Article written by Engineers Australia Queensland President Dr Peter Ho AM
The Courier-Mail and 7 News Queensland have partnered for the #GoQld campaign, aimed at opening debate on how to move Queensland forward. This initiative was launched after the Courier Mail witnessed the effects of the down turn in the Queensland mining sector and in response to the May Federal budget.
Prior to the campaign launch, the Courier Mail invited a group of industry leaders, of which I was one, from the tertiary, agriculture, government, tourism and resources sectors to attend a working lunch to provide an open forum to discuss the future of our great state and ways we can “Get Queensland Moving”.
Attending this forum I gave my thoughts on the lack of continual job prospects and training for our Queensland graduate members. I see this as a result of moving engineering jobs overseas, causing unrecoverable follow on effects, both in draining our engineering capabilities away from Queensland and fewer high school students studying STEM subjects as they aren’t seeing the demand for local engineers.
Considering that it takes around nine or 10 years to develop a professional engineer who is capable of practice independently, this loss of skill cannot be readily turned around when things pick up. This is further complicated by the fact that the current generation of engineering graduates are finding it harder to find work. This is reminiscent of a classic boom/bust scenario developing.
Standards & Tolerances Guide
As part of the Industrial Reference Group giving advice to the Board of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, I learnt from a recent meeting that a new version of “Standards & Tolerances Guide” Feb 2016 is now available to download here.
Any Engineers working in the building sector should get a copy for reference and is free.
Local Successes
I attended the new head office open day of a local engineering consultant, GRG Consulting Engineers, who celebrated their 20th anniversary. From humble beginnings in April 1996, this consultant, specialises in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, heavy industry and manufacturing, now employs over 40 staff in five offices throughout Australia. Having served 20 years is quite a milestone and I wish them the very best in the next 20 years and beyond.
As your President, I am here to promote our profession in any shape or form. Do not hesitate to contact me about your views on areas of interest.
Members are welcome to contact Dr Peter Ho AM at [email protected]