Our Regional Group Huddles are growing in popularity with three Groups now enjoying online get-togethers with local colleagues. With no fixed agenda, the Huddles are an informal gathering for members to share news, swap stories and discuss their current challenges and opportunities. Contact david.hallett@ipwea.org to arrange your Huddle!
In Registration Act news, Consumer Affairs Victoria has this week released a range of documents for public consultation including:
- Guidelines and a Practice Note on key terms and provisions of the Act
- Proposed Professional Engineers Registration Regulations 2020
- Proposed Code of Conduct for Professional Engineers
- Cost Recovery Options Discussion Paper
The information is available here and our Registration Update webinar on 8 September will provide an overview of the material and a forum for feedback.
The documents provide some welcome clarity around key aspects of the Act including explanations of professional engineering services, direct supervision, extraterritorial application, areas of engineering and prescriptive standards. I urge you to review them to determine whether the work you undertake – or that of your staff – will fall within the scope of the Act and necessitate your or their registration.
Please also consider the draft Regulations which propose to exempt structural and civil engineers from the operation of the Act until October 2022. We do not support the phased introduction of registration on the basis that it will create substantial confusion across the sector between employers, employees, service providers and purchasers.
We are particularly concerned at the prospect of civil and structural engineers not requiring registration from July 2021 given their critical lead role in infrastructure development and expectations of an infrastructure-led economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Victoria’s $70bn Big Build is already getting even bigger with the state government recently launching the first part of its Building Works package to provide $2.7bn for shovel-ready projects and announcing that approvals for $1.2bn of building and development projects has been fast-tracked to kickstart Victoria’s economy.
This doesn’t diminish the responsibility that fire safety, electrical and mechanical engineers have for public safety, however we believe civil and structural engineers should be included amongst the first areas of engineering to require registration.
Professional registration creates a leadership opportunity for engineers supporting the Victorian public works sector so don’t miss the opportunity to have your say. We’re keen to hear from you and welcome comments to david.hallett@ipwea.org.
Matthew Hill | President, IPWEA Victoria