EngineeringSA The South Australia Division’s Newsletter
South Australia Division
March 2011 A Message From The President We are only three months into the year and we have already been reminded in savage ways of the power of nature. The flooding in several parts of Australia, the cyclones in northern Australia, and the second major earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand have devastated communities. The loss of life in these events is tragic. Many people have also lost or had severe damage to their homes. Our engineering profession has a major role in protecting our communities from the impacts of these catastrophes, as well as in the reconstruction activities which follow them. We are indeed fortunate to live in a society where engineering skills are prevalent. We only have to think of the dreadful catastrophes in developing countries overseas in the past decade to realise this. Much has been written in recent times about the serious skills shortages in Australia, which will impact on the growth and productivity of the nation. The burgeoning mining sectors in Western Australia and Queensland are facing shortages already, and many engineering organisations in South Australia are reporting difficulties in recruiting and retaining skilled engineers. This problem is destined to remain for a long time as Australia’s economy grows in response to the export opportunities, particularly in China and India. Whilst it is pleasing to see that the federal Department of Immigration is retaining their openness to new skilled engineers coming to Australia, we need to expand our development of home-grown engineers. I am pleased to see the increase in the number of women in engineering. While female membership of Engineers Australia increased strongly in 2010 it does remains low overall, representing only 10.6% of total Engineers Australia membership. Engineers Australia has for many years been at the forefront of encouraging women into engineering. 2007 was declared the Year of Women in Engineering to raise the profile of women engineers. The national Women in Engineering (WIE) Committee, and their local chapters are active in promoting and encouraging women engineers. If you want to know more about what they do visit the Engineers Australia website at http://tinyurl.com/6cz9dh9, or contact the local group through the South Australia Women in Engineering Group Chair Niki Robinson MIEAust via niki.robinson@tonkin.com.au. This year we are very fortunate to have here in Adelaide the International Conference for Women in Engineering and Science (ICWES15), which is the first time that the conference has been held in the southern hemisphere. It is being held 19th – 22nd July at the Adelaide Convention Centre. For more details visit www.icwes15.org. At the time of writing, the conference has accepted 277 abstracts for papers and presentations from 39 countries, and they expect
400-500 delegates. They will also be outreaching to aspiring young female engineers through their ‘Future Minds’ School Expo. This should be a great event and if you know of any aspiring young female engineers please encourage them to attend. Engineers Australia also has an active program supporting graduate engineers to achieve their professional accreditation as a Chartered Engineer (CPEng, CEngT or CEngO). All engineers should see this accreditation as their ‘badge of honour’, proving that they are now recognised professionals. It will raise the status of engineers in the business and wider community. I am also sure that, as time passes, we will see all states and territories move in the direction that Queensland has in requiring engineering reports to be certified by a CPEng. In the 2009/10 reporting year there was a 24% increase in the number of successful Chartered Status applications compared to the previous year. At a local level there was a 17% increase in the number of people receiving their Chartered Status in South Australia when comparing over the same time, with an even higher level of interest and activity seen so far this year through companies and individuals. In South Australia we are lucky to have the services of National Assessors Maurice Berry FIEAust CPEng and Ewan Hazeldine FIEAust CPEng who assess engineers seeking accreditation, and who are very valuable and willing providers of information to assist in the process. Maurice can be contacted via mberry@engineersaustralia.org.au or by calling 08 8202 7192 (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and Ewan can be contacted via ehazeldine@engineersaustralia.org.au or by calling 08 8202 7180 (Tuesdays and Wednesdays). We also have a very active support program for employers of engineers – the Professional Development Program (PDP). Our local contact is Industry Relationship Manager Jason Thornhill, who is very enthusiastic and brings with him experience from the UK. If you want to become a PDP partner organisation, or to encourage your employer to become one, Jason may be contacted via jthornhill@engineersaustralia.org.au or by calling 08 8202 7120 (Tuesday – Thursday). Good luck to everyone on the journey to Chartered Status, and congratulations to those who have reached this milestone in last few months. Dr David Cruickshanks-Boyd FIEAust EngExec President Engineers Australia South Australia Division
News Flash •
In July 2011 the 15th International Conference for Woman Engineers and Scientists (ICWES15) will be held, for the first time in Australia, in Adelaide. See the South Australia Division website or page 4 of this edition of Engineering South Australia for more information.
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On Thursday 31st March 2011 the South Australia Division will be holding a breakfast briefing with an internationally recognised expert on PlaceMaking. See the South Australia Division Events page to register at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa/events or for more details contact Deputy Director Sarah Carey via scarey@engineersaustralia.org.au or by phoning on 08 8202 7150.