Establishing Professional Accreditation Pathways for Australian Engineering Geologists in the Civil Design and Construction Industry

Recognition of the role of engineering geologists within the Australian civil industry is becoming increasingly important as the number of large- scale projects with complex ground-related risks increases. By their very nature, these projects require a deeper understanding of the ground to form the basis of sound and appropriate engineering solutions.

Application of specialist engineering geology expertise is ever more important as Australia embarks on a significant transition to renewable energy production. By way of example, pumped hydro energy schemes (PHES) require a multitude of civil engineering structures for which engineering geologists are required to develop ground models and identify geotechnical risks for tunnels, caverns, shafts, dams, roads, excavations, slope design, geohazard management, portal transitions, and earthworks. As the demand for civil-focussed engineering geologists in Australia grows, the significance of an established professional accreditation pathway becomes progressively more relevant.

Formal recognition as a chartered or registered professional signifies to clients, regulators, employers, and the public a demonstrated level of competency and experience. It requires a commitment to industry standards, continual professional development (CPD) and an enforceable code of conduct. It sets guidelines on professional conduct and establishes a benchmark for assessing key professional competencies and experience in a field of practice. The significance of achieving professional accreditation status facilitates recognition of engineering geologists’ valuable role in the Australian civil engineering industry.

By way of clarification the definitions below reflect the terminology used in this editorial:

• Chartership – the highest available technical credential as a professional. Recognised nationally and internationally and represents a certain level of qualifications, competency and practiced experience.
• Registration – formal recognition of qualification, competency and professional experience. Satisfies state and/or national legislated requirements for practising professionals.
• Licence – a term equivalent to registration, but not commonly used in Australia.
• Accreditation – a general collective term of formal professional recognition which includes all those categories listed above.

Currently, in Australia, there are no competency-based chartership routes specifically for the engineering geology discipline and administered by relevant Australian professional organisations. Comparison with existing international engineering geology charterships, registration or licensing schemes highlights the present lack of professional recognition of engineering geologists within the civil construction sector in Australia.

This editorial piece presents the local and international professional recognition pathways currently available for engineering geologists along with their benefits and challenges. It introduces the present state of practice in Australia with respect to recognition of engineering geology as an independent discipline and compares this with established global schemes as well as domestically within the mining industry.

The challenges faced in achieving existing accreditation routes within Australia is discussed. The lack of professional accreditation for engineering geologists can be a limiting factor in career development within the discipline. As well as impacting upon the individual engineering geologist as a professional, there can also be flow-on effects to the engineering design. For example, the absence of accreditation standards can potentially lead to increased project risks or perhaps more conservative designs. This editorial discusses the absence of accreditation for engineering geologists in the recently introduced state- based Registered Professional Engineer (RPE) legislation policies for the infrastructure industry, and what this might mean for the practicing individual. Specifically, this relates to potential and perceived limitations in career opportunities and development, as well as potential future consequences for the industry more broadly, which may discourage new entrants to the profession.

There will always be ambiguity when there is a large overlap between two competencies such as geotechnical engineering and engineering geology. Recognising this, we conclude the editorial with proposed accreditation pathways for the practicing engineering geologist in Australia. To achieve best practice in Australia, engineering geology should be identified as an independent discipline as is standard in many other countries.