, while 26 per cent reported it had helped them enter new domestic and international markets.Â
The research also found accreditation can improve efficiency by reducing rework and strengthening management systems, with accredited organisations reporting innovation-related impacts of up to 4 per cent of total revenue, and in some cases more than 8 per cent. It also found accredited services could achieve price premiums of more than 12 per cent.
NATA Chair Dr Sanmarié Schlebusch said the findings highlight accreditation’s role beyond regulatory compliance.
“The UTS research confirms what many Australians rarely see but rely on every day: accreditation is part of the infrastructure that keeps our economy, communities and critical systems working with confidence,” Schlebusch said.
She said accreditation contributed up to AUD $712 million annually to the Australian economy while supporting confidence in areas including pathology, drinking water, infrastructure, forensic evidence, product testing, trade and regulation.
“At a time of increasing complexity, global competition and rising expectations for trust and safety, accreditation is not just a compliance requirement—it is a national asset that helps Australia compete, innovate and protect the public interest,” she said.
The research updates a 2018 study, which estimated the economic value of NATA accreditation at around AUD $1 million per day. NATA said the latest findings reflect the growing importance of accreditation amid supply chain disruption, technological change and increasing demands for quality assurance.
UTS researchers used a mixed-methods approach that combined economic modelling with surveys of 165 NATA member organisations and 181 technical assessors, interviews with seven organisations for case studies, a literature review, and a counterfactual analysis examining potential impacts without an established accreditation system.
Professor Chris Bajada from UTS said the research found accreditation delivered both measurable economic benefits and broader societal value.
“Our research shows that accreditation creates value in ways that are both measurable and deeply embedded in the systems Australians rely on,” Bajada said.
“The economic contribution is significant, but the broader finding is just as important. Accreditation reduces uncertainty, strengthens trust in technical information and supports better decisions by businesses, regulators, governments and the community.”
He added that the research indicates accreditation “should be understood not only as a technical process, but as an important contributor to Australia’s economic and social wellbeing.”
