Welcome to the last edition of South Australian Engineering News for 2023. 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 South Australian members and committee groups in 2023, and their contributions to the engineering profession and community.   

2023 has been a very busy year in the South Australia Division. The SA team and Committee has worked hard engaging with members through various avenues such as working groups, College Branch Committees, the Professional Development Advisory Committee, forums, roundtables and well attended recognition and celebration events. All these activities aimed to increase the profile and standing of engineers. 

As an Engineers Australia member you have been a crucial part of our work to advance to advance the science and practice of engineering to benefit the community. The work you do to elevate the voice and influence of the profession is so impactful. Engineers Australia would like to thank you for being a part of the progress we’ve made this year.   

This year the division has established the Industry Reference Group – Engineering to identify ways of engaging with teachers and students in the public school system. The group informs and educates on what engineering is and the endless career opportunities available in engineering. We are pleased to have representatives from the state Department for Education and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport along with Adelaide University, Flinders University and Consult Australia in this group.  

The support for the local Excellence Awards was strong and exceeded past years, with a diverse range of nominations for people and projects. We saw the move back to a gala dinner to showcase engineers and engineering and we are excited to build on this success in 2024.  

June saw our inaugural International Women in Engineering Day breakfast sell out with close to 200 attendees. It was a great opportunity to bring together our engineering community to hear about the theme ‘making safety seen’.  

We partnered up with The Smith Family to deliver a STEM activity session with 60 enthusiastic Year 6 students at Woodville Gardens Primary. With assistance from our wonderful member volunteers we enjoyed two recognition celebratory events – one mid-year and one end of year.  

We participated in the SA Chief Scientist’s Research and Innovation Workforce Focus group and continued to consult with the South Australian Government as they take steps to establish a scheme for the Registration of Engineers.   

2024 will see a return of the Boardroom Lunch Series for our senior leaders within the membership and the Fellows Lunches. The Diversity and Inclusion sub-committee are working on sessions to engage with and assist overseas qualified engineers gain meaningful engineering work.   

Engineers Australia’s holiday shutdown period will run from 18 December 2023 to 12 January 2024. During this time our office will be closed and there will not be any events held.   

The SA team of Jan, Leah, Cara, Lucie and Jason wish you all the best over the holiday period and into 2024.