INTRODUCTION

As a result of the leadership of The Institute of Quarrying Australia (The Institute), the Australian extractive industries now have a comprehensive set of relevant national qualifications (the Extractive Industries Training Package MNQ03), but it does not have a national system for the recognition of the professional status of those practicing as quarry supervisors and managers (these terms may be combined to mean ‘management’).

As the professional body for quarrying in Australia, The Institute is establishing such a voluntary system for its members, which will include:

·         specific grades of certification;

·         minimum qualification requirements for each grade of certification;

·         minimum experience requirements for each grade of certification;

·         the requirement for endorsement of applicants by suitably qualified or experienced industry participants;

·         requirements for on-going professional development for the achievement and maintenance of Certified Practicing status;

·         requirements for continuing practice in the industry for the maintenance of Certified Practicing status;

·         professional ethical standards to be adhered to by Certified Practicing Quarry Managers and Supervisors; and

·        procedures for initial and on-going assessment of certified practitioners, and for auditing of compliance with the system.

The Institute believes that introducing a national system to recognise the professional status of quarry managers and supervisors will provide a number of important benefits to both industry organisations and its members.  These include:

·         consistency in the qualifications and experience required for those charged with the management of extractive industries sites and operations in all of the States and Territories of Australia;

·         a framework for individuals to develop and maintain their knowledge, skills, and experience as well as their behaviour and conduct in areas of relevance to themselves, their company and  the extractive industries;

·         a vehicle for The Institute to provide strong support for its members’ competency development and maintenance through its on-going professional development program;

·         a system that encourages vocational training and development of all people engaged in or associated with quarrying; and

·         a system that enables the owners of extractive industries operations to ensure that those they appoint to operate their sites are competent to perform their duties, as required by legislation.

One of the seven (7) strategies of the National Mine Safety Framework is ‘Competence Support’, and the role of the Regulator is expected to evolve further with the implementation of that strategy in ways that are related to certified practitioners.  While the establishment of this system of professional conduct and recognition is not designed to replace statutory competency certification, there are clear links with existing legislation and with the evolution of the legislative framework. Currently, legislative requirements (qualifications and other) for those managing extractive industries operations vary greatly throughout Australia. 

The Institute’s Certified Practicing System is a means of encouraging a national approach to, and maintenance of, standards of competency and ethics or behaviour, and recognition of members’ commitment to those standards.  Nothing should be construed as The Institute performing the statutory role or as The Institute certifying people as competent, the latter function being the role of Registered Training Organisations.

An important feature of The Institute’s professional certification system is that it caters for and encourages a variety of entry paths.  Many professional quarry managers have started off as operators in quarries, others have entered the industry as university graduates, or transferred into quarrying from other industries, where they have gained their knowledge and skills and applied their competencies.  Consistent with the vocational education and training system, The Institute’s professional certification system accepts a variety of ways by which an individual has gained their knowledge, skills and experience.  It requires that the individual has the necessary qualifications, experience and commitment to the maintenance of that knowledge, skills and experience as prescribed in its professional certification system.

The Institute is using powers available in its By-Laws to establish a Certified Practicing Board (CP Board) to oversee the operation of procedures for recognising the professionalism of its supervisors and managers in the first instance.  At the same time, The Institute is formalising a Code of Ethics by which its members will conduct themselves.