EA provides status update on registration for engineers

In the last few years, much progress has been made towards introducing mandatory registration schemes for engineers. It’s an increasingly fast-moving issue, making it difficult to keep abreast of developments in each state and territory. Engineers Australia (EA) has provided an update on what is happening in various state jurisdictions.

Why registration for engineers?

Engineers Australia has a longstanding goal for governments to introduce mandatory registration schemes for engineers. Engineering touches on all facets of society, from turning on a light switch to ensuring high-rise buildings don’t fall over in high winds. When you consider the importance of engineering to the community, it is easy to see why a system that regulates the profession is not only useful but necessary. We unconsciously trust engineers in our activities in daily life, and that trust needs to be protected.

Engineers Australia does not promote registration as a ‘silver bullet’ to all ills of industry. For example, in the building sector, registration for engineers is the first recommendation of the Building Ministers Forum (BMF) Shergold & Weir report (which examined the failures of the building and construction industry) because it is the first step; it creates a system to recognise people likely to perform competently, and a mechanism to exclude those found to be unsuitable to work as an engineer. Compulsory registration for anyone providing professional engineering services will enable significant enhancement of public safety and consumer protection.

Engineers Australia also encourages all jurisdictions to create interoperable schemes that are recognised across borders. As a minimum, the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 ensures that an engineer registered in one state is entitled to be recognised for registration in another.

More information on why can be found in EA’s publication ‘Registration of Engineers: the case for statutory registration’.

The current state of play varies from state to state.

Victoria

Victoria passed the Professional Engineers Registration Act in 2019. It requires professional engineers in five areas of practice (civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and fire safety) to be registered and applies across all industries. The laws commence on 1 July 2021.

Engineers Australia continues to engage with the key parties developing the regulations and guidance material for the Act, including Consumer Affairs and the Office of Projects Victoria. The documentation to support the Act will be released for public consultation soon. At that time, Engineers Australia will engage with members to seek their views. Importantly, there will be several opportunities for members to participate.

NSW

NSW passed the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 in June. Among other things, the Act created a requirement for professional engineers to be registered to practise independently. Like Victoria, it applies across all industries, starts with the same five areas of practice, and commences on 1 July 2021.

The next step is to develop the accompanying regulations to provide necessary detail for the scheme. The government has commenced consultation with representative organisations like Engineers Australia and public consultation is expected to occur in October or November. At that time, EA will be able to formally seek member views on the proposed regulations.

EA says that even at this early stage of regulation development, its advice to government is grounded in the feedback already provided by its members during member consultations conducted in 2019 and early 2020. For example, EA is encouraging government to ensure that the regulations fulfil the intent of the Act and apply across all industries without delay, that the National Engineering Register (NER) is recognised as a pathway to registration, and that CPD requirements are kept at a sensible level. More information about the situation in NSW can be found on the EA website.

ACT

In the ACT the government has for many years said that it will introduce registration of engineers. The long period of subsequent inaction has led some to question if it will become a reality, but discussions with government indicate that its commitment to registration of engineers is firming and it’s reasonable to expect consultation to commence in 2020 and continue into 2021.

WA

The WA Government is also exploring registration of engineers, although it is restricting its work to the building sector. A discussion paper is open for public comment for the next five months.

For all inquiries about mandatory registration of engineers, contact Engineers Australia at registrationadvocacy@engineersaustralia.org.au.

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