In what has been described as a game changer by senior Defence personnel, Engineers Australia and Defence have partnered to accredit and register senior Defence engineers and technicians.
While the agreement provides Defence employees with credentials recognising their skills, it also highlights the growing need for other industries to empower their workforce.
The partnership aims to accredit and register Professional Engineers, Technologists and Associates across Navy, Army, and Airforce initially covering around 1,400 defence personnel with additional personnel to be added in the near future.
The new Defence Engineers and Senior Technician agreement will see eligible engineers and technicians gain access to Chartered Membership, Fellow and EngExec opportunities.
As Defence increasingly looks overseas at joint operations and global support arrangements with other countries, having their workforce accredited to an international standard checked all the boxes.
Director General of the Defence Aviation Safety Authority, Air Commodore James Hood, says the changes represent a quantum leap in how aviation technical personnel are employed in Defence.
“This is a game changer! The previous agreements with Engineers Australia only focussed on the professional development of some select engineers. The agreements were fragmented and intended only as a retention strategy to entice experienced engineers to remain in Defence,” he said.
“Under the Defence Engineer and Senior Technician Agreement (DESTRA) all technical Flight Sergeants and Warrant Officers, and all engineers above Squadron Leader rank, will have their leadership, management and technical skills accredited against a global benchmark.”
Engineers Australia Registrar Glen Crawley says the level of training, experience and qualifications of Defence engineers and technicians was also a perfect fit for the agreement.
“Defence meets – and in some cases exceeds – the level required for certification and registration. The independent and competitive selection process provides the necessary assurance that Defence engineers and technicians have appropriate leadership and management competencies – in addition to their respective levels of technical practice,” he says.
The partnership is a first for both organisations who seek to set a higher bar for professional standards in engineering.
It will also act as an important proof point for other industries on how they can recognise the skill and talent of their own workforce.
Glen says private and public organisations will be closely watching how the agreement benefits each party involved.
“This is a first for both Defence and Engineers Australia and we’re excited to finally get it off the ground. We’re hopeful this could be a model for future agreements with a large workforce of engineers."
“The primary objective of both organisations is the protection of the Australian community. Our core purpose is to ensure Australia’s engineers are fully capable of tackling the challenges of the modern world and this agreement makes that more accessible and easier to those engineers who are eager to be recognised for their capabilities.”