About Us

In 1998 the Australian Institute of Engineering Associates (AIEA) formally amalgamated with the Institution of Engineers Australia.

Engineering Associates membership comprises of people who have an Australian two year advanced diploma of engineering following twelve years of schooling or equivalent.

Due to the Engineers Australia Bye-Laws, Engineering Associates within Engineers Australia are also equally referred to as Engineering Officers. Within the workplace, the term Technical Officer, Technical Manager, Plant Supervisor, Engineering Manager, Project Manager, Resources Manager is a small sample of titles used.

Every Engineering Associate is a member of the College of their discipline. Engineering Associates are also represented within Engineers Australia by a national committee and through representation on College Boards, Congress and various other committees.

 
The National Committee of Engineering Associates Australia (NCEAA) is the lead Associates group within Engineers Australia and is committed to:

• gaining wider recognition of Engineering Associates, in the engineering industry and the wider community by developing policies and practices that promote the term ‘Engineering Associates' both internally and externally to Engineers Australia;
• creating and improving opportunities for Engineering Associates to enhance their skills and careers;
• supporting the representation of Engineering Associates on the Engineers Australia National Congress , Divisional Committees, College Boards and Branches, and other Societies of Engineers Australia;
• encourage active participation and social interaction by all Engineering Associates in organised activities including committees, branches, judging panels, awards selection committees, competitions and functions; and
• presenting and championing Associate-related issues to Engineers Australia's governing Congress and Council through the Board of Engineering Practice and various committees.

The National Committee of Engineering Associates Australia (NCEAA) is committed to promoting, developing, supporting, engaging and representing Engineering Associates and their role withing the engineering team.

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Committee Members

The National Committee of Engineering Associates Australia (NCEAA) consists of a Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Immediate past Chairman, Divisional Representatives, College Representatives, as well as Co-opted and corresponding members. The current committee membership includes:

The Role of Engineering Associates

Engineering associates may be expert in installing, testing and monitoring equipment and systems, in the operation and maintenance of advanced plant, and in managing or supervising tradespeople in these activities. They may be the expert in selecting equipment and components to meet given specifications, and in assembling these to form systems customised to particular projects.

Engineering associates are often required to be closely familiar with Standards and Codes of Practice, and to become the expert in the interpretation and application to a wide variety of situations. Many develop very extensive experience of practical installations and will be more knowledgeable than a professional engineer or technologist on detailed aspects that can contribute very greatly to safety, cost or effectiveness in operation.

In other instances, associates may develop high levels of expertise in aspects of design and development processes. These might include, for example, the use of advanced software to perform detailed design of structures, mechanical components and systems, manufacturing or process plant, electrical and electronic equipment, information and communications systems, and so on. Other examples might be in the construction of experimental or prototype equipment. Again, experienced operators in these areas often develop detailed practical knowledge and experience complementing the broader or more theoretical knowledge of others.

Engineering Associates need a good grounding in engineering science and the principles underlying their field of expertise, to ensure that their knowledge and skills are portable across different applications and situations.

Equipment specific or context-specific training in a particular job are not sufficient to guarantee generic competency. Given a good knowledge base, however, associates may build further on this through high levels of training in particular contexts and in relation to particular equipment.

Engineering associates may lead or manage teams appropriate to these activities. Some may establish their own companies or may move into senior management roles in engineering which includes managing of professional engineers.

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Qualifications and Competencies

Engineering associate qualifications often have titles that embrace the broad field of engineering such as Civil, Electrical, Electronics - IT, Environmental, Structural, Biomedical, Chemical or Mechanical Engineering.

Engineering associates should have a capability that goes beyond a particular industry training regime, and a generalised knowledge base that allows them to locate their knowledge in the widest possible context and take professional responsibility for their work as fully-qualified members of the engineering team.

Entry level or Stage 1 competency, corresponds to completion of a 2-year Advanced Diploma of Engineering (AQF Level 6) incorporating a program of subjects or units approved by Engineers Australia. In the past, the Advance Diploma was referred to as the Associate Diploma of Engineering, the Diploma or Associate Diploma or Advance Certificate or Certificate of Technology. These have been awarded by the various State Departments of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) in Australia since the early 1970's.

TAFE programs leading to these awards permit very wide choices of subject units. Engineers Australia considers most available combinations of units as constituting satisfactory engineering qualifications. However, it is possible that there are combinations of units considered to be too diffuse or as not providing sufficient fundamental knowledge of engineering principles. Since individual programs can vary so greatly, holders of these qualifications are asked to provide listings of the units comprising their program, for individual approval. Occasionally candidates may be asked to undertake further units before being regarded as qualified for admission as an Engineering Associate within Engineers Australia.

Some engineering associates may have followed other pathways, such as successive phases of in-service training early in their career, with later consolidation and broadening of their knowledge to strengthen its theoretical base.
Equivalent titles

Some countries use different terminologies. For example, engineering associates in several countries are called Engineering Technicians and in New Zealand are called Associate Engineers. At present (2008), Engineers Australia admits engineering associates to membership under the title Engineering Officer; this is to change to Engineering Associate in the future.

A newly qualified engineering associate would be expected to work initially or under the supervision or guidance of more experienced associates or engineers. Engineering Associates are encouraged to undertake Professional Development Programs as part of their development of practical competencies that will qualify them for Stage 2 assessment and the status of Chartered Engineering Associate.

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Related Groups

• ITEE College
• Structural College
• Civil College
• Electrical College
• Environmental College
• Biomedical College
• Women in Engineering
• Young Engineers Australia
• National Engineering Registration Board

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Contact Us

For any enquiries regarding the National Committee of Engineering Associates Australia please contact:

Executive Officer

T: 02 6270 6558
F: 02 6273 2358
E: associates@engineersaustralia.org.au

Engineers Australia
Engineering House
11 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600