Welcome to the last edition of Engineering News for 2022. As we all wrap up for the end of the year, Engineers Australia would like to thank you for your continued support. We’d like to take the chance now to look back the achievements of our WA members and committee groups in 2022, and their contributions to the engineering profession and community.
In July, the WA Government announced the preparation of new regulations to register building engineers as part of a reform package to improve regulation of Western Australia's building industry. This was good news as Engineers Australia has strongly advocated for registration of engineers to safeguard the community. A submission has been made on the draft regulations and we will continue to work closely with the WA Government on their development and implementation.
In 2022 Engineers Australia also announced the Perth office will relocate from its home of almost 60 years in Murray Street, West Perth to the Perth CBD. The year has been busy in the background establishing the new premises in time for opening on 9 January 2023. From 6 to 8 December, we hosted an “open house” to farewell our West Perth home.
In July, we farewelled the 2022 WA President Jodey Brockhurst MIEAust CPEng, who departed for an overseas posting. Deputy President Shalini Saldanha FIEAust CPEng NER was elected to the role of WA President in July and will continue through to the end of 2023.
In August, WA members welcomed new Engineers Australia CEO Romilly Madew AO and National President Nick Fleming FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER as part of their tour around the country.
2022 saw the return of in-person events hosted in our West Perth office. These included a meticulously researched event hosted by Engineering Heritage WA to celebrate 60 years of Perth’s iconic Narrows bridges; Horizons interviews with Engineers Australia National President Nick Fleming (online) and David Fyfe, CEO of Synergy; and member recognition events.
We are grateful to Main Roads WA for hosting us in their Bunbury office in August for an event attended by local members and live-streamed to an online audience via webinar.
Our hybrid events included in-person panel discussions and networking following the online-streamed Climate Smart Engineering Conference presentations. It was great to see the return of many members and volunteers to in-person events and the growth in attendance at hybrid events.
Engineers Australia would like to thank all the office bearers of WA College branches, special interest groups and Technical Societies for their significant efforts to develop and host Continuing Professional Development events.
We are grateful to those members who contributed to significant pieces of work including the Defence future of work and a government guideline as a result of the efforts of the Cyclone Safety Taskforce.
Opportunities to promote the engineering profession to future engineers including students, undergraduates and graduates increased over the year as COVID restrictions lifted.
This included a keynote presentation at the UWA Career Advisors and Teachers Professional Development Event, participating in the ‘It Takes A Spark Conference’ (approx. 400 students and teachers attended). We also coordinated a pilot work experience project in collaboration with Development WA and Perth Symphony Orchestra for eleven year 10 students from Cecil Andrews College.
The results from the surveys of student and industry experience led by the WA student professional practice working group informed a trial workshop hosted in Queensland. A mix of representatives attended to develop ideas to improve professional practice from a student and industry perspective. Further workshops are planned for a number of locations in 2023, including in WA
It was wonderful to see several Western Australian Engineers recognised through the Engineering Excellence Awards hosted in WA and celebrations at the National event hosted on 5 October in Sydney. Congratulations to all.
Engineers Australia plans to open the doors to our new premises on 9 January 2023, you can find out more about the premises on our website. The new office will be located on level 10 Allendale Square, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth.
We are asking members to suggest names for the auditorium in our new building. Please submit your ideas to [email protected] with the subject line 'Auditorium name suggestion'. All ideas will be reviewed by the WA Committee. The name will be confirmed in the new year.
Engineers Australia’s holiday shutdown period will run from Monday 19 December 2022 to Friday 13 January 2023.
Best wishes to our members, office bearers, volunteers and stakeholders for a safe and happy break over the festive season. We look forward to seeing you in 2023.