Before your experiment

The User Office has provided steps for new and returning users below that lists tasks that must be completed. This includes applying for an ANSTO security clearance and applying for a visa. The User Office has created a Welcome Pack for all users that provides practical information to help you plan for your visit.

Download the Welcome Pack

The following steps must be completed by new facility users within defined time periods after proposal approval and before arrival to conduct your experiment(s).

New facility user? Follow these steps

1. Portal Account Registration
As a new facility user you will need to register an account in either the ANSTO Research Portal or ACNS Customer Portal. After registering an account you will be able to proceed with using the portal to submit proposals, review proposals and submit visit requests.
2. Confirm your attendance
Following the approval of your proposal, the Principal Scientist is required to confirm all planned attendees. This includes the registration of other users not previously assigned to the submitted proposal in the portal.
3. Visit Request
All attendees must complete a Visit Request and identify the proposal(s) that they intend to participate on.
Find out more
4. ANSTO Security Clearance
When you visit ANSTO to perform your experiment you must have an ANSTO security clearance and an ANSTO photo badge. Security Clearance Applications will take up to 8 weeks to be processed and if granted. If you do not have ANSTO Security Clearance please contact the User Office and request the commencement of the ANSTO Security Clearance application process.
5. Visa Support
International users are required to obtain a visa in order to come to Australia to perform experiment(s). By default, the User Office will send a invitation letter to support your visa application, recommending the Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (Subclass 400) for staff, and the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) for students based overseas. Users should check with the Department of Home Affairs to determine the most appropriate visa type and their eligibility, and contact the User Office if a different supporting letter is required.
Find out more
6. Site Safety Induction
As part of your ANSTO on-boarding process you are required to complete an online site induction in the HR Onboard portal. This induction will introduce you to information about ANSTO and inform you about security, health and safety requirements. This induction should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete.
7. Onsite local inductions
Onsite local inductions on ANSTO's capabilities and facilities must be completed. These inductions will generally need to be completed prior to the start of an experiment. Please liaise with the appropriate local contact for more information.
8. Bringing samples onsite
In order to maintain a safe workplace ANSTO requires that all samples and chemicals are pre-approved for use on-site. You must include all samples and chemicals that you plan to bring onsite in the portal.
When transporting your samples to ANSTO you must ensure you conform with all relevant state/country and carrier/airline requirements. Care should be taken with ensuring appropriate approvals and permits are obtained for transporting biological material, hazardous substances or deuterium oxide and deuterated samples.
All samples and chemicals brought onsite must be appropriately labelled, tracked while in the facility and cleared before leaving.
9. Travel and Accommodation
ANSTO may provide travel support to successful grant applicants from AINSE Member Organisations. The travel funds granted are to be used solely to cover the majority of the cost to travel to ANSTO’s Lucas Heights campus. ANSTO may support accommodation for the number of scheduled experiment days plus two additional days.
Find out more
10. Getting to ANSTO
ANSTO provides a mini-bus service between ANSTO and the Sutherland bus interchange on weekdays (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays). The bus driver is unable to sell tickets, however, NEW USERS ride for free on their first ANSTO trip.
View minibus timetable

The following steps must be completed by returning facility users within defined time periods after proposal approval and before arrival to conduct your experiment(s).

Returning facility user? Follow these steps

1. Reactivate your Security Pass
All users are required to submit a visit request to ensure you can access site. First time users will need to be on-boarded and security cleared in order to access site and be issued a pass. Appropriate links will be sent to you after completion of the visit request form. ANSTO Security passes are activated for the period of each visit for scheduled proposals. If users are attending multiple experiments throughout the year, we advise that you keep your physical pass. For returning users your pass will be activated for the duration of each visit as indicated on your visit request.
Contact the User Office to reactivate your pass
2. Confirm your attendance
Following the approval of your proposal, the Principal Scientist is required to confirm all planned attendees. This includes the registration of other users not previously assigned to the submitted proposal in the portal.
3. Visit Request
All attendees must complete a Visit Request and identify the proposal(s) that they intend to participate on.
Find out more
4. Visa Support
International users are required to obtain a visa in order to come to Australia to perform experiment(s). By default, the User Office will send a invitation letter to support your visa application, recommending the Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (Subclass 400) for staff, and the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) for students based overseas. Users should check with the Department of Home Affairs to determine the most appropriate visa type and their eligibility, and contact the User Office if a different supporting letter is required.
Find out more
5. Onsite local inductions
Onsite local inductions on ANSTO's capabilities and facilities must be completed. These inductions will generally need to be completed prior to the start of an experiment. Please liaise with the appropriate local contact for more information.
6. Bringing Samples Onsite
In order to maintain a safe workplace ANSTO requires that all samples and chemicals are pre-approved for use on-site. You must include all samples and chemicals that you plan to bring onsite in the portal.
When transporting your samples to ANSTO you must ensure you conform with all relevant state/country and carrier/airline requirements. Care should be taken with ensuring appropriate approvals and permits are obtained for transporting biological material, hazardous substances or deuterium oxide and deuterated samples.
All samples and chemicals brought onsite must be appropriately labelled, tracked while in the facility and cleared before leaving.
7. Travel and Accommodation
ANSTO may provide travel support to successful grant applicants from AINSE Member Organisations. The travel funds granted are to be used solely to cover the majority of the cost to travel to ANSTO’s Lucas Heights campus. ANSTO may support accommodation for the number of scheduled experiment days plus two additional days.
Find out more