The Victorian Government is seeking feedback on a review of the Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019 to ensure Victorians can benefit from stronger protections, improved safety, and higher standards of work.
Minister for Consumer Affairs Nick Staikos said the review will benefit all Victorians by promoting best practice in professional engineering services and ensuring suitably qualified and experienced engineers provide these services.
“The Professional Engineers Registration scheme ensures that only qualified and experienced individuals can legally provide services, which saves Victorians time and money,” Staikos said. “This scheme strengthens trust in engineering services by holding professionals accountable and ensuring Victorians receive safe, reliable, and expert support for their projects.”
The Act sets standards in the provision of professional engineering services and provides consumer protections by requiring professional engineers to meet qualification, experience, probity and continuing professional development requirements.
Under Victorian laws, a professional engineering service involves applying engineering knowledge to design, build, operate, or maintain structures or systems in areas such as fire safety, civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering.
While many engineering services are professional, not all are. Professional engineering services are a subset of engineering work that requires an exceptionally high level of judgment, knowledge, and skill.
The registration scheme commenced in 2021 as part of broader industry reforms and requires anyone engaging in professional engineering work to be registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria.
The scheme ensures that only qualified and experienced engineers can provide services and requires them to undertake continuing professional development to maintain their registration. This year’s Budget delivered $6.2 million over four years to continue the scheme and maintain the public register of professional engineers.
Consultation will help to ensure that any future changes to the Act represent the interests of those working in the industry and those engaging the services of professional engineers in Victoria.
“We welcome feedback from the public and industry members to make sure we’re delivering the best possible reforms for Victorians engaging with professional engineers,” Staikos said.
The consultation process is open for feedback for six weeks. To have your say, visit Engage Victoria. The final report will be tabled in Parliament in due course.
