Compliance Requirements

Compliance Requirements

Once you are a member of the ESTPSS you are required to:

  1. Promote and advertise on all business documentation that you belong or your firm belongs to the Scheme.
  2. Maintain your compliance with the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Policy of Engineers Australia.
  3. Renew membership annually.

1. Promote and advertise on all business documentation that you belong or your firm belongs to the Scheme.

In accordance with the Professional Standards Council's Policy Statement on Disclosure of Limited Liability, ‘a disclosure statement is to appear on all documents given by the person to whom a scheme applies to a client or prospective client that promote or advertise the person or person's occupation, including official correspondence ordinarily used by the person in the performance of the person's occupation'.

Therefore, all members of the Scheme are required to display the following statement on correspondence: ‘Liability Limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation'.

The disclosure statement must be:

  • displayed on all stationery and business documentation
  • printed in a size not less than the face measurement of Times New Roman typeface in 8 point.

As a minimum, the disclosure statement should appear on:

  • documents with a letterhead and business correspondence generally
  • fax cover sheets
  • written advice, plans, drawings, specifications and other documents produced by the service provider for clients, especially where those documents are not accompanied by a letter or other document on which a disclosure statement appears
  • newsletters and other publications
  • memorandums of fees and invoices, especially where those documents are not accompanied by a letter or other document on which a disclosure statement appears
  • email
  • websites that promote or advertise the person or the person's occupation.

Note: Business cards are specifically exempted from carrying the disclosure statement.

Failure to meet the requirements for providing notification of limitation of liability is an offence and carries a penalty. In the event of a claim, a member may lose the limitation that would otherwise be provided.

Members of the Engineers Australia Professional Standards Scheme may also choose to use the Cover of ExcellenceTM logo. For further information, visit the Professional Standards Council website and view its Policy Statement on Disclosure of Limited Liability.

Copies of the ‘Professionals who care' brochure, which provides consumers with information about professional standards schemes and whatit means to engage someone who displays the Cover of ExcellenceTM logo, may also be ordered through the Professional Standards Council.

This information can be found on the Disclosure Statements page of the Engineers Australia website.

2. Maintain your compliance with the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Policy of Engineers Australia.

Chartered Members must maintain their competence through ongoing continuing professional development, which may be audited at any time (see Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Policy).

3. Renew membership annually.

An annual renewal invoice for your membership of the ESTPSS will be sent prior to the anniversary of joining the ESTPSS. In addition to paying the annual membership the following information has to be provided:

  • evidence of the currency of your Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance policies and the full policy schedules, together with any unusual or specific endorsements and/or exclusions imposed by the insurer, and
  • disclosure of any claims incurred or alerts reported during the previous year.

For more information see Renew your membership.