Who we are
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is the prudential regulator of the Australian financial services industry. It oversees banks, credit unions, building societies, general insurance and reinsurance companies, life insurance, friendly societies, and most members of the superannuation industry. APRA is funded largely by the industries that it supervises. It was established on 1 July 1998. APRA currently supervises institutions holding approximately $3.4 trillion in assets for 21 million Australian depositors, policyholders and superannuation fund members.
Our vision: is to be a world class integrated prudential supervisor recognised for its leadership,professionalism and innovation.
Our mission: To establish and enforce prudential standards and practices designed to ensure that, under all reasonable circumstances, financial promises made by institutions we supervise are met within a stable, efficient and competitive financial system.
We also act as the national statistical agency for the Australian financial sector and play a role in preserving the integrity of Australia’s retirement incomes policy.
Our values: We play a critical role in protecting the financial well-being of the Australian community: as a result, high standards are required in everything we do. In our work and in our interactions with others, we value and seek to demonstrate:
Integrity
- We stand behind the statements and commitments we make.
- We are balanced and fair in the use of our authority and powers.
- We make decisions and perform our duties without personal bias.
- We take seriously our obligation to protect the confidentiality of information provided to us.
Collaboration
- We respect and value the views of others, both internal and external to APRA.
- We regularly seek the assistance and advice of others in APRA in our day-to-day work.
- We work and co-operate with our colleagues, and assist them to reach sound decisions and positive outcomes
Professionalism
- We take pride in the quality of our work.
- We base our decisions on thorough and careful analysis.
- Once decisions are made, we act in a manner that respects those decisions and achieves the desired outcomes.
- We achieve timely and practical results, ensuring the benefits of regulating financial activity outweigh the costs and constraints we impose.
Foresight
- Our analysis of issues is forward-looking.
- Using all of the information available to us, we identify potential problems and actively pursue remedial action when necessary.
- We stay at the forefront of developments that affect our role by continually learning new skills and enhancing our knowledge.
Accountability
- We take responsibility for our decisions and the results of our actions.
- We never defer difficult decisions and actions, once a well-founded basis for these is identified.
- We hold ourselves to at least the same standards that we expect of regulated entities.
- We welcome independent scrutiny, and respond promptly to aspects of our performance that are identified as needing improvement.
Working and acting in these ways helps us achieve the high standards necessary for us to protect the financial well-being of the Australian community.
Our supervisory approach: is forward-looking, primarily risk-based, consultative, consistent and in line with international best practice. This approach also recognises that management and boards of supervised institutions are primarily responsible for financial soundness.
Government's statement of expectations and response
Government's statement of expectations
As part of the government's response to the Review of the Corporate Governance of Statutory Authorities and Office Holders, authored by Mr John Uhrig, the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, wrote the following letter to the Chairman of APRA that outlines the Government's current objectives in the area of prudential regulation and the expectations for APRA.
Download the signed Government Statement of Expectations
Response to the government's statement of expectations
In response to the Minister's letter outlining his expectations for APRA, the Chairman responded to the minister with the following statement of intent.
Download the signed Statement of Intent from the Chairman of APRA
APRA Service Charter
The APRA Service Charter has been developed as part of APRA's on-going commitment to enhance transparency and accountability to its stakeholders.
About our offices
What we do
FSAP Assessments
Enabling Legislation
Policies on Information
APRA Policies
Senate Continuing Order No.6 Indexed File Lists
Government Online
Activities in other organisations
Memorandum of Understanding and other agreements
APRA has memoranda of understanding with other organisations and makes available those which it has authority to make public.
Domestic
International
Portfolio Budget Statement
