NSW Registration New Laws For Engineers

 

Earlier this month, NSW Parliament approved a new. As per this law, a professional engineer is required to have NSW Registration to practice.

Having the overwhelming support of members, Engineers Australia advocated strictly for compulsory registration of engineers and is playing a vital role in attaining the reform. Because of similar changes in Victoria last year and long-standing laws in Queensland, from 1^st of July 2021 registration will apply in NSW, Queensland and Victoria: covering the three largest states for engineering work and roughly 75% of the Australian economy.

It is a huge victory for engineers and the broader community.

Thanks to the member who worked throughout the process by means of consultation sessions in Newcastle, Tamworth and Sydney. The influential support from both Sydney and Newcastle Division has assisted in building the case for registration. Several main contributing members consist of Joe Townsend, Daniel Stewart, Ben Mobilio, Michael Van Koeverden, Ian Webster, Pierre Gouhier, Julie Mikhail, Jessica Qiu, Tom Laslett, Kevin Earle, Therese Flapper and Bruce Howard.

The next move in New South Wales will be the development of regulations to support the new law, which will include further consultation with members.

Main facts about the NSW registration law:

The new laws for engineer registration will apply to those engineers who work in any industry. This is in spite of the new rules being embedded in legislation that is otherwise related to building sector reform.

Registration laws will, in the beginning, apply to the professional engineer in the five fields of structural, civil, electrical, mechanical and fire safety engineering. Extra areas of engineering can be added by means of Regulation.

These laws will apply to anyone who wants to provide professional engineering services, unless if doing that under the direct supervision of a registered engineer, or if the work is only provided as per the document stating the criteria or procedure for doing the work and the work doesn’t need the application of advanced scientifically based calculations.

It will be a crime for a person falsely claiming to be registered as a professional engineer.

The benchmark needed to be registered will be provided in Regulations that are expected to be finalized in 2020. Engineers Australia will advocate for strong minimum criteria in terms of experience, qualifications and commitment to Continuing Professional Development and the criteria to be in harmony with other jurisdictions.

A registered engineer has to be adequately insured.

The new laws will start on 1 July 2021.

Further steps:

Before the provisions of the Act commence, supporting regulations have to be created. It is likely to take some months with expected completion by the end of 2020. It is hoped to work with the members throughout this process.

The regulations will offer detail on the minimum requirements for NSW registration and process for an individual to join the register. EA will be advocating for status on the NER (National Engineering Register), or status as a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), to be enough proof of suitability for the Government scheme.

It would make the process very easy for anyone who is currently on the NER or Chartered. In the same way, anyone who is a Registered Professional Engineer QLD (RPEQ) will be entitled to be registered in New South Wales. It seems that, in both cases, a form will be required to be completed, and a fee to be paid to the NSW Government. However, the time and money related to an initial competency assessment would be waived.

Further communications will be provided over the coming months with updates on the process, and the way you can get involved.