2008 Year of the Engineering Team Final Report
The Engineering Team Task Force was established by Congress to propose and deliver a plan of action for achieving increased acceptance of technologists and associates within Engineers Australia and the Australian community. The main objective of the Year was to determine steps that Engineers Australia should take to form a truly representative and enfranchised engineering team.
At 30 June 2009, Engineers Australia included:
- some 1,570 Engineering Technologist members, and
- over 5,400 Engineering Associate members.
Technologists generally possess three year degrees, while associates possess a two year Associate Diploma, Diploma or Advanced Diploma or equivalent.
Communication
In order to engage members of Engineers Australia, briefings were conducted for College Chairs, Division Presidents and Directors and a “How to Assist the Engineering Team Task Force” kit forwarded to Divisions and Learned Societies. An online Blog was developed, and sourced for member feedback. Every edition of the Engineers Australia Magazine in 2008 featured an article on technologists and associates, and personal profiles of outstanding individuals. The October 2008 issue carried a multi-page feature, highlighting “A Day in the Life of ...” ten technologists and associates. A total of 11 articles, and 21 profiles were published.
Marketing
With the national marketing campaign being progressively rolled out, the Task Force contributed in respect of technologists and associates – with particular reference to the areas of profile raising, career preference and credentials. These themes are being addressed during the campaign.
Articulation
The extent to which candidates for Stage 1 or Stage 2 competency assessments are required to rely on qualifications versus competencies received the attention of the Task Force with a view to assessing the scope for change. The Task Force sponsored an article in Engineers Magazine on developments relating to articulation, and contributed to a redevelopment of the Stage 1 process.
Accreditation
A Task Force objective was for Engineers Australia to become a full signatory to the Dublin Accord, which recognises the Engineering Associate level qualifications of member organisations around the world. The Task Force supported Engineers Australia’s efforts to accredit TAFEs and other Registered Training Organisations to the competency requirements for Engineering Associates.
Engineers Australia is now a full signatory to the Sydney Accord, which provides international recognition of engineering education and training at the level of Engineering Technologist. In June 2010, Engineers Australia expects to achieve provisional status to the Dublin Accord, and full signatory status in June 2011.
Registration
A Task Force objective was to establish and publish a Unified National Registration System for all occupational categories. The issue was put to the Minister for Finance and Regulation, in his capacity as Chairman of the Council of Australian Governments’ Business Regulation and Competition Working Group. The NERB agreed to the establishment of a National Engineering Associates Register, which Council subsequently approved. This represents the final major element towards becoming a truly unified national registration system.
Corporate Governance
The Task Force examined the scope for equity for all technologist and officer (associate) members of Engineers Australia, including the right to vote in ballots to change the Bye-laws.
During 2007, in the lead-up to 2008 The Year of the Engineering Team, Council repealed the Division Rules 2001 and approved new Regulations which opened eligibility for all office bearer positions on Division Committees to all three occupational groups. The National Congress updated a 1999 Prescription that had prevented associates and technologist members becoming Congress delegates.
In July 2009, Congress requested the National President to conduct a review and rewrite of the Royal Charter and Bye-laws, taking into account the report of the 2009 Byelaws Committee. That Committee had considered the recommendations of the Engineering Team Task Force to amend the Bye-laws to include voting rights for technologists and associates at AGMs and in Bye-laws ballots.
The Outlook
With the help of many member groups and staff, much was achieved by the Engineering Team Task Force during 2008:
- greater equity and recognition for technologists and associates,
- clearer enunciation of the articulation process between membership categories,
- establishment of the National Engineering Associates Register,
- celebration of the engineering team around Australia.
Becoming a full signatory to the Dublin Accord will ensure international recognition of our Engineering Associate qualifications. The forthcoming rewrite of the Royal Charter and Bye-laws will enable Engineers Australia, among other things, to address the issue of technologists and associates voting rights, in consultation with its membership.
