NEC Chair Update
It’s been a year since we launched Site Contamination Prevention Australia on November 27, 2014 and it has been a busy year to get the scheme established and recognised in the contaminated site sector.
At the close of 2015 we have endorsed 42 certified practitioners from right around Australia, with recognition from EPA Tasmania, NSW EPA and EPA South Australia for the scheme. We have had three assessment rounds and three separate assessment subcommittees nominated and gathered feedback about our processes from senior practitioners in the sector. Not all applicants have been successful which at one level indicates that the profession as a whole needs to improve to fully service client needs and is serious about doing so. More importantly however it is the NECs wish, and we believe the wish of the entire sector, that the vast majority of professionals are able to develop to achieve certification. For this reason we aim to be clear on the standard required and in future will aim to provide more information on educational and development opportunities to enable this.
We continue to strive to provide information on the scheme and its progress, on our systems and the efforts made by those in the sector who share our vision. The goal was never going to be an easy one, and one that we would get right the first time. But with patience, perseverance and your feedback we can guide ourselves to establishing a nationally consistent professional standard for contaminated site practitioners. 2016 is full of promise for the second year of the scheme’s operation and we hope to double our cohorts of certified practitioners and improve our assessment and review processes further.
As the year draws to an end, on behalf of the National Executive Committee I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the scheme in 2015, either by being part of assessment panels, or submitting an application or just subscribing and liaising with us to get more information on what we’re about. I would like to wish you and your families all of the best for the festive season and look forward to working with the NEC and with you in 2016.
The new year stands before us all like a chapter in a book waiting to be written- You can help write that story by being involved and providing feedback to Site Contamination Prevention Australia and be part of our efforts to improve outcomes for all stakeholders in the contaminated site sector.
Dennis Monahan
Independent Chair
National Executive Committee
Site Contamination Practitioners Australia