Engineers in the Royal Australian Navy work on everything from maritime electronic systems to state-of-the-art ships and flight simulators. Now, their skills are set to be recognised through a new partnership with Engineers Australia.
Royal Australian Navy Senior Technical Sailors and Engineers can now obtain Chartered status in technical areas as well as leadership and management through a streamlined pathway.
Engineers Australia CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans said the civilian world doesn’t always appreciate the professionalism of Navy personnel, and that the agreement would help improve the Navy’s global credibility.
“Chartered and other credentials provided by EA will demonstrate this professionalism outside the defence community, not only on the national stage but on the international stage, as well through the international mobility agreements that EA is part of,” she said.
Director General Engineering – Navy Commodore Colin Dagg said this would provide Navy engineers, technologists and associates with international recognition of their skills and knowledge.
“Having more Chartered members will improve our global credibility and defensibility of technical decision-making, which is vital in an age of joint operations and global support arrangements,” he said.
“Becoming Chartered should be an aspiration of everyone involved in engineering, as it is independent recognition for meeting international standards of competency.”
Engineers Australia reviewed the training, qualifications and certifications within Navy engineering and found this met – and in some areas exceeded – that required by Engineers Australia and international standards.
The pathway to Chartered status has been included in the Defence Engineers and Senior Technicians Recognition Agreement (DESTRA), which was developed in 2018 to provide accreditation to Defence Force Aviation Engineers and Senior Technicians.
Following the success of this program, Engineers Australia worked with the Navy to amend the contract so all categories of maritime engineering were included.
Chartered Navy personnel will be added to the National Engineering Register (NER), and ranking personnel can also apply for Fellow and Engineering Executive status.
Evans said there was a long history between the organisation and the defence sector, with the first streamlined pathway developed with the Navy five years ago.
“At that time, a lot of investigation was done to map the work needed for career progression within the Navy, and the competencies that EA requires for Chartered status,” she said.
“It was evident that in all cases the Navy requirements met or exceeded EA’s requirements for Chartered. Due to the success of this work, we have entered into an expanded arrangement with the Navy.”
Not only does the agreement provide hard-earned recognition, Commodore Dagg said it also opens up more opportunities for career development.
“Our technical personnel work hard to maintain and sustain all of the Navy’s platforms to ensure we can fight and win at sea, and they deserve this acknowledgement,” he said.
“It’s about enabling a ‘thinking Navy’, so Navy people can take advantage of various colleges, technical societies and further education through the DESTRA.
“I’m excited to see not only the new agreement’s immediate benefits, but also where it leads the Navy and our people in the future.”
It is a good idea.
EA should ensure that award of Chartered Engineer to Royal Australian Navy Senior Technical Sailors and Engineers should meet or exceed the same requirements set up for the award of MIEAust CE to any applicant.
This is to ensure that the credibility of Engineers Australia be unchanged.