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WA Engineers support Regulation of their Profession
By John Masters, 26 February 2010
The question of whether it is necessary to regulate the engineering profession in Western Australia was put to the public for comment last year in a discussion paper jointly prepared by The Government of Western Australia and Engineers Australia. See my article “Regulating the Engineering Profession in WA” published in talent torque last October.
The discussion paper, which can be downloaded at www.buildingcommission.wa.gov.au/bc/Discussion_Papers.aspx, solicited a total of 24 submissions, most of which (62%) were made by individuals in the engineering profession representing a range of disciplines.
In their feedback summary emailed to me in December 2009 the building commission of the WA Government concluded that “there is much support within the engineering field to introduce a regulatory system, including a registration system for engineers in Western Australia.” In fact 71% of respondents supported a registration system based on qualifications, assessed experience and demonstrated competency.
This support however came together with three main conditions, in that any new legislative framework for engineers in WA should (and I quote from the Feedback Summary document provided by the Government of Western Australia Building Commission):
1. “Apply to all levels of engineering practitioners (i.e. Professionals, technologists, associates etc.);
2. Take into account registration and/or membership under other existing schemes (such as NERB, Engineers Australia etc.);
3. Not encumber industry capacity to fill engineering roles.”
If these conditions are accounted for in any new legislation this would largely address the key issues discussed in my previous article, such as access to and availability of engineering skills, mutual recognition of engineering qualifications and potential negative impact of excluding engineering technologists and engineering officers. Furthermore the statistics presented in the feedback (summarised below) indicate a general consensus between my comments on the implications for the Profession and Industry in WA, and the views of other members of WA’s engineering profession.
Response to key questions in the Discussion Paper:
Is new legislation required for engineers in WA: 79% said yes.
Type of Regularity System Preferred: 62% support a co-regularity system
Restrictions: 75% said there should be restrictions on the provision of engineering services
Title Restrictions: 66% said there should be restrictions on the use of the title “Engineer”
Occupational levels: 62% said that all occupational levels should be registered.
Area of Engineering Practice: 42% said that all areas of practice should be registered (25% did not specify).
Code of ethics: 71% said a code of ethics is required.
talent torque will continue to monitor progress and report on any developments. In the meantime readers are encouraged to submit their own views and comments to:
talenttorque @ jsmappointments.com.au or contact this address to request a copy of the feedback summary from the WA Building Commission.
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